52 Steps: Week FourteenI don't know how I missed it for thirteen weeks, but Comic Book Resources has an excellent series of columns on DC's "52."

Written, by Justin Eger, it's a weekly recap of the latest issue, complete with comment and perspective from a very astute reader of comics even a "Panel of the Week."

From the latest update: The Metal Men have had a load of continuity and ret-cons because despite their less than stellar success, they are an inexplicable favorite with DC's writers... ah, who am I kidding, everyone loves them. Just for not very long. They're kind of a one trick pony. They started out as a scheduling mistake. In 1962, The Atom was appearing in "Showcase." He was given his own book and there was nothing planned for issue #37 of "Showcase." "Showcase" was just that, a showcase for new ideas to see if they could carry a book. So, Robert Kanigher knuckled down and scripted the first Metal Men story over a weekend. Ross Andru and Mike Esposito handled the art and they killed off the team in the first story because they figured there would never be a second. Someone up the chain thought they had a chance and asked for three more issues. Issue #38 showed Doc Magnus scavenging for the robots' parts (especially the responsometers that gave them personalities). Basically the Metal Men died at the end of each issue to be resurrected in the next - this went on for years.

VILF preorders -- and a little bit of immortalityHere's the latest update of the VILF shirt preorders. I'm going to close pre-orders this Friday. If we have 35 preorders, I'll order the shirts, and if not, I'll do complete refunds.

Meanwhile, check this out! We made the Urban Dictionary!

Super-Hero NewspaperThis sounds really cool. I'm going to have to look for a copy.

[SILVER BULLET COMICS] For those who ever wondered what a major metropolitan newspaper would be like if superheroes were the world, the answer is The Hero Street Press.

Authentic right down to the Associated Press style guides and printed in the traditional broadsheet size (13" x 22"), the only indications that The Hero Street Press is anything other than a traditional newspaper are the fantastic stories.

"I want to cultivate a suspension of disbelief. A newspaper provides a perception-enhancing slice of world events," Eric Miller, publisher, said. "The Hero Street Press does the same thing, except it's a view of the type of world people fantasize about."

The newspaper is fully interactive. The Opinions section has space for letters to the editor, where readers can complain or compliment the activity or superheroes or any other topic that strikes their interest. The Features section has a gossip columnist who digs up superhero dirt and an advice columnist who offers help for people struggling with super-issues in their personal and/or professional lives.

Read more.

Maybe Evil Inc needs to take out an ad... :)