Enemy of Peanuts

Simply because I love sci-fi and have moustaches on my mind, here’s a collection of some fantastic ‘staches from space!
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This past Saturday at Wizard World Philadelphia, I hosted the “Battlestar Galactica” panel featuring Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama), Michael Hogan (Colonel Saul Tigh), Nicki Clyne (Crewman Specialist Cally Henderson) and Luciana Carro (Captain Louanne ‘Kat’ Katraine)—easily the highlight of my entire career at Wizard and the greatest nerd moment of my life.

I’ve been bubbling with excitement over all the little intricacies and amazing moments of the hour I sat on stage with the foursome of Galactica crew members, and figured I’d sit down and write my official documentation of this momentous story. I managed not to completely freak out in a fanboy fit while hosting, so I think I’ve earned the right to gush a little bit here—and gush I shall.

Also, there will be some “BSG” plot spoilers ahead, as we talked about the series finale and the upcoming DVD “The Plan,” so be forewarned.
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Thanks to Netflix’s “Long Wait” finally disappearing on the new “Battlestar Galactica” spin-off “Caprica,” I got a chance to check out the DVD version of the pilot episode. After reading a few live blogs over at United Monkee and elsewhere on the web over the past few weeks, I thought I’d try my hand at one while watching “Caprica.” It’s a bit choppy and full of knee-jerk reactions, but that means it’s full of outrageous, off the cuff observations! Huzzah!
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As a writer and editor (as well as an intern, reporter and freelancer), Jim Gibbons has racked up a load of clips and links to his name across the print and online mediums. Here’s a semi-comprehensive catalog of his work.

Freelance Writer (Late 2009)
Comic Book Resources

• CARTHAGE IS KING IN “CITIZEN X”
  The new historical fiction webcomic by “Hannibal Goes to Rome” writer Brendan McGinley ruminates on what could have been if Carthage, instead of Rome, had been the ultimate victor in the Punic Wars.
• SHAMUS AND BIG APPLE GO HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH NYCC
  Early word from the rebranded Big Apple Comic-Con shows that Wizard Entertainment head, Gareb Shamus, plans on running his New York convention against New York Comic Con in 2010. (Article by Kiel Phegley. Photos by me.)

• Baltimore Comic-Con: THE ACT-I-VATE EXPERIENCE
  A cadre of members from the webcomics collective came together to promote their new print anthology, air a short film about their site and announce a new indy comics creator who is soon coming to ACT-I-VATE.
• Baltimore Comic-Con: MARVEL: YOUR UNIVERSE PANEL
  Brian Michael Bendis and Matt Fraction headlined the Marvel: Your Universe panel to answer questions about a wide range of topics, from Marvel’s movies, to Tony Stark’s diminishing intelligence, to the Infinity Gems, and more.
• Baltimore Comic-Con: GEORGE PEREZ SPOTLIGHT PANEL
  The man who drew “New Teen Titans” and “Crisis on Infinite Earths” chatted with fans about his storied comics career, discussing the long-awaited graphic novel “Teen Titans: Games,” which will hit stores within a year.
• Baltimore Comic-Con: “BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON 8″ PANEL
  This past Saturday, the artists and editors of the popular series gave eager fans some insight on what happens behind the curtains and teased what’s to come.

