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LED ZEPPELIN: CELEBRATING THEIR LAST HURRAH!

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Ah, Ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow,
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla I am coming!
On we sweep with thrashing oar, our only goal will be the western shore.

© 1970 Led Zeppelin

The above is the lyrics to Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" from their third album, 1970's Led Zeppelin III.

It was written by Robert Plant after being inspired by a concert the band played at a college in Reykjavik, Iceland and touring the country, which reminded him of Viking hordes and big ships.

It's perspective, as that of the Vikings leaving Scandinavia in search of new lands and new adventures, always left me with the impression that it easily could have been a song about the members of Led Zeppelin themselves.

The gods swooped down to conquer in their own private jet

Always mythologically larger than life, Led Zeppelin swooped down and conquered everything, as if they themselves were the Viking horde, or even better yet, supernatural Asgardians on a fantastical mission.

Led Zeppelin, through their complete run of 1968 to 1980 and nine albums, involved four musicians that locked together and grooved on a musical wavelength that transcended what had been done before, and doubtlessly will ever be achieved again.

They perfected the art of a rock band.


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PLAY HOLIDAY PARTY BINGO...It's Sure to Make the Party At Least Somewhat Enjoyable

The Pull List: BATMAN #15, THE WALKING DEAD #105, AVENGERS ARENA #1 & More!

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Check out what I checked out this week.

Whether the comics are inspiring or disappointing, I read them all.

Welcome to The Pull List.

And, as always...Spoilers ahead!

Batman #15 (Pick of the Week)
Writer: Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV
Art: Greg Capullo & Jonathan Glapion
Colors: FCO Plascencia & Dave Baron
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99

The “Death of the Family” story arc rolls on and The Joker has the entire Bat-Family on edge.

Scott Snyder's writing has done a wonderful job of accentuating the fear of our clown-faced villain. Every superhero has an arch nemesis, or ten, and despite the trials and tribulations, they are confident they will win the day.

Batman is probably the most intelligent and savvy crime fighter in the game today. This would make you assume he too is confident that he will stop The Joker.

However, he’s not confident at all.

In fact, he is so unsure of the final result, he is keeping his cards close to his chest.


Speaking of cards, one card in particular has brought to light a shocking revelation regarding The Joker’s potential intrusion into the Batcave, many years ago. Dick, Jason, Barbara and Damien are beyond upset this was kept from them and are convinced The Joker knows their secret identities. Bruce believes he doesn’t know their identities and is just playing mind games.

Dick notices that Bruce doesn’t sound so sure of himself and this leads to a four-on-one tension filled argument that was almost uncomfortable to watch, in a good way, of course.

The backup story written by Talon scribe, James Tynion IV puts the spotlight on The Riddler who makes his “New 52” debut.

Instead of the dangerous riddles we are accustomed to; it is his intelligence that Tynion brings to the forefront. Not being rattled, in the slightest by The Joker’s antics while locked up in Arkham Asylum paints the green menace in treacherous light and he will no doubt; bring The Dark Knight some serious problems in the future.

Grade: A


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DVD/Blu-ray News: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, PART 2 Pits Batman Vs. Superman This January

BELUGA: A Nightmarish Animation by Shin Hashimoto That Will Destroy Any Joy You Have Ever Felt

That Certain Something—The Mystique of Raven Darkholme

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It’s somewhat fitting that a mutant with the ability to shapeshift has been through so many changes over the years. 

Raven Darkholme, better known as the naturally blue skinned Mystique has been a thorn in the sides of the X-Men since the 1970s but wasn’t originally created as an antagonist for our mutant heroes.

For those of you only familiar with the cinematic portrayal of the character, they actually got a lot of her motivations correct, but her history actually goes back much further than we see in X-Men: First Class and is a good seven or eight times more jacked up than you realize.

This is the closest I’ve come to seeing Rebecca Romijn naked…well, legally…

As you’d expect from such a name, Mystique’s true origins are still mysterious all these years later. 


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LEARN SOME SERIOUS MOVES At the Charlie Brown School of Dance

The Twelve Flicks of Christmas

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Incessant commercial jingles on the ’tube.

Non-stop radio caroling in the background.

Rudolph, Frosty, Heat Miser and Charlie Brown making their ritual annual appearances.

