Beer Money Well Spent In September

By Beau Smith

This week’s Busted Knuckles is dedicated to: James Redington

Creator/Writer/Stand Up Guy

James Redington, gone at 28 years old. Far too soon, but in that short time he made his kindness known to a lot of folks. It’s the duty of those of us that knew him well and a little, to keep passing on the sparks from his heart that will never die.

--Beau Smith
The Flying Fist Ranch
7/10/07

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Beer Money Well Spent In September

Fear Agent: The Last Goodbye #4
Rick Remender, Tony Moore & Ande Parks.
Dark Horse Comics
$2.99



The only thing that’s better than beating the snot out of commies is slapping the slime out of aliens. If you haven’t been reading Fear Agent then maybe it’s you that needs some body fluids knocked out of you.

Doctor Solar: Man Of The Atom Volume 4
Paul S. Newman & Frank Bolle
Dark Horse Comics
$49.95



As a kid I didn’t always understand this comic. As an adult, I still don’t always understand it, but I like it. There’s something odd and crazy about the art and stories, but like some weird fetish (Not that I’d know anything about weird fetishes) it just draws you in and won’t let go. At a steep cover price of $49.95 it won’t be in everyone’s budget, but if you want something you’ll be figuring out for years to come, then this one’s for you.

Serenity: Those Left Behind Hardcover
Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, Will Conrad, Laura Martin and Adam Hughes.
Dark Horse Comics
$19.95



If you missed the TV show, Firefly, then buy the boxed DVD set. If you’ve missed the comic book, then buy this book. Firefly / Serenity was one of the best TV shows ever prematurely ejaculated from the network schedule. We all know that’s just wrong. I highly recommend that you support this book. What Star Wars was to the majority of the world the crew of Serenity is to me.

The Goon: Chinatown Hardcover
Eric Powell
Dark Horse Comics
$19.95



The Goon is what Will Eisner wanted comics to be about. Story, art, action humor, horror… well… it’s all here and always is in The Goon. Eric Powell should quit being such a nice guy and start wearing all black leather, or some goofy pin-stripped pimp suits and shave his head, maybe then he’ll get the attention his work deserves. I hope he never has to stoop to jabbering with a British accent or being the assistant to the assistant for a reality TV show.

Booster Gold #2
Geoff Johns, Jeff Katz, Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund
DC Comics
$2.99



A solid creative team and a character that has never been given his dues. Put em’ together and you have a really good book. Plus it’s got everyone’s bad guy of the month, Sinestro in it. Hard to go wrong when that big headed hero hater is on the scene.

JLA Wedding Special #1
Dwayne McDuffie, Mike McKone & Andy Lanning
DC Comics
$3.99



Dwayne McDuffie is one of my favorite writers, add that to the fact that he’s a truly stand up person and you’ve got more than enough reason to buy and read this book. This issue has pre-wedding activities, bachelor parties and the rumblings of the new Injustice League. Dwayne is a master at showing how to write character in characters. There’s no clichés here. No flavor of the month. Nope. This is what super hero comics are supposed to be about.

Justice Society Of America #9
Geoff Johns, Dale Eaglesham & Ruy Jose
DC Comics
$2.99



More Wildcat, more Power Girl, more of that goofy Starman and all that wonderful Eaglesham artwork. Don’t tell me you’ve been waiting for the trade paperback… buy this one as it rolls out.

Amazing Spider-Man #544
J. Michael Straczynski & Joe Quesada
Marvel Comics
$3.99



Part one of four. “What would you do if you had one more day?” That’s the question asked. Hmmmm… let me guess… Aunt May is about to die. The only way for Peter Parker/Spider-Man to save her is to give up something so dear to him… other than Aunt May that is. I’m guessin’ that would be Mary Jane. I’m guessin’ that he’s gonna have to make a deal with the devil (or in this case Mephisto) to save Aunt May. As you and I know, those crafty devil types always have to have something in return. Something that will make the hero suffer for a long time. I guess it’s the easiest way to make Peter Parker single again. After all, you know how long divorces can drag on. (At least I remember.) Don’t you wish real life was this simple?