Associate Editor of Wizard magazine (February 2009-September 2009)
Editing clips

• Book of the Month: Uncanny X-Men
  Moving to San Fran gave the X-Men a brief glimpse of celebrity, but now Simon Trask and Norman Osborn are ready to ‘reign’ on their parade
  -Plus “Webcomics of the Month” and “Team Books: The ensemble cast comics to keep an eye on this fall”
• Spartacus: The Lucy Lawless Interview
  From ‘Xena: The Warrior Princess’ to ‘Battlestar Galactica,’ Lucy Lawless is no stranger to genre fare. The actress continues that trend in the Sam Raimi-produced ‘Spartacus: Blood and Sand’
• The Wizard Mail Bag with Special Guest Host Peter Tomasi
  This month, one of the men behind DC’s devastating “Blackest Night,” Green Lantern Corps and The Outsiders writer Peter Tomasi commandeers the letters column to answer fan questions about his interests, his books and more!
• ‘V’: The venerable ’80s sci-fi TV classic gets a facelift
  …and Character to Watch: Nomad
• Book of the Month: Jersey Gods
  Image’s latest smash earns props from comics’ biggest names thanks to its mix of cosmic gods and romantic comedy
• Trade Show
  August’s graphic novels and trade paperbacks
• Five Questions with John Barrowman
  …and Four Reasons the Fantastic Four Doesn’t Suck
• The Wizard Mail Bag with Special Guest Host Brian Michael Bendis
  No question too dumb. No answer too sarcastic.
• Heat Wave
  The hottest books set to make a splash on your summer reading list
• Killer Image
  The return of the Mice Templar headlines the big summer plans for the publisher of Spawn, Savage Dragon, Walking Dead and more!

Writing samples

• Book of the Month: Conan the Cimmerian
  From thief to mercenary to leader of men, Dark Horse’s ‘Conan’ saga not only overflows with action, it presents an in-depth character study of this classic comic staple
• Webcomic of the Month: ACT-I-VATE.com and “The ACT-I-VATE Primer”
• Spidey’s Tangled Web
  How it all sticks together in Amazing Spider-Man
• Web Gems
  From ‘Clone Saga’ fallout to titanic team-ups and guest appearances galore, ‘Wizard’ untangles 40 years of Wallcrawler continuity to spotlight five of the best
  Spider-Man stories you’ve GOTTA read!
• AUGUST’S FEATURED COLLECTION: ‘KILLER OF DEMONS’
  The badass Image series by Chris Yost and Scott Wegener is the one trade you must purchase this month!
• (VERTIGO) CRIME PAYS
  ‘Wizard’ previews the gritty publisher’s new crime line

WizardUniverse.com News Editor (December 2007-February 2009)—Many of these links are now dead for unknown reasons having to do with Wizard’s Web site. Apologies.
Interviews

• The Wizard Q&A: Jason Aaron
  The writer of Vertigo’s ‘Scalped,’ is taking over writing duties on two of Marvel’s toughest customers: Wolverine and Ghost Rider
• ‘EL DIABLO’ Q&A WITH JAI NITZ AND PHIL HESTER
  The writer and artist behind DC’s newest Hispanic hero talk about recreating the character for their miniseries, the duality of a protagonist named after the devil and fighting undead conquistadors!
• PAUL CORNELL Q&A ON ‘FANTASTIC FOUR: TRUE STORY’
  The writer behind ‘Captain Britain and MI 13′ brings Marvel’s first family into the realm of fiction with his new miniseries
• JASON AARON ‘WOLVERINE: MANIFEST DESTINY’ Q&A
  Wolverine’s got a past everywhere he goes and writer Jason Aaron took some time to explain why heading to San Fran is a bad plan for the three-clawed man
• JASON AARON TALKS DANNY KETCH VERSUS JOHNNY BLAZE
  The scribe dishes on his ‘Ghost Rider’ arc that will face off the two Ghost Riders and the future of his run
• HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BOY?
  Writer and producer of ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, ‘ Josh Freidman, talks with Wizard about his new show that premieres tonight

Reviews

• [REVIEW] CAPTAIN AMERICA #34
  One Wizard Staffer’s take on the issue that brings America the new red, white and blue Avenger
• [REVIEW] ‘IRON MAN’
  The Iron Avenger’s first flight onto the big screen asserts itself as the summer’s first ‘must see’ blockbuster.
• [MOVIE REVIEW] ‘CLOVERFIELD’
  Twist and shake with the mysterious monster movie that puts you directly into the action
• [REVIEW] ‘SECRET INVASION’ #1
  With the big event set to hit tomorrow, Wizard gives you a taste of what’s in store in the first issue of Bendis and Yu’s Skrull-tastic voyage!

