ArtisticallyChill

Last week, there wasn’t much coming out for New Comic Book Day. But BLACKEST NIGHT # 6 did come out and it is definitely worth mentioning. With both Marvel’s NECROSHA and BLACKEST NIGHT running side by side now, I must say that BLACKEST NIGHT has been a more entertaining read. Both stories involve the dead rising from their graves but I’m finding NECROSHA a bit harder to follow. NECROSHA is also a bit more localized to the mutant population while BLACKEST NIGHT is on a more universal scale. Unfortunately, NECROSHA is an X-title crossover event. So if you don’t collect certain X-titles, you’ll have to pick them up if you are following the NECROSHA storyline. Whereas in BLACKEST NIGHT, the story unfolds in its own mini-series. Any tie-ins that involve other DC titles beyond GREEN LANTERN and GREEN LANTERN CORPS are merely supplemental and aren’t required to fully understand what is going on in the storyline.

December 30, 2009 Pick Up:
• BLACKEST NIGHT # 6
• ECHO # 18
• NECROSHA: THE GATHERING

PICK OF THE WEEK: BLACKEST NIGHT # 6

Written by Geoff Johns; Art and cover by Ivan Reis and Oclair Albert; Variant cover by Rodolfo Migliari; Sketch variant cover by Ivan Reis

The secrets of Nekron are revealed as darkness consumes the DC Universe. Everything else: TOP SECRET.

After reading this issue, I was rather surprised at the turn of events that unfolded. I’m also excited to see what happens next. I’m hoping that with only two issues left in the series that BLACKEST NIGHT ends with a rather big ‘OMFG’ of an ending.

SERENA’S PICK: ECHO # 18

writer/Artist – Terry Moore

Julie Martin channels the other woman living inside her to break into HeNRI’s top-secret research facility and steal the rest of the Beta Suit. But what they find is more than they could have imagined – and far more deadly!

If there’s something about Terry Moore’s work that is easily noticeable, it’s that with each issue, the story and its characters keep getting better. And with the way the story unfolds, it’s almost a mystery with every issue. You’re given enough story to see something big is coming up on the horizon but you can never predict what that will be. And that’s a bit rare in comic books these days, especially if you’ve read comic books mostly from DC and Marvel growing up. After a while, the story arcs become rather predictable no matter how epic or universe shattering it may be.

~ LoneWolf

We finally picked up the Irken Elite today. It’s only been a month. In that time, I’ve only had to walk to the comic book store a few times in the blistering cold, take a few nauseating rides on the Dial-A-Ride, and mooch a few rides from some friends. It’s damn good to have our car back. The guys at the collision repair center did a great job with the repairs. The only reason it took so long was because of the insurance claims rep had to stop in 3 times to approve of the repair costs because as the repairs were being made, more damage was found that could not be seen during the initial estimate. Total damage came to about $3200. I got an itemized receipt of all the repairs done once I paid my deductible ($500). And all the Toyota certified parts have a lifetime warranty. So if I encounter any problems with the radiator and the AC, I can take it back to the repair shop. The Irken Elite runs like it was never was in an accident. But I still gotta give it an engine tune up since it still sounds like a pod-racer. ;p

~ LoneWolf

So Serena had the day off the day before Xmas Eve and so she decided to finish up her last minute shopping. On her way home, going 10 miles per hour, coming out of a right turn, she hit some black ice. The Echo fishtailed. Serena did her best in evasive maneuvering, and managed to hit only a snowbank. The car was ramped up on the snowbank pretty well so she couldn’t back out. Luckily she wasn’t hurt. As I was making my way to her location, getting a ride from one of the office staff, she called to let me know someone was nice enough to tow her out. She drove the Echo to a nearby parking lot and waited for me.

When I arrived, I was relieved to see that Serena was uninjured. The Echo (aka The Irken Elite) did sustain some bumper damaged but there was more damage underneath. The lining by the right front tire had come off due to the impact. The next morning I took it to a collision repair center in town and got a free estimate. Best case scenario was that I could pay out of pocket if the damage was under $1000. But that scenario quickly faded after the claims coordinator went over the damages with me. The impact apparently nudged the radiator, bending the supports holding it and making the hood hard to open. Total estimate for the repairs is $2700.

I’ve already filed the claim (MY FIRST EVER!) with my auto insurance. The claims rep I talked to was very nice and impressed that this was my first claim. Even the guy at the collision center was impressed with that too. So after a brief call to Serena to get her statement. I opted out of my insurance’s concierge service only because the Toyota Certified Collision Center was highly recommended and I was more concerned about getting a quality repair than a speedy repair. The insurance rep didn’t give me a hassle about not taking the concierge service and will be making his way to the collision center to inspect the damages and negotiate a fair estimate with the claims coordinator sometime this week after I drop off the ECHO tomorrow morning.

Hopefully this won’t put us in too much of financial bind beginning in 2009. I really wanna take Serena to San Diego for the Comic-Con.

~ LoneWolf