When your heroes turn out to be dicks

So this week, this happened:
Roddy Piper vs Steve Austin
-Honestly, I don't really believe Steve Austin. I think he DID ask for Piper to be taken off Podcast one, and he's just trying to save face. But, what REALLY pissed me off was this:
Piper looses Legends deal
-Really? Austin had to take it to this level? Now, I realize anyone reading this might think that my love for Roddy Piper is clouding my judgement. Not so. Do I think Piper is 100% innocent? No. I mean, c'mon, it's Roddy Piper. Shooting his mouth off is what MADE his career! In my opinion, the very LEAST he should've done was sent the show to Austin before he send it to Podcast One to be uploaded to their feed to get some kind of approval from Austin. It's just professional courtesy. But, this is in NO WAY shape or form a reason to pull Piper's Legends deal. So, to the point of this article, what DOES happen when someone you've admired turns out to be a dick. I've met LOTS of comic creators, wrestlers, and actors over the years at the hundreds of conventions that I've been to, and yes, some of them have turned out to be HUGE dicks. Was I disappointing? Sure. But, it's taught  me one thing over the years; they're only human. What you see on TV is entertainment. It's them being someone that they're not. So, you have to take these things with a grain of salt. Now, on the flip side, a great many people that I've met over the years are incredibly nice. They took the time to answer questions, sign autographs, take pictures, you name it. What the hell am I saying? What's the point to all this? The point is, when you look up to anyone but yourself, there's a good chance you're gonna get disappointed. So, maybe YOU should be the person in your life that you look up to. That way, you'll never be let down.
-Back to Roddy Piper. Since he's not getting any more money from WWE, I encourage you, if you're a fan of his to visit his site and buy something. You can do that here. He's got TONS of awesome stuff. Everything from t-shirts to soda pop to yes, I'm not kidding, BUBBLE GUM! If you don't see anything there that you like, head on over to Prowrestlingtees and check out his line of shirts over there. They're good people, and you'll get your stuff fast, and for a great price. Now go on, check out those links, but some stuff, then get back to the SDCC coverage. I can guarantee, today is gonna hold some really big surprises.

THESE ARE THE BIONIC MAN TOYS I'VE ALWAYS WANTED!!!!

Ever since I was old enough to know what action figures were and realize the difference between Star Wars and Buck Rogers, there was one toy that I wanted that I never got.. And that was the Steve Austin Six Million Dollar Man figure. Just look at this huge piece of awesomeness:



When I finally DID get this toy for my birthday, I was a little dissappointed to learn just how huge it was. All my other toys were 3&3.75", he was a GIANT compared to all of them. Well, I had to wait about 30 years, but guess what? I'm finally getting my 4 inch Steve Austin figure!!!!! Courtesy of Zica Toys, they just sent out this press release yesterday:

"Six Million Dollar Man Action Figures Official Announcement!
New from ZICA Toys, The Six Million Dollar Man retro style action figures! Get ready to travel back to 1974 and relive the adventures of the world’s first bionic man. Sculpted in 3.75” scale, these harken back to the heyday of action figures, when the designs were simple and the fun factor was off the charts!

Assortment 1 includes Colonel Steve Austin (red tracksuit) and Bionic Bigfoot. ZICA Toys has big plans for this line and is hopeful that vehicles and playsets will eventually be available. Variants and exclusives are also planned but rest assured that everyone will have a fair opportunity to get them. Preorders are expected to begin soon so keep checking your favorite online retailer for more info."

-Best news ever!!!!! They don't mention a SDCC exclusive, but here's hoping they can get one out by the con. I can't WAIT to get these!! I'll post figure reviews, plenty of pictures and other goodies, but you'll have to wait about a week or so between the time they come out and the time I get it done. Because I'll totally be playing with these in my backyard!!

Bionic Man #1 Review

The last time Colonel Steve Austin was published in comic book form was in June of 1978. 33 years later, Dynamite Entertainment brings him back in The Bionic Man #1. Ladies & Gentlemen-it was worth the wait. For those of you expecting Steve Austin to be full on bionic in this issue, you'll be a little disappointed. But, that's about the only thing that's lacking in this first issue. Dynamite made a spectacular desicion by putting their A-Team of Phil Hester & Jonathan Lau on this book. The team did a fantastic job adapting Kevin Smith's Green Hornet screenplay into a fun, action-packed and all around excellent comic, and to no one's surprise, they do the same thing here.

-In the first issue we're introduced to all the main characters & villians. One of the things that impressed me most about the book was that the villian is actually a SUPER villian. Not a guy in a suit or a bad guy with an eye patch and a grugde that is common in modern day comics. He's totally evil, and he's got what looks to be some sort of bionic powers of his own. There's some great set up for the villian's motivation,while not giving everything away yet. Your definately left wondering just what the villian's motivation is and where he came from.

-If I'd have to pick a favorite aspect of the book, it would be the characterization of Steve Austin himself. Smith & Hester do a fantastic job of giving Steve a real personality and not just making him a Hal Jordon or Maverick from Top Gun clone. He's got the right amount of cockiness, swagger and heart. In a surprising twist(tiny spoiler alert)Jamie Summers is also introduced in this first issue as Steve's fiancee. And don't worry, Oscar and Rudy are back, and as charming as ever.

-My hat's off to artist Jonathan Lau for making the action in this book SO kinetic. Flight scenese are really tough to pull off in comics, but Lau really makes the most of his panels without dragging it out for page after page.

-All in all, this was a GREAT first issue. Very excessable to any new reader that's not been exposed to the franchise and yet familiar enough to make long time fans of the property feel like they're taking a trip home to visit old friends. I honestly can't recommend this book highly enough. Put on your red track suit and RUN down to your local comic store and pick this up right away!!!!