Columns

• [GOING SOLO] ‘INVINCIBLE IRON MAN’
  Wizard’s weekly round-up of Marvel’s mightiest who don’t necessarily need a super-team to stand shoulder to shoulder with. This week: ‘Invincible’ kicks off with a villain movie-goers will recognize and a very mustachioed Tony Stark!
• ['SECRET INVASION' ROUNDUP] ‘CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13′ AND ‘SECRET INVASION FANTASTIC FOUR’
  With Marvel’s main event here, Wizard Universe brings you THE WRINKLY-CHIN ROUNDUP: a reader’s recap of the events from the Skrull-filled miniseries of ‘Secret Invasion’
• [GOING SOLO] ‘THOR: AGES OF THUNDER’
  Wizard’s weekly round-up of Marvel’s mightiest who don’t necessarily need a super-team to stand shoulder to shoulder with. This week: It’s mythic Thor action as we travel back to the Asgard of olden times with the first issue of Matt Fraction’s epic Norse tales!
• ‘SECRET INVASION’ #1 ROUNDUP
  With Marvel’s main event here, Wizard Universe brings you THE WRINKLY-CHIN ROUNDUP: a reader’s recap of the events from the Skrull-filled miniseries of ‘Secret Invasion’
• ‘SECRET INVASION’ #2 ROUNDUP
  With Marvel’s main event here, Wizard Universe brings you THE WRINKLY-CHIN ROUNDUP: a reader’s recap of the events from the Skrull-filled miniseries of ‘Secret Invasion’
• [SECRET INVASION] GOING SOLO: ‘MS. MARVEL,’ ‘SHE-HULK’ AND ‘THOR’
  Wizard’s weekly round-up of Marvel’s mightiest who don’t necessarily need a super-team to stand shoulder to shoulder with. This week: Ms. Marvel fights Machine Man and Skrulls, She-Hulk’s down on herself and Thor batters Surtur with a hammer!
• [GOING SOLO] ‘IRON MAN’
  Wizard’s weekly roundup of Marvel’s mightiest who don’t necessarily need a super-team to stand shoulder to shoulder with. This week: Ol’ Shellhead goes head to head with the Mandarin
• [GOING SOLO] ‘SHE-HULK,’ ‘MS. MARVEL’ and ‘BLACK PANTHER’
  Wizard’s weekly round-up of Marvel’s mightiest who don’t necessarily need a super-team to stand shoulder to shoulder with.
• FIVE FOR FRIDAY: ALIEN HOMEWORLDS
  Planet-spanning adventures in Hollywood, DC and Marvel comics have led us to name our five favorite alien homeworlds

Features

• TOP 25 CARS FROM TV AND MOVIES!
  With ‘Speed Racer’ coming out this week, Wizard Universe runs down their list of the coolest cars and awesomest autos from TV and movie history. Readers, start your engines!

Beat News

• ROBIN SET TO GET HIS OWN TV SHOW!
  CW to launch ‘The Graysons,’ focusing on a pre-sidekick Boy Wonder, to replace or run alongside ‘Smallville’
• ‘Y: THE LAST MAN’ MOVIE UPDATE
  ‘Eagle Eye’ director D.J. Caruso gives an update on the BKV adaptation
• ‘CLOVERFIELD’ MAKES YOU SICK?
  No really, the monster movie has been reported to cause motion sickness and nausea
• HEATH LEDGER DEAD AT 28
  New York City Police confirm that the ‘Dark Knight’ star was found dead in his Manhattan apartment
• WORLD OF WARCRAFT IN SPACE?
  NASA thinks online gaming may help on long space journeys
• PRODUCER REVEALS INFORMATION ON “G.I. JOE”
  Lorenzo di Bonaventura talks about casting decisions and the film’s villain
• ‘HELLBOY II’ TRAILER DROPS! CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY!
  The film’s official website releases a trailer of the hot summer sequel

