Official Contest of Marvels II Discussion Thread

[Harlekin]

So, does voting end today?

 

[Phaedrus45]

Voting should end today. I just want to make sure those who wanted to vote get the chance.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Thought I'd let my buddies here know about a website I discovered a while back, but never really did anything with until recently.

http://www.comicsforsale.com/start.cfs

This is a free site for posting your comics for sale. I just started, most of my comics are only a dollar, and I already got someone asking for my Rogue comics. (For me, I figure I would be lucky if my comics sold for a dollar on ebay; so, it seemed like a good price to try and get rid of them and still make a few bucks.) If you guys have stuff you want to get rid of and not have to do much, it's pretty cool, imo.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Dang it. I hate bad grading of comics. I got what seemed like a great deal on some Spidey comics. The listing said this:

19 ISSUES! I GRADE PRETTY HARSHLY, do take into account conditions on pre-1990's comics are a little bit below current grading system.
All VF gradings due to spine stress marks only. Most issues KEY ISSUES.
1. Amazing 249 (Kingpin, Hobgoblin 1983) VF+ 2. Amazing 251 (Hobgoblin 1983) NM-
3. Amazing 254 (Hob. Van 1984) NM 4. Amazing 259 (Hobgoblin 1984) NM-
BONUS ISSUES! Amazing 361-363 First Carnage Saga (w/Venom) 1992 All issues NM+
5. Amazing 260 (Hobgoblin 1984) NM 6. Amazing 261 (Hobgoblin 1984) NM-
7. Amazing 275 (Hobgoblin, Large issue 1985) NM 8. Amazing 289 (Hobgoblin revealed! Double sized) NM+
9. Amazing 286 (Gang War, Hobgoblin 1986) NM- 9 & 10. Amazing 293, 294 (Kraven Last Hunt) 1987 VF+
11. Amazing 298 (1rst McFarlane! 1987) VF+ 12. Amazing 312 (Green Vs. Hobgoblin! McFarlane 1988) NM+
13 & 14. Spiderman 6,7 (McFarlane! Hobgoblin, Ghostrider 1990) NM+
15 & 16. Spiderman 46,47 (Hobgoblin, Kraven's Son, Free Animation Cell 1994) NM+


These comics were so poorly graded, even by supposed "pre-90's" grading system they would rank only a VG-F. Plus, Amazing #286 & 298 had the same spine damage, and were listed at NM. AND, luckily I already owned Amazing 361, because it was a 2nd printing. Ugggg, disappointing.

 

[JewishHobbit]

Yeah, I hate when I get one of those types of auctions. I bought one of the Harry Potter books the other day which was in "Like New Condition" and "Looks great". It got to me and the spine was separated from the pages on the inside so that there's a big hole between the spine and the rest of the book. I was ticked! I'll have to rebuy it later now.

And by the way... Harry Potter is cool! I just never got around to doing anything with it. Never read any, never saw a movie, never cared. Then my friend got me to watch the first movie and I found it cute, so I decided to read the series (and watch the movies once I finish each book). I've just started Order of the Phoenix and I just can't stop reading them. My goal is to finish it before the movie comes out so I don't have to wait to see it (and I can stop putting my fingers in my ears, closing my eyes, and humming obnoxiously when the commercials for it comes on). I dont' know anything about what happens in the books so this is all new for me and I don't have to wait between books (especially since the last one is due out here shortly).

I'm loving it.... so for future referance, don't say anything about them that will ruin anything. I've gone out of my way to not spoil anything storyline-wise... it's not easy.

Any Potter fans here?

 

[wiegeabo]

Yeah, I hate when I get one of those types of auctions. I bought one of the Harry Potter books the other day which was in "Like New Condition" and "Looks great". It got to me and the spine was separated from the pages on the inside so that there's a big hole between the spine and the rest of the book. I was ticked! I'll have to rebuy it later now.

And by the way... Harry Potter is cool! I just never got around to doing anything with it. Never read any, never saw a movie, never cared. Then my friend got me to watch the first movie and I found it cute, so I decided to read the series (and watch the movies once I finish each book). I've just started Order of the Phoenix and I just can't stop reading them. My goal is to finish it before the movie comes out so I don't have to wait to see it (and I can stop putting my fingers in my ears, closing my eyes, and humming obnoxiously when the commercials for it comes on). I dont' know anything about what happens in the books so this is all new for me and I don't have to wait between books (especially since the last one is due out here shortly).

