Michael Turner: Comic Book Hero

On Friday, June 27 2008 Michael Turner lost his battle with cancer. Mr. Turner passed away at 10:37 PM at a hospital in California. The past two years have been difficult for comic book fans since many talented creators have passed away. Among some of the great comic heroes we have lost thus far: Mike Wieringo, Dave Cockrum, Steve Gerber and now Mr. Turner. I hate to deliver this sad news but I feel better talking about it with my fellow comic book fans.
I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Turner twice at the Wizard World Chicago comic shows. The last time I met him was at the 2005 Wizard World Chicago show. Mr. Turner was walking on crutches yet he didn’t let that stop him from having a good time. He signed for all his fans despite whatever pain he might have been feeling. Mr. Turner was an inspiration to comic book fans, his fellow comic creators, and also other cancer victims. So please pull out your back issue boxes and read your favorite Michael Turner story. I personally just re-read the Superman/Batman: Supergirl TPB. For those of you who were lucky enough to meet Mr. Turner remember the good times and say a silent prayer for Mr. Turner and his family. We have truly lost a comic book legend, but hopefully Mike is finally out of pain and enjoying catching up with his fellow comic creators and fans in the afterlife. Thank you for all your wonderful work Mr. Turner and god bless you.

Omar & Melanie's wedding photos

My wife took a lot of photos at Omar and Melanie's wedding. While they tend to focus on me and my family, there are a number of photos of the wedding party, the groom and the beautiful bride. You can check them out at the Flickr.

THE WEDDING!!!

Today Melanie Given and Omar Valdivieso will take the plunge, get hitched, tie the knot, unite, cross the t's, dot the i's, slap the cat, dress the flamingo, and get MARRIED!!!

Since they couldn't invite all of their fans (but believe me they wanted to!...presents!!!), I thought this post would be a good place to "sign the guest book" via the interweb!!!

Congratulations Omar and Melanie!!!

Aboutheroes Episode 100 Kickoff!

I figure to celebrate our 100th episode week. I would share with everyone a badass picture that John Bryant (Spidey) did for us. Keep in mind this is a work in progress, but I still had to put it up, because we were looking pretty damn good!

Thanks again John!

Picture of the Week

Yeah, we know it should be more like picture of the month, but this one comes from Jonathan.

If you'd like more, here's the Full Frontal Nerdity site.

Podcast Update

So it's getting pretty late into the week, and you're probably wondering when the podcast is going to go up. And since I have an answer (actually quite a few answers) I thought I'd share my knowledge.

Reason 1: Family matters that will be explained further have taken a few of the podcasters away from doing the podcast for not just this week but probably next week as well. Maybe even the week after that, it is a "see how it goes" bases.

Reason 2: (and this probably should have been #1) THERE IS A RECORDED PODCAST!!! It is on my computer and is too big to just shoot to Dan over e-mail and when we all have more time I will send it to him and he will post it up. Despite not having a podcast posted, and missing a few members, we will go ahead and keep recording. What this means for you is that we will keep recording podcasts once a week and will post them whenever we get the chance. Potentially this means another week without a podcast and then in one week there will be three posted podcasts covering three weeks of content. That is the game plan.

Reason 3: The excuse we've had a lot this winter, a snow storm may disrupt our plans in Reason 2. We will just have to see how things go for now, and try to stick to the plan but the weather service is saying this is going to be the worst one of the season (going out with a bang). So if the snow hits too hard it could delay our plans to record another podcast to an even later date.

All we can really do is keep you posted, say we're sorry, and trying to deliver classic About Heroes banter from our jabbering jaws to your pointy vulcan ears as quickly as possible.

Any further questions or comments can be posted here.

And remember Stay Geeky!!!

A note on podcasts for this week

The stars just didn't align for us this week. Sunday, I was cleaning up from a baby shower we hosted. Monday, Omar was forced by the evil corporation he works for to work late into the evening, and while Chris and I made plans to record an episode anyway, Old Man Winter got in the way. Plans for the rest of the week hit similar roadblocks.

So next week, we're going to release two episodes, the first on Monday or Tuedsay, the second a few days later. You'll get your fix, I promise.

Holiday Challenge - Win Heroes Season 1 DVD Set & More!!!

If you listened to the last two podcast episodes you know that we gotta a challenge going on...for those that missed the last two eps though, here's the skinny.

I am running a challenge this holiday season, all you gotta do....is enter. That's right...no questions to figure out...no long essays to write, just send your name & email address to

nick@aboutheroes.com

with the subject line: HOLIDAY CHALLENGE, and your entered!

Now....what is the swag you ask.....

-Heroes Season 1 DVD Set

-Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Hardcover

-Teen Titans #1 - Michael Turner Sketch Cover Variant

- Fallen Angel #6 - Signed by Peter David

-Ion #2 - Signed by Ron Marz & Kalman Andrasofszky (I think it was Kalman...the guy kinda just did a quick signature on it)

-The Adventures of Superman #500 - Still wrapped in the white plastic, with the red "S" on the front.

-Superman: For All Seasons: Book Two - Signed by Jeph Loeb

-Green Lantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances - Signed by Ron Marz

-Amazing Spider-Man #375 (Foil Cover)

-Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E #5 - Crayon Butchery Variant Edition

and MORE.

Three winners will be picked via a hat drawing on the podcast episode on/after January 15th.

Basically the first prize winner gets first pick at three items from the list, the second place, second pick, the third place, third pick.

(Dan, Omar, Melanie, Chris, Ben, and me....not eligible)
(Any knocking on Green Lantern #25 in an actual entry will result in immediate disqualification....and maybe some mocking by me on the podcast)

Again email nick@aboutheroes.com with the subject line of HOLIDAY CHALLENGE.

All entries must be received by no later then January 15th 2008.

Oh....and if any of them are humorous we might read them on the air!

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

ADDED PODCAST ASAP

We didn't forget about putting up the podcast for Friday that we promised at the end of the last podcast! We had a few things come up all of a sudden, and as soon as Dan gets the chance he will load if up for you. Rest assured though that it is recorded and to the best of our collective abilities we will try to stick to the Tuesday morning release for regularly scheduled podcasts.

Thanks and Stay Geeky!

PS: This is the new International Teaser Poster of the Joker for THE DARK KNIGHT returns, fitting I think for anyone pissed about not hanving the friday podcast, listen to the joker when he asks, "Why so serious?"

Power Rangers no more?!!

The Power Rangers need your help!
Fellow Ranger Fans,

A regular member over at www.rangerboard.com, Poweranimals, has informed all ranger fans that Disney is going to end the live action Power Ranger series at the end of next year's series, Jungle Fury. The plan is then to animate Power Rangers and do away with the live action series.

Power Rangers is special and unique for it being live action. I'm not saying an animated series would be bad, just have it run alongside the live action series.

If you want to help keep PR live action, please send letters (not e-mails) to the following address:

The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista St.
Burbank, CA 91521

Remember to keep the letters respectful, there is no point in insulting Disney and that won't help save the series. Just point out that PR is special for being live action and we as the fans don't want the live action series to be done for.

Thank you and let the power protect you all.

Spider-Ben