I swear we started this episode to have a nice discussion about the games (and various factors) that are going to bring us back as paying subscribers. We just… got sidetracked by Vanguard.

Sidetracked. Like Christopher Columbus.

I don’t know why I bother getting excited about that game (or any other new game, for that matter). It’s not like I have a computer that can handle them. If you noticed on our fancy new calendar, the game I’m rocking the most lately is still Bf1942. I can run it on the laptop, Kwipette can rock it on her PC, and most of our friends can even handle it. I haven’t filled up the 12-person server yet, but with a few of us and bots, there hasn’t been any lag.

But back to our target here: Vanguard. Look, let’s just stop kidding ourselves: the game is damn sexy, with some great ideas. I’m curious to see how they do, as the market tends to be pretty brutal to games with brilliant ideas. Yeah, that’s right, I said it.

A short list of titles we spoil this week: 52, BATMAN, BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL, GREEN ARROW, JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA, OUTSIDERS, WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY, BLADE, PUNISHER, WONDER MAN. But what we lack in titles, we make up for in loud Civil War ranting, more action figure side-tracking, a tiny bit of movie ranting, and some more toy talk. Focus? What's that?

I apologize for the delay this week. But I'm hoping it's worth it, as I cleaned up the audio file a HUGE amount and got it to a decent quality. So, you know, you can now listen to the most idiotic comics podcast out there, and it'll sound nice and clear. Sort of.

If we can just get HappyJack's running nose and