I'm loving it.... so for future referance, don't say anything about them that will ruin anything. I've gone out of my way to not spoil anything storyline-wise... it's not easy.

Any Potter fans here?

I've only seen the films, but have really enjoyed them. I haven't read any of the books, though.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Yeah, I've been on the Potter bandwagon since book 2. I remember reading about how popular these kids books were for grownups, even. So, I got book 1 and 2 for my ex to read. I cannot wait for the new movie to come out and the final book.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Oh, I saw Surf's Up this weekend. It might be my favorite film of the summer, so far. It was definitely the most surprising, thinking I was just seeing another Pixar-type film. The documentary style worked really well, just when I thought I was sick of penguin movies. I laughed more than the kids in the theater.

BTW, we've only had 6 people vote in some of the threads; so, I'll wait to see if we can get a couple more people to vote.

 

[JewishHobbit]

I've only seen the films, but have really enjoyed them. I haven't read any of the books, though.

I love reading, but it takes a lot for a book to keep my interest all the way through. The books definately do that (though one or two of the early ones got a little slow in the middle). And as always, the book are way better than the movies. I suggest them highly.

After this series I'm not sure what I'm going to move on to next. I started the Wheel of Time series a year or two back and got about 3/4 ways through the first book, but ran out of time to read it and it fell away. I kinda want to get back to it, but with there being one more book needing to be written, and the author dying of cancer and may possibly not finish it.... I don't really want to start it and not be able to finish reading it. So I'm waiting on that one.

Any other suggestions? I'm typically more into fantasy type stuff. Normal everyday world books just bore me usually, there has to be something magical or fantasy like about it.

 

[Phaedrus45]

I'm reading a pretty decent book called "I Love You, Beth Cooper." It's not fantasy; but, if you are a fan of movies like American Grafitti or Dazed and Confused, this book follows the same line. It's graduation day, and this very nerdy Valedictorian starts the book by giving his speech and declares everyone should do what they've always been longing to do, and he declares his love for Beth Cooper. Of course, Beth's military boyfriend isn't too happy about this, and from this simple speech follows a night of living hell (and bliss at times). It's pretty funny in spots, a quick read (although, I've only gotten to about page 100 because of reading my weekly comics between chapters), and something different than I usually pick up.

 

[Ahura Mazda]

I love reading, but it takes a lot for a book to keep my interest all the way through. The books definately do that (though one or two of the early ones got a little slow in the middle). And as always, the book are way better than the movies. I suggest them highly.

After this series I'm not sure what I'm going to move on to next. I started the Wheel of Time series a year or two back and got about 3/4 ways through the first book, but ran out of time to read it and it fell away. I kinda want to get back to it, but with there being one more book needing to be written, and the author dying of cancer and may possibly not finish it.... I don't really want to start it and not be able to finish reading it. So I'm waiting on that one.

Any other suggestions? I'm typically more into fantasy type stuff. Normal everyday world books just bore me usually, there has to be something magical or fantasy like about it.

The Sword of Truth series is not too bad. It is by Terry Goodkind. Of course if you like the wheel of time series, the Song of Ice and Fire series should also be interesting.

I really hope the final book comes out in the WoT series. I would not advise anyone on starting it unless that final bok is published as JH is right, the author Robert Jordan is dying of lymph cancer.

 

[JewishHobbit]

Has anyone read the Shannara series? I read the Sword of Shannara, and whiel it was good, it was so blatantly a LotR ripoff that it turned me off. But he keeps coming out with new books and people seem to like them so he can't be that bad.

Song of Ice and Fire and Sword of Truth... I remember looking at those and being curious. I might give them a shot.