Reporting for the Columbia Missourian (August-November 2007)

• Comic Geeks Unite, or The draw behind comic creating (same story, two headlines…odd)
  At the September meeting of the Mid-Missouri Comics Collective, the group created a sketch-jam in which each person at the meeting contributes a panel or two to a comic strip. Below are the single panels from the comic strip.
• Comic creators bring their creativity to the Midwest
  With the advances in technology, comic book creaters are no longer confined to the New York area and several make Kansas City their home
• Columbia vocal coach still going strong at 80
• Quinlan Keep comic book store to close at end of October
• ‘New Anatomies’ not the same old brand of theater
• Columbia Chorale lets performers buy their way onto stage
• Having a holly, jolly, jazzy Christmas

Wizard Freelancer (August-November 2007)

• ‘JACK’ IN THE (2-DISC) BOX
  Phil LaMarr, the voice of Samurai Jack, talks about the Season 4 DVD, his work on the new Transformers animated series and ‘Futurama’
• THE GREAT DEBATE
  Which Thor Costume is better?
• CANUCKLEHEAD QUESTIONS
  Writer Marc Guggenheim returns to tie up loose ends and fight for Logan’s soul in this week’s ‘Wolverine’
• DAVID EICK ON ‘BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: RAZOR’
  The producer talks about bringing back a beloved cast member and explains why 4 is the magic number
• DAVID EICK’S STRONGER, FASTER ‘BIONIC WOMAN’
  The man who breathed new life into ‘Battlestar Galactica’ talks about reviving another beloved ’70s property

My days as a Wizard intern (Summer 2007)

• BOOK OF THE MONTH: ‘NOVA, ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST’
  Marvel’s cosmic everyman bucks the odds by fighting in impossible situations
• SECRET STASH: DYNAMO 5
  What if Superman were a womanizing, deadbeat dad? ‘Dynamo 5’ explores that answer while modernizing today’s family team book
• [SDCC] KNAUFS TO SCRIBE ‘ETERNALS’
  Marvel announces Eternals as new ongoing with Iron Man writers Charlie and Daniel Knauf set to write
• BOOKSHELF
  Trade paperback reviews for books on sale Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Reporter, Staff Writer and Senior Staff Writer at student newspaper The Maneater, aka “The often embarrassing olden days of Jim’s journalism career.” (2003-2005)
Interviews

• The band that is and will be
  The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy talks about the new album and the band behind it.
• Sunshine on a Saturday night
  Interview with Apollo Sunshine
• Aged to perfection and on the road again
  Interview with the Wrens
• Southern sounds in the Midwest
  Interview with the Hackensaw Boys

Reviews

• M. Ward’s new old sound
  M. Ward recreates the past with his new yet traditional album.
• Indie compilation satisfies with three-disc set
  “Matador at 15″ album review
• Lack of focus burns bland Mirror Music
  Best known for his work with MTV”s “Lyricist Lounge,” Wordsworth releases his debut album.
• An album that takes the Cake
  Cake’s new album, Pressure Chief, does nothing but please.
• The Vines evolve with Winning Days
  Album review

Sidebars and mini-features

• Required Listening: Faithless, “Reverence”
• Six great albums that will warm up the walk to class
• Six great country-esque albums that would make Johnny Cash proud
• To the beat of a different…
  If you like X, then you’ll like Y and Z

So, last week’s She-Hulk: Cosmic Collision by Peter David and Mahmud A. Asrar solidified the green goddess’s position as the Coolest Chick in Comics!

First, Dan Slott’s semi-recent run with the heroine showed that She-Hulk could hold her own in the courtroom, in a brawl and in a quip-fest with villains and other heroes alike.