Avengers Classic #4
Stan Lee, Dwayne McDuffie, Jack Kirby & Michael Avon Oeming
Marvel Comics
$2.99

Add an Art Adams cover to this and you’ve got a deal! Here’s something for old and new readers alike. A very smart marketing package from Marvel that’ll get my beer money.

Irredeemable Ant-Man #12
Robert Kirkman, Phil Hester & Andre Parks.
Marvel Comics
$2.99



Are we having fun yet? Of course we are. More of Beau’s beer money spent on comics. If this keeps up I’ll be more sober than any 12 step program.

Desperadoes: Buffalo Dreams Trade Paperback
Jeff Mariotte & Alberto Dose
IDW Publishing
$17.99



A TRUE horror / western that does both genres proud. Jeff Mariotte is one of the most under rated writers in comics. Smart stories, smarter dialogue and always a twist that you didn’t see coming. This is a book that makes a perfect gift for any of your non-comic book reading friends. Not a bad gift for yourself either. You have my permission to buy me a copy.

Zombie-Proof #1
J.C. Vaughn, Vincent Spencer & Neil Vokes
Moonstone
$3.50



Power tools, Zombies and a hero that looks a lot like me in my younger days. Top that off with it being written and created by J.C. Vaughn of 24/Jack Bauer comic book fame and I think you’ve got a slam dunk for making me spend MY beer money. I’ve seen this one and it’s a movie-put-to-print. This guy could be the older brother of Ash . Are you listening, Sam Rami?

Okay, that should get you started saving for September. I know I’m gonna be a six-pack or two short of a good binge. I guess we all gotta sober up now and then.

Why does it always have to be me?

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Busted Knuckles Manly Cover Of The Week

Sheena Queen Of The Jungle #2
Fiction House



By looking at this cover you can see that it has something for everyone. A beautiful butt kicking babe in a fur bathing suit, a huge gorilla busting out of a cage, a boiling pot of hero soup just waiting for the main ingredient and a bad guy faking to be a cannibal while wearing an alligator suit and packing a .45 automatic. See….I told you comics today were lacking in cool story material.

This is a real classic for anyone that enjoys over the top vintage comics. You’ll never go wrong finding one of these gems in any condition at a comic shop, convention or Ebay.

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Busted Knuckles Babe Of The Week

Padma Lakshmi
- actress/TV host/author/UN ambassador




Padma, the Indian-American beauty, has quite a resume. Actress, TV show host, Author and even United Nations ambassador. All that and until just the other day was the wife of author, Salman Rushdie. She’s got the full life thing going on, doesn’t she? Did I mention she can really cook?

My favorite role of hers was as Sean Bean’s nemesis in Sharpe’s Challenge. Oh, yeah, I think she was even on Star Trek Enterprise.

Tall, leggy and exotic. That’s Padma. That’s why she’s this week’s Busted Knuckles Babe Of The Week.

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The Roundup

Still hot here in the semi-south. Humid as hell and sweat is the suit of the day. I should’ve known this drought stuff would happen as soon as I cleaned out my gutters.

I hope the weather is better on your end of the stick. If not, do like me and crank up the central air.




I read online today that Fox TV is gonna reurn the first few episodes of the yanked TV series DRIVE. I also heard they’re gonna air the other three episodes they didn’t show. Not that it’ll save the show, but I highly recommend you check em’ all out. It was a fun show with a great cast. Like comics, sometimes I just don’t understand the people that run Hollywood.

I’ve got family coming in this week-end, so expect to hear police sirens and look for the film crew of COPS in my area. I’ll make sure I have my shirt off before they haul me out of the house or truck and handcuff me.

Stay outta trouble,

Beau Smith
The Flying Fist Ranch
P.O. Box 706
Ceredo, WV. 25507
http://www.flyingfistranch.com
http://www.myspace,com/beausmithranch
http://www.comicspace.com/beausmith

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Prove your manhood by visiting Beau at the Flying Fist Forum!

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