 

[Phaedrus45]

In the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, a new fantasy book got EW's pick of the week. It's called Acacia, written by David Anthony Durham. I'll attempt to give you the article below:

Like C.S. Lewis' classic "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe," David Anthony Durham's thrilling new fantasy, Acacia, follows a quartet of young siblings - two male and two female - for whom growing up means accepting the mantle of royalty in some grand, mythical kingdom. But where the fate of Lewis' Narnia turned on the treachery of one greedy little brother and a bite of Turkish Delight, the sun-drenched land of Acacia crumbles under the weight of one vile betrayal after another. There are no magical moral compass points like evil witch queens or Christ-like lions, just a host of delicioiusly self-interested parties jostling for power and resources. In that way, it's also a bit like "Dynasty" - with swords.

The plot, typical of many fantasy novels, is intimidatingly complicated. When acacian ruler Leodan Akaran is assassinated, he leaves behind a kingdom of shady allegiances and secrets as ugly as his addiction to "the mist," an opiate that the kingdom has been trading for centuries with a mysterious race known as the Lothan Aklun. In exchange, they receive Acacian children as slaves. Now, having hooked most of the realm, these glorified pushers demand more flesh. Meanwhile, Acacia's enemies, the Mein, slighted long ago by Leodan's forebears, invade from the frozen north. Three of the Akaran orphans are forced into exile, where they witness firsthand the scars of their family's regime. The fourth, haughty Corinn, becomes a prisoner in her own palace, seduced by her captor. Haunted by their sullied inheritance and hunted at home adn abroad, Leodan's chldren struggle, reluctantly at times, to reclaim the throne and salvage the Akaran legacy.

Since the narrative rotates between roughly a dozen perspectives, introducing many characters' darkest desires, it's tough to decide whom to root for. Heroes wrestle with self-doubt. Traitors seek redemption. The righteous are guided by false faith. And innocents are corrupted. "Before you die," says Corinn, coldly sentencing her lover to death and ending the Mein's decade-long coup, "you should know all the ways in which you've failed."

In its 576 pages, Acacia tackles some big themes: In addition to military occupation, slavery, and substance abuse, Durham weaves in holy war and chemical weapons. Since this is the author's first foray into fantasy - it makes sense that he would bring Earth's ills with him. But you don't have to draw parallels between, say, Halliburton and Acacia's seafaring war profiteers to savor all the throat-cutting and dirty dealing. It is enough to know that Durham's new world - like our own - is crawling with wickedly fascinating scumbags. A-

 

[JewishHobbit]

Hmm, that's got my attention. Maybe I'll give it a shot.

 

[Ahura Mazda]

Has anyone read the Shannara series? I read the Sword of Shannara, and whiel it was good, it was so blatantly a LotR ripoff that it turned me off. But he keeps coming out with new books and people seem to like them so he can't be that bad.

Song of Ice and Fire and Sword of Truth... I remember looking at those and being curious. I might give them a shot.

I have read the Shannara series and really the series does not change too much from the themes and the tram followed in the sword of shannara. It is not too bad.

 

[Ahura Mazda]

Would anybody mind if I send PM sout to I/P, Zoken, MI to see if they would be willing to vote?

 

[JewishHobbit]

Not at all.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Please do. I'll end voting before I go home today, more than likely. I'm thinking we might see Hippy by then.

 

[Ahura Mazda]

I sent out a PM. I hope we get a few more votes because only six vote kind of sucks.

 

[Trigger]

My votes are in. I forgot to check in on the debates earlier. On a random note, having to post more for a larger avatar sucks. I've been with this site for almost two (or three?) years now.

 

[Phaedrus45]

My votes are in. I forgot to check in on the debates earlier. On a random note, having to post more for a larger avatar sucks. I've been with this site for almost two (or three?) years now.

Yeah, they should be a post count or length of time on the site. Not everybody is as verbose as others; and, that shouldn't be a punishment to those who are select in what they say. If it wasn't for the CoM, I'd be under 2,000 posts, definitely.

 

[Harlekin]

A larger avatar is a reward, yes, but not having a larger avatar doesn't constitute a punishment. You earn it eventually, either way. Besides, if you don't post often anyway, it shouldn't matter.

 

[hippy fascist]

Sorry about the delay

my votes are finally in

 

[Phaedrus45]

Voting Is Over!!!

 

[hippy fascist]

http://tv-links.co.uk/show.do/4/3916

enjoy