Then, Peter David had the jade giantess make a “Battlestar Galactica” reference in his World War Hulk prologue story with artist Gary Frank.

And this past week, ol’ Shulkie laid down a double-whammy of super coolness…

She’s upset she might be dead because that would mean she can’t use her tickets to see MY FAVORITE BAND! Awesome!

And she’s well versed in my favorite action movie franchise of all time! EVEN MORE AWESOME!

Props to PAD on those two rad references. I love when you pick up a one-shot and get great little character moments that make reading it an extremely rewarding experience!

Once more, I declare She-Hulk the Coolest Chick in Comics—and that’s it for now folks!

Ok, I’m here to run down a few things that were all spurred on by this Onion AV Club interview with John Hodgman.

Picture shamelessly stolen from The Onion, so GO READ THE ARTICLE!

Now if you are only familiar with Mr. Hodgman as the PC in those Mac commercials, then you need to get your ass in gear and check out the man’s writing and other hilarious TV appearances including numerous appearances on “The Daily Show,” a sure-to-be-awesome upcoming stint on “Battlestar Galactica” and an episode of one of my favorites, “Flight of the Conchords.”

I loved Hodgman’s first book, the laugh-out-loud compendium of fake trivia The Areas Of My Expertise, and saw his new book(More Information Than You Require) over the weekend and immediately scooped it up. While I haven’t started into More yet, if it promises half the laughs of Areas it’ll be more than worth the investment.

Seriously, go pick both of these books up. You’ll be hard pressed to find a funnier read!

I know I mentioned it above, but I have to say I am super excited to see Hodgman on “BSG.” Think he’ll be the final cylon?!

Lastly, all this info about the frequent “Daily Show” contributor led me to realize I hadn’t given any sort of update on my trip to see a taping of “The Colbert Report,” which I attended this past Thursday (Oct. 23).

If you get the chance to reserve tickets for a taping of “The Report,” do it! Colbert is hilarious in person and even answered questions out of character before the taping, which was both fun and interesting. The guy is spry as heck and just keeps a smile on your face or has you buckling over with laughter the entire time. The comedy is gold when you watch the show on TV, but in person, it definitely reaches a new level of hysterical.

Now, while you can’t see me in any crowd shots of the show I attended, when Colbert ran over to meet his guest (Newsweek senior editor Jonathan Alter) he stopped to right in front of my section of the audience and raised his hands in the air. I stood and applauded, first among my entire audience section. And, if you’re paying attention and looking closly, you can see Colbert’s nod to me, featuring eye contact (which you can’t see on TV), before he sits with his guest.

Ok, that does it for today, folks! Thanks for your continual patronage on this blog that sometimes has a point, and other times (i.e. today) is just ramblings about things that interest me.

Two more entries just rolled in, and I was super pleased to see that they’re from my brother Dan Gibbons and Lake Forest, IL hometown hero Will Dugan, who goes to college in Denver with my broseph.

Here’s Will’s wonderful entry…

Sidenote: If you ever meet Will, make sure to ask him about any number of stories he has involving strippers. The one he’d told me from Vegas is particularly good…maybe not entirely true—who knows?—but a good story is a good story, dammit!

Here’s my broheim Dan’s hilarious entry (which I should mention, for the record, won’t be up for winning as it’s more of a photoshop job than a coloring)…

I recently got Dan and hooked on BSG via what we’re calling “Jim-Flix,” which is much like Netflix but features me doing the DVD sending. Dan sends me text messages and IMs here and there when stuff pops up on BSG that is crazy and/or mysterious, my favorite one so far referred to Starbuck and went something like, “Crazy and angry blonde pilot chick…are you hot or aren’t you?! I can’t tell?!” Good chuckles all around…but for the record, despite Dan’s questioning, Starbuck is officially extremely hot according to Loudest Monkey mandate.

Ok, asides aside, let’s keep those coloring contest entries rolling in!