Mark's Epic Blog of Randomness

 By Mark Rodriguez I was there back in February 2012, hanging at the now-gone Krispy Kreme on Fremont Street, Las Vegas Nevada, when I saw that they were opening some new place called the Heart Attack Grill right across the street. The restaurant was openly admitting it was one of the unhealthiest places to eat and they were running with the joke that if you eat these overly fat burgers, you might get a heart attack. I was hearing their loud speaker advertise their triple by-bass burgers, flatline fries and saying jokes like 'we only take cash or card because you might die before the check clears'.   A few days before opening day back in 2012 They committed to the whole bit. People that weighed over 350 pounds get a free meal. Some burgers were so big that if you were able to finish them in one sitting, you get a free ride on a wheelchair. There was a fake ambulance parked outside. The owners knew what they were doing and openly embraced this. And sadly, yes, there have b...

 By Mark Rodriguez We returned to Third Eye for the next week of their Free Comic Book Month. This time the theme was sci-fi and fantasy where we got to choose between a sci-fi book and a fantasy book. Since I went with Wendy, we got 'em both. We also got our regular pullbox goodies and some comics in the mail. Spider-Man/Venom Death Spiral Body Count # 1- Now that the Death Spiral story is over, we get a one-shot about Torment's origin story. Barbara Gordon- Breakout # 1- In a recent Batman issue, Babs got caught and she denounced the Bat-Family. Now under lock up, was all of this part of her plan?  Black Cat # 10- Felicia is teaming up with Venom once again. Unlike other Marvel comics these days that seem to end in ten issues... there is an issue 11 (and 12) coming!  King Spawn # 50 - This was the free Fantasy book that we picked up. Planet Death # 0- This was the free Sci-Fi book that we got. This one stands out because it's printed in newsprint paper. Even the cov...

 By Mark Rodriguez Here's another one from the Comics Giveaway Day, and it's the start of another big Avengers event.   "The Long View" opens in the middle of a full-on battle between Red Hulk in a military uniform and several other Hulks, and heroes like Wolverine, the Sam Wilson Captain America and others. Tony Stark, in his busted up Iron Man armor tells Ross (red hulk) that this isn't the way and there are already many dead. Red Hulk tells Tony that he keeps going on about being a futurist but he denies the future at every opportunity. He says the future and its revolution is here. Captain Marvel flies in and says she'll kill Ross. She slams into him, knocking across the battlefield. She hits him with a massive blast. Just then there is a reset and wee Red Hulk holding up a defeated Spider-Man as other defeated heroes lie around him. He says the heroes could have joined him and brought stability and peace to the world but they didn't listen. Mr. Fanta...

 By Mark Rodriguez We saw this one at Alpha Comics during Free Comic Book Day and decided to check it out. As Wendy picked up a copy, a fellow comic book fan told us how amazing the series is and how we should definitely check it out. Based on a popular horror-themed webtoon, School Bus Graveyard finally sees print!   The story opens with several kids running through the woods, each of them armed. A girl with long braided blonde hair asked for the time. A kid with glasses says eight minutes. The girl hears footsteps behind them and says it's close. The kids continue to run as the dark figure runs behind them. They run into an area filled with abandoned school buses. One of them yells for them to close the gate and they do so. The monster arrives just as the gate's metal doors close in its face.  The monster bangs upon the metal gate but it can't get through. The kids breathe a sigh of relief and head towards one of the buses. As they get inside, one of them finally says ...

 By Mark Rodriguez After the Turtles dealt with the Pantheon in a 3-issue epic, we now get a bit of a breather issue. Krang is sick and Bebop reads him a bedtime story? Hilarity ensues? Let's take a look. "And now for something completely Different" opens with Krang sick in bed and sneezing loudly. He gets a knock on the door and he tells the person he is indisposed. After more knocking, Krang gives up and tells the person to come in. Bebop steps in, calling Krang 'boss'. Krang says he is a general and not some common hood to be called 'boss'. He sneezes again and asks Bebop what he wants. Bebop says Shredder is elsewhere with Rocksteady and he's bored. He wonder if Krang has an evil plan for him or someone to beat up. Krang says he's sick and has Utrom Flu, which even he admits should be impossible since he's only one on Earth. Bebop says it might just be allergies. Krang says he doesn't get allergies and just wants to sleep. Bebop says w...

 By Mark Rodriguez It looks like this yeah there's a subsect of Free Comic Book Day called Comics Giveaway Day, as we see some of the books this year have that logo on them instead of the FCBD one. For a good while now, the He-Man license has been passed from DC to Dark Horse. Based on the cover, it looks like this one will be based more on the original toyline than anything else. This book is good timing as there's a new He-Man live action move on the horizon. "Telling Tales" opens at a social gathering in Eternos City, just a bit outside the walls of the Eternos Palace. Some women are scouting for potential suitors and one of them, named Emirelle, has struck up a conversation with Prince Adam. Emirelle was telling the prince a story about a milk maid, and now wants to hear about some of his tales of living in the palace and visiting different lands. Adam says he's a master story teller and has just the tale for her. Prince Adam tells the story of when Hordak an...

 By Mark Rodriguez We hit up Third Eye for their 'Free Comic Book Month'. There will be different free comics every Saturday, and if we make it for every week of May, we can choose from several free graphic novels. We also went to VAComicCon and got ourselves some interesting looking indie comics and comic collected volumes.    Jubilee Deadly Reunion # 1- Jubilee runs into some family issues. This mini was supposed to come out last week (April 29th) but it was pushed back a week for some reason. I am trying to cut down on comics in my pullbox and I told Wendy in an off-hand comment that 'I wouldn't be getting any new series unless... i dunno.. Jubilee gets her own series', and here we go. I see you, Marvel. Ghost Machine The Official Handbook # 2- Wendy picked this up. She hasn't grabbed a Ghost Machine book in a while.  Batgirl # 16-   Cassandra's adventures continue. Batman # 9- Based on what I heard, something bad happens to classic Barbara Gordon. Cas...

 By Mark Rodriguez One of the comics I always look forward to every year for Free Comic Book Day is whatever Street Fighter comic Udon will throw at us. This time around we look at Ryu as he faces several opponents in his past, present and future! Let's check it out!  "Lost in Thought" opens with Ryu meditating by a waterfall. He focuses his mind and controls his breathing until it feels like the world stops around him. Ryu has an out of body experience as he ponders on how he fights to better himself and surpass his limits. He asks himself about the meaning of strength. Is it to throw the strongest punch or land the swiftest kick? He wonders if his fighting style, Ansatsuken, is the the source of his strength or if it comes from somewhere else. Just then, Ken leaps in to attack him with his hurricane kick, only this is the younger long-ponytail version of his friend. Ryu looks around and finds himself back at Gouken's dojo. He remembers this day and this fight. Ken ...

 By Mark Rodriguez The Mad Gear gang has kidnapped the Mayor's daughter Jessica to try to buy his services. The mayor Mike Haggar and his friends Cody and Guy decided to take matters into their own hands and started a rampage against the Mad Gears. After a run in with Edi E and Lucia, they were informed where to find Bred, who drove off with Jessica. Meanwhile Bred had already dumps Jessica off at the main hideout of the leader of the Mad Gear gang!    "Breakdown" opens with Bred showing off his new car to Abigail and naming all its features. Abigail says it's a tiny car and asks why he didn't get a truck. Bred says trucks are for work, while cars are a symbol. As Bred goes on and on about his car, Abigail is grabbed and pulled aside. Bred turns to see Abigail knocked out. Cody asks Bred to tell him where he took Jessica or they'll beat up his best friend. Bred says he barely likes Abigail. Cody says he meant his other best friend. Cody, Guy and Haggar smash ...