Looping broadcasts of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Story.”

Twelve—count them, twelve!—whole days of Christmas!

Yes, ’tis the season, and in an effort to offer some appropriate viewing suggestions, let’s recount my twelve all-time holiday favorites.

These aren’t all necessarily “Christmas” stories in the sense that they’re about Christmas icons or holiday miracles or that they contain an ironic gift-of-the-Magi plot device. These films merely occur during the Yuletide Season and, perhaps none-too-coincidentally, all of them contain common elements of a bitter Scrooge-like character and the presentation of a very special gift.

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BATMAN: An Illustrated Evolution Print Is A Must-Have For Any Fan

X-Cutioner's Song: Oh God, Just Take Me Now...

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Marvel Comics endured arguably its most maddening period in the 1990s. 
Thanks to the speculator boom, shifting corporate management, and creative battles, the company sputtered after what had started as a profitable decade.  
By the end of the '90s, Marvel Comics was in bankruptcy, fighting to survive, let alone become a multimedia juggernaut.

There isn't one key factor or event that led to this, but a rash of reader-unfriendly stories helped to wear on Marvel's sales.  Well, this was the '90s, when Marvel embraced the direct market and pandered to its devoted fanbase with stories steeped in references to continuity, as well as heightened levels of sex and violence.

For the X-Men, this was worse than almost any other company franchise.  
Chris Claremont and Louise Simonson, who guided the X-Men and their satellite teams for seventeen years, were ousted, which led to storylines like the one I recently read for the first time, "X-Cutioner's Song."

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IT ISN'T THE HOLIDAYS Until Someone Screams NINTENDO 64!!!

Comic News: THE FABULOUS KILLJOYS Will Save The Day This June!

DVD/Blu-ray News: PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 Will Terrify You Once Again

DESIGN A POWER RANGERS T-SHIRT, Win Some Dough

Smallville: Random, Awesome and WTF?! - S9E15: Escape

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Ever try and grab your significant other and get away for a quiet weekend only to have it interrupted? 

Yeah, that’s exactly what happens to Lois and Clark as they find out Ollie and Chloe are sharing the same B&B. 

Best part? 

So is the Silver Banshee.

That place is totally getting a negative review on Yelp.

The Random:
1. The B&B’s proprietor is a special kind of sketchy, now isn’t she?  Yes.  Yes, she is.  This is why I never go anywhere.  Well, that, and being a blogger is an unpaid job.  Details, details.

2. Lois and Clark’s first encounter with a newly coupled Ollie and Chloe is amusing, especially Lois’ (completely insane) reaction to “Mr. Green, in the bedroom…with [her] cousin.”  Clark and Ollie’s small talk attempt that degenerates into potshots at one another only makes it even more fun.

3. Not for nothing, but the girl running this joint is awfully calm and accepting of total strangers trashing family heirlooms to kill a ghost.

No, this doesn’t seem awkward at all…


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THE SENTIENT KITCHEN: Where Body Parts Meet Kitchen Accessories

M-I-C... See That Exit? K-E-Y... Why? Because You're Fired!

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Mouseketeer Roll Call!

Bobby! 
Annette!
Sharon!
Lonnie!
Cubby!
Mary Danella Espinoza…?

* insert sound of record scratching here *

For three seasons, The Mickey Mouse Club entertained America’s youth five days a week with dances, songs, special guests and more. The Mousketeers were kids that everyone could relate to, kids that seemed unpretentious and nice, kids that were approachable if run into on the street.

“Everyone who wants to keep their job next week smile on the count of three. 1-2-3!”

Back before the child performer factory of today that spits out a Zack and Cody or a Miley Cyrus with every turn of its gears, the Disney talent scouts held open auditions for a children’s variety show.

Kids (professionally-trained and those that only danced at family gatherings) were given an equal chance to become a Mouseketeer.

In all, 24 kids (and a grand total of 39 over the course of three seasons) were given a chance to don the silly hat with ears, a hat that would quickly become an icon of the 1950’s.


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TURN YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES Into Custom Paper Dolls

Comic News: IMAGE Brings Revamped ZED To Earth

TOY STORY/STAR TREK INTO THE DARKNESS Mash-Up Is Ridiculously Good

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