I picked up North 40 #1 last week on a whim. I’m not sure why. Did I read an interview with its creators? I don’t remember doing that. Was it the cover image? It’s a pretty cool design, but it doesn’t tell you much about the book’s contents. I don’t even think I’ve ever heard of writer Aaron Williams or artist Fiona Staples before. Also, has WildStorm even published a good title since Sleeper ended several year ago? If they have I didn’t buy it. (I miss Sleeper.)

Regardless of why I bought it, I’m glad I did.

The first issue feels like an old school, creepy Vertigo horror/fantasy title. I really don’t want to talk too much about the specifics of the issue for fear of ruining it for you but it sets up a pretty cool though creepy world to play in. The art in the book is pretty great across the board. And while I’m showering praise on the book, let’s be honest… It’s issue #1. It could still go in a million HORRIBLE directions. But this issue feels like it has that special spark.

Actually to jump backwards for a second, WildStorm publishes Ex Machina which is a pretty great book. So I guess I took a shot at the WS imprint earlier for no good reason. I mention Ex Machina specifically because it’s written by Brian K. Vaughn and there are clearly some parallels between the events of the first issue of North 40 and the first issue of his fantastic Y: The Last Man. As both books are all about an event… A moment in time… after which the world will never be the same. While in Y the entire world is literally affected, North 40 seems intent on focusing specifically on the residents of the rural community of Conover County. (One major difference between the way the two titles launch is that North 40 seems to show exactly why the event takes place, while Y only hinted at it for years.)

So what is the pivotal event that seems to change Conover County forever? All of the people in the county mysteriously fall asleep at the exact same moment one night, and when they awake at 6:33 a.m. the next morning all hell has broken loose… literally.

“That was when things in Conover County… Well, then they got kinda odd…”

It’s Wednesday and that’s big day for comic book fans everywhere.  This particular Wednesday, I can’t wait to get my hands on the next chapter of Marvel‘s X-Men/Dark Avengers Utopia crossover.  To explain why, here’s some recent history.

Some yahoo “super heroes” filming a reality television show blew up 600 people in Stamford, Connecticut.  The government responded by requiring all costumed heroes to be registered and licensed in order to operate.  Some heroes agree (Iron Man) and some do not (Captain America) and a super-human Civil War breaks out.  The pro-registration side wins out and Iron Man becomes the director of SHIELD and all things related to registration.  His 50 State Initiative to put a team of heroes in every state is the perfect opportunity for a group of shape-shifting alien religious zealots to infiltrate and take over.  They believe the Earth is theirs by divine right and Stark is unable to stop their Secret Invasion.  In the heat of the battle  to drive back the alien hordes, Norman Osborn (the once and future Green Goblin) delivers the killing shot to the invaders’ leader and is elevated from his position leading a team of super villains seeking rehabilitation (right…) in the Thunderbolts program, to Stark’s replacement as master of all things super human.  In order to solidify his Dark Reign over the Marvel Universe, Orborn creates his own team of Avengers to back him up and forms a cabal with some heavy hitters (Doctor Doom, Namor, Loki, The Hood, and Emma Frost) to control the world under his watchful eye.  In the meantime, the Scarlet Witch went crazy and used her magic to reduce the powered mutant community to about 200 individuals after altering the world during the House of M.  The remaining mutants became in that moment an endangered species and Cyclops gathered all the willing in San Francisco to create a safe haven under the protection of the X-Men.

Emma Frost and Norman Osborn had an agreement.  She keeps the mutants quiet and he’ll leave them be in their new home.  Only they didn’t stay quiet, and now Norman is bringing in his Dark Avengers to regulate.  Chapter One of Utopia shipped last Wednesday and was a wild start to this confrontation and Chapter Two is available today in Uncanny X-Men #513.  I highly recommend it.

Tasty (if slightly paraphrased) Beastie Boys’ lyric notwithstanding, I get “out West” very little to not at all. More than 99% of my eating gets done right here in the Delaware Valley. What’s my latest food distraction?

Flatbread sandwiches!

My Afternoon Nosh-Distraction

As MLD’s resident fat-man foodie, I am actually becoming more mindful of slimming down. To that end, I’m trying to downsize my portions. I’ve gone from the Footlongs down to the 6 inch sandwiches, but something about the 6 inch rolls are just somehow… not satisfying. Enter my relationship with flatbread.

Weeks ago, coming home from my night job, I stopped by Wawa, and began eating their Flatbread Cuban sandwich. I like Cuban sandwiches, and if you’ve never had one, check them out. Delicious, if you’re into that sort of thing. After that successful experiment, I felt it might be time to investigate the Subway version. They don’t have the Cuban option, but with chicken, cold cuts, and a veggie patty option, I didn’t lack for tasty alternatives. About a week ago, I did just that, worried that it wouldn’t be as (over)filling as the Footlong, and more to the point, even less satisfying than the 6 inch.

I needn’t have worried. All results were delicious. This afternoon, I had the above pictured meal. For as close a look as my Samsung phone could provide, check below:

Why don't these things ever look like the advertisements?

I am full, and with good veggie protein that will last me through tonight’s ComedySportz shows. If only I could get a veggie patty option at Wawa, or if Subway could do a Cuban sandwich, life would be a tad closer to perfect.

Bottom line: 6 inch flatbread sandwiches may be the first step in my fat-belly reduction salvation. Even if they’re not, they ARE my latest food-based distraction!

When Conan O’Brien took over The Tonight Show this month, we decided to record it and see what he was up to.  We’re Conan fans, so we had some built in interest.  As part of the deal, we added Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to the recording schedule as well.

We had watched Late Night during Jimmy’s first week back in March, but hadn’t paid any attention since.  I can’t speak for Angie (or anyone else here), but I can’t get enough of the show.  I enjoyed the first week, but it’s just gotten so much better and Jimmy Fallon seems much more natural in his hosting role.  Even more compelling than that is the fact that the humor is just how I like it, and the content really appeals to me.  No other talk show that I’m watching has segments on the Palm Pre and Apple’s iPhone 3GS, or demonstrates the XBox360 Natal.  Tonight he‘s playing Tiger Woods on the Wii in Times Square!  I’d go so far as to say this stuff isn’t on anyone in television’s mind outside of G4 and one or two other niche basic cable shows.

Bottom line, I’m hooked on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  The Roots‘ contributions as the show’s house band don’t hurt, nor does the drama of the Late Night reality show, 7th Floor West.

Updated: Now available www.seventhfloorwest.com