If Giddiness Had a Name...

I'm a simple guy with simple pleasures. And tonight I got totally excited when I learned that Dark Horse is reprinting the old Marvel run of Indiana Jones comes. Indiana Jones Omnibus: The Further Adventures Volume 1 reprints the first 12 issues of the old Marvel series along with Marvel's adaptation of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

This is the series that got me reading comics as a kid. Sure, I read comics from time to time before this title hit the stands, but I ate these comics up each and every month. I loved the character (and still do), and I read and re-read each issue, soaking up each panel. And those cliffhangers. Ugh! I hated having to wait 30 days to find out what happened next, but at the same time, I loved it. This was the first experience with serialized storytelling, and I couldn't get enough.

Sure, the series lost some of its edge once the issue numbers got into the double digits, but I didn't care how outlandish the stories got. It was Indiana Jones uncovering an artifact and having to fight or flee for his life. What more could a kid ask for?

I missed Dark Horse's reprints of the old Star Wars series, and the collector in me won't allow myself to get a second-hand copy or a later printing, but I'm not going to let that happen with this series. I've actually been seriously considering reading my old copies of the Marvel Indy series, but now I don't have to.

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On a side not, Dark Horse also announced volume five of their Savage Sword of Conan reprints. I'll admit that those old Conan tales are hit or miss, but I still eat this stuff up all the time. I don't even know exactly what I like about the barbarian, but there's just something about the sword and sorcery, the scantily clad women, the brutal fights...damn I love that stuff. Hell, just look at that cover. I'd say it's worth the price of admission all by itself (plus, it'll look damn nice on the shelf because Dark Horse does a nice job with their consistent use of their trade dress). Yep, I'm definitely looking forward to adding this volume to my shelf of Conan books.

A New Day Has Dawned

The post-Favre era has begun, and it looks good so far. (Actually, it looks great. The new Samsung LN52A650 with an HD feed? Fantastic. How did I ever watch football in standard def?) Aaron Rodgers led the Packers well in his first start. Considering all the pressure he was under, I'd actually say he led the team very well. And I have to admit, it's nice to see a nimble quarterback running around the field. Nobody open? Oh, I'll just run for the first.

One thing for sure, Rodgers can throw the long ball if given time. His TD pass to Donald Driver that was nullified due to penalty was oh so pretty. I'm looking forward to more of that this season.

I'm not ready to buy my Super Bowl tickets just yet, but I am growing optimistic. Sure, the Vikings defense hasn't been to good against the pass for several years, but last night's victory was a great stepping stone. Rodgers exceeded expectations, and I'm looking forward to what happens next. I've already got Sept. 21 circled on the calendar. That's when the titans of the NFC face off. Cowboys vs. Packers in HD. Now that's going to be a great birthday present to myself.

Was Frodo a Hero?

I had surgery on my leg last week, and when I wasn't sleeping or watching football on my new television (HD football in widescreen is so bloody awesome!), I was catching up with old friends in Middle Earth. But after 12 hours of watching Frodo carry his burden, I'm wondering if he was a hero in the end.

I mean, let's face it, he carried that damn ring like a champ, but didn't he give in to its power at the end? If Golum hadn't have mucked things up, would Frodo have tossed that ring into the lava? It sure as hell didn't seem like he was going to. If anything, he was going to force his good friend Sam to do something drastic, like toss dear ol' Frodo into the pit.

Don't get me wrong, I love the films (despite never being able to get passed page 100 or so of the first novel). Great entertainment. And yes, having Frodo show weakness in the end added a sense of, I don't know, frailty or humanity to the whole experience. But c'mon, sending Golum and the ring into the lava was a complete accident. There was a scuffle, the combatants got too close to the edge, and suddenly the ring was melting. Where's the hero in that situation?

I always hate when the hero accidentally saves the day in key scenes. The Phantom Menace had lots to dislike, but the real kicker for me was seeing young Anni destroy the droid ship by pressing random buttons in the cockpit of his fighter. Good grief. What a let down. I want to see the hero win through effort, tenacity, wits, or strength, not luck.

Was Frodo a hero? He certainly was throughout the story, right up until the end. I'd say he was a hero right up until the point where I lost interest in the story, actually. Which is too bad, because 12 hours is a lot of time to invest in something that's just going to let you down at the end.