I hear what they say. They say that I’m dead set against enjoying Fantastic Four, that Psylockeslover has nothing to say, and that hell will call and thank for the snow before I say anything nice about Joe Quesada.

But I say, wrong, wrong, WRONG! Better get a parka, there Satan, ‘cause its going to get pretty cold down there!!

Welcome back to my ongoing argument with the whole wide world, I’m the Frontman; and this is Activation Click. In this week’s column, we start a new segment called “Front and Center” where I get to pick the mind of a HCRealm “celebrity,” talk some FF, and finally, I will say something nice about Marvels EIC.

FIRST TOPIC!!

Everything’s FF

Well, after reading all of the terrible news coming out of X3’s production, as in they’re still working on the script, just two weeks prior to actually shooting the film, (Lord only knows how Hally Berry and Hugh Jackman will screw this up even more, but I guess anything is possible) the Hulk franchise is dead (though rumors of work starting on it next year; hopefully with no Ang Lee), no new news for the Punisher, and considering Tom Cruise has lost his ever-lovin’ mind and no fanboy wants him now as Tony Stark, I’m banking all of my hopes for a new Marvel franchise on the “Fantastic Four” film.

Granted, this film has a ton of stuff stacked against it. First off, there is no Spiderman or “X” anything involved in it, so mainstream movie goers might not be interested. Second, its coming out after two successful films “War of the Worlds” and “Batman Begins,” so its going to get compared to them. Third, the average kid who never read FF is going to say “They ripped off the Incredibles.” But, I do have hope for it.

First off, Michael Chiklis is a great “big tough guy with a warm heart” kind of actor. Secondly, the guy they got for Johnny Storm (Chris Evans) has been cracking me up in the sneak peaks and trailers. Hopefully, all his best stuff is NOT in the trailers, so there’s something to surprise us. Now, I think where its weak is this take on Dr. Doom. I have to see the whole story, but Doom just hasn’t impressed me in how he looks. Also, 4 against 1 never seems to be a great fight, but let’s see what they do with Doom to make him a viable threat to all 4 team members.

I think where the film will do good is in what makes the FF comic different than any other superhero team, and that’s the fact that these characters are family. From the scenes of Johnny driving Ben nuts (and it looks like it goes through the whole film) to the scene Ioan Gruffudd discussed in Wizard magazine (where Reed calms Ben down after an argument over finding a cure.) If that’s in there, that scene should make the film for me. Ben Grimm is a great tragic character, who I think gets far overlooked in comic lore. If they put the heart of the film with the characters, not the effects, we might have a great franchise for Marvel to build on.

Hopefully for them not to ruin come film 3.

Front and Center with Psylockeslover

Ok, I know many have asked why I’m starting to do interviews. The simple fact is, I have had very little time to keep up with my painting. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, my wife lost her job, and I’ve been taking every available hour I can at the post office to compensate. I am planning on still doing Mods, but it just all depends on how much free time I do get.

However, I do not want to stop contributing to the site, and I always wanted to have a chance for the folks who keep the site going be able to give their points of view, and such. Besides, writing and typing at the computer takes very little set up time, compared to setting up the camera, taking pictures, and modding/painting the figure itself.

So, I’ve asked a few of my fellow mods and writers to sit down, and via AOL IM, conduct a real time interview. The following is the interview I did with Psylockeslover, and I give you my word this is in verbatim. The only editing I do is the “Hey Front” “Hey PS, what’s up?” “Ready to do the interview” “Yeah” kind of stuff off of the front of the interview. So, without further ado, here’s the interview.


Frontmansfp: How you doing?
Psylockeslover: not too bad....just woke up, so bear with me....
Frontmansfp: not a problem, LMK when you're good to go.
Psylockeslover: any time man....

Frontmansfp: How did you get into gaming? What age were you?
Psylockeslover: My older brother got me into it. He'd alway have games over at our house, and I would always beg to join in. Finally at around 13 or so, he agreed. The rest, as they say, is history. It started with AD&D and went from there.

Frontmansfp: What got you into comics?
Psylockeslover: Again, it was my brother. He collected all the X-titles back in the late 80's and early 90's. I was too poor to afford my own stuff, so I read his. (doncha just love older brothers!)
Frontmansfp: Can't say, I'm the oldest, and never had any luck getting my brother or sister into games/comics.

Frontmansfp: (I can't wait to ask this question to BroMags) What is your favorite game not made by Wizkids?
Psylockeslover: Wow, that's a tough one....As far as RPGs go, it's D&D 3.5. Other games: Runebound right now. Fun little board game.

Frontmansfp: Best thing WK has done with Heroclix?
Psylockeslover: I'd have to say it's a toss-up between the new manufacturer and the Dark Phoenx, but we will see if that changes after thier big announcement this week.

Frontmansfp: Well, let's see if this leads well into another question. Worst thing, to date, that Wizkids has done with Heroclix?
Psylockeslover: The Galactus thing was pretty bad at first, but they got that straightened out, so it didn't end up that bad......I'd say dropping the second place prize for tournements
.
Frontmansfp: Best comic story arch you ever read?
Psylockeslover: Age of Apocolypse-if that can be considered a simple story arc.

Frontmansfp: Best single issue of a comic, if you were going to hand a kid one issue to read, so they could get what makes comics cool, what issue would it be and why?
Psylockeslover: wow....I gotta think about this one....
Frontmansfp: Told you these could be fun.
Psylockeslover: Well, I don't remember the exact issue, but I'd have to go with the issue where Magneto ripped the adamantium out of Wolverine. Some of the aftermath of the moment was kinda lame, but that exact moment had me goind 'WOW!' for a long time afterwards.


