I almost didn’t put this one together today but when I thought about skipping it I just couldn’t. How else would I relate the pointless parts of my life to the online community! Unfortunately The Humper will be a little light on content this week. I just finished pushing all my Hot Docs reviews through and I’m still 1 post behind, plus whatever I watch tonight and of course that fancy Iron Man movie I’ll be staying up late for on Thursday night. Anyway, on to The Humper!

ON THE SHELF

Astro City: The Dark Age Book Four #4

Much to my comic geek delight, Astro City Book Four #4 came out this week. This isn’t the typical hero in tights story. Sure it’s got its share of superheroes flying around but the main focus of the story is on two ordinary brothers. There parents were killed in a fire when they were just kids and the story follows them as adults, tracking down the villain who started that fire.

I was originally picking these comics up because of the covers by Alex Ross, my absolute favorite artist. Just look at that pic. Nobody can paint a hero like Ross does and I have a few of his posters gracing the walls of my home, autographed of course when I got to meet him at a convention a few years ago. Wow, was it that long ago now?

This story has actually been broken up into 4 four part stories and this is the finally issue. At least I think it is, I haven’t actually gotten around to reading it yet. Gimme a break, I only got it today!

ON THE SCREEN

Besides heading out Thursday night for Iron Man 2 I managed to pick up some cheap flicks that I either haven’t seen for a long time or haven’t seen at all. It hurts me to admit that I have yet to watch The Wicker Man and The Birds. Yeah, I know, how could I miss those ones.

Now The Wicker Man is the 73 version and not that one with Nicholas Cage that I always hear is a giant pile of crap. All those books I’ve been reading lately keep mentioning it and when I saw it for 10 bucks I couldn’t say no. I didn’t get quite as good a deal on The Birds but just knowing that I hadn’t seen it drove me slowly insane while I walked around the store. I did see Repulsion which I’ve also been interested in seeing but I wasn’t plunking down 35 bucks for it. I love movies but I could get three flicks for that price.

The last film I grabbed was Fright Night. I haven’t seen that movie since I was a kid so I’m not sure how it will hold up so many years later but I’m keeping my fingers crossed. What I love about it is that Roddy McDowall plays a horror host in the flick and is recruited by the lead character to help him off his vampire neighbour. Try as I might I can’t find the flick about horror hosts, American Scary, so I’ll have to make do with this one.

ON THE ROAD

Finally the day has almost come for the Rue Morgue Black 100 party. I’ve already picked up the 100th issue which has a giant feature on the Hammer horror films among other things. I’ve only gotten through the first little bit of the issue but it’s a great read. Rue Morgue is easily my favorite of the horror themed mags that come out every month. It always has a great cover, the articles inside are informative and cover all the aspects of horror from movies to music, books, art, comics and games.

I’m not really sure what to expect from the Black 100 party. I’m used to either going to movie screenings or clubs and I’m not sure where this event fits in. A band called Squid Lid will be there to perform and I had to check them out on Myspace to see what they were about. I’m kind of digging it so I can’t wait to check them out. Not to mention the Suicide Girls will be in attendance that night. It should be a very sexy and horrific evening and I’ll make sure to let everyone know how it turns out this weekend.

Under the marquee – Will