Frontmansfp: DC or Marvel, and you have to pick one and why.
Frontmansfp: (That was a great issue btw. My response was "why the hell he didn't do that years ago?"
Psylockeslover: hehehe....yeah.....
Psylockeslover: anyway, 10 years ago, I'd say MArvel hands down. I was an X-junkie back then. But now, I'm really not so sure. I don't read comics in general as much, and they have completely ruined all things X. The Ultimate line is pretty good though.
Psylockeslover: So I guess you can call me a zombie....

Frontmansfp: Favorite thing you'd like to see in Heroclix in the future?
Psylockeslover: A better rulebook? I mean, character-wise, they have already made my favorite character, and well, so I'm pretty happy on that front. I can't really think of anything else off-hand...

Frontmansfp: Infinite power or infinite knowledge?
Psylockeslover: Infinate power. Because I know everything already.;-)

Frontmansfp: Best part of HCRealms?
Psylockeslover: I'd have to say the community as a whole has made this the best place to hang out. Sure there are aguments here and there, but the community has really banded together to help each other with real world problems in the past. I don't know many other online communities that would do such a thing.

Frontmansfp: Worst thing about HCRealms?
Psylockeslover: heh....trying to trap me, arn't ya...?
Frontmansfp: told you I wouldn't pull punches.
Frontmansfp:
Psylockeslover: Well, some of the members get on my nerves from time to time (no names here!), but on the whole, I have no complaints. The update was kind of a pain, but I think it's mostly smoothed over now.

Frontmansfp: Why did you get involved in moderating here at HCRealms?
Psylockeslover: Well, I guess I did it in the hopes that I could help make this great community even better.

Frontmansfp: Hottest woman in comics?
Psylockeslover: do you really have to ask.....?
Frontmansfp: Just checkin' to see if you'd be remaining loyal to your girl. Final question, hottest woman in Hollywood and why?
Psylockeslover: Jessica Alba.....cause she's frickin HOT!

Frontmansfp: LOL! Thanks for taking time out to give us a peek into the psyche of psylockeslover.
Psylockeslover: np man....scary isn't it....

Frontmansfp: Yeah, I'm thinking I need to cleanse the mind with a bit of Disney flicks or something, lol.
Psylockeslover: hehe....


See, I’m not trying to get anyone. But, who do you want to see in “Front and Center?” I have a list of folks I’ll be sitting down with and doing similar questions (what, you think I don’t want them to think on their feet? If its always the same questions, you know the fourth of fifth person to sit down with me will have already thought out all their answers.)

Want to see someone in particular put on the hotseat? Have a question you want an answer to from a staff member here at HCRealms, but fear retribution? I’m not afraid to ask anyone, anything. Please feel free to PM the question (and who you want to see interviewed) to me. Please, give me reasons for who you want to see (and no, not things like “Groovyboy since he’d be a fun interview” will cut it. Things like “Frontman, get BrotherMagneto and ask him what’s “the big secret” that WK has for next years con exclusive since THAT would be a scoop” would cut it.)

Next week, I’m thinking LeaLu needs to speak her mind, Front and Center.

And finally tonight…..

Ok, I have had some folks busting my chops for months now that I never can say a single thing nice about Joe Quesada. That I really get on the man’s case far too much. So, write the date down and the time you read this column. I will finally say something nice about Joe.

Here goes.







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He did work for DC and drew Azrael and the Azbats suit of armor.



See you next week.

1st post,


I agree, Quesada did indeed do an excellent job with Azbats and Azrael, I'm just sad that he and Denny had to kill him...

What? Nothing on Icons and Zoom?

Just surprised...

I like the new interview feature. Like last week, even though I had nothing to do with the idea, I claim full credit.

Because I am great.

You shoulda asked PL who has longer hair... him or me.

Great Artical!! I really hope that the new Fantastic Four movie is 28 times better than I expect it to be. It was hard enough for the first X-Movie to get past the "Introduction" section that explains who the mutants are and their plight. I just hope that Fantastic Four can pull this off in a way that will keep the average person into the movie.

Great interveiw with Psylockeslover. We've had very similar introductions into gaming and comics. (Except for it was my cousin not my brother). And I also agree that a better rulebook is in order it's hard enough for those of us who have been playing the game to understand some of the rules I could imagine trying to get in on the ground floor.

Keep up the good work Frontman.

Last time I saw him he had ya beat!!

You should interview someone banned. Basil Elks, Superman_33, Llark, Superman_333. One of those cool cats. And those were some cooooool cats.

Hmmm. You've got all of 3 posts, yet you know about Superman_33 and his legacy to the site.

Methinks you might be one of the people you think would make a great interview.....

Well, I was ABD (All But Done) with the column when the news broke on Zoom/Icons. And really, this is FF's week, so I can forgoe DC talk (save mentioning Quesada happily cashed checks from them back in the day!) for now.

The Frontman

Great work as always Frontman, the introduction always brings a smile to my face.

I think LeaLu is a great interview choice, her posts are always interesting to read.

Whatever you think of PL, he's got great taste in women!

Considering that Psylockeslover is my local judge, I'm glad I got to read up on him.


Muahaha.....my teams shall all have psylocke on them from now on, for some reason...........


Now if only I could find a jessica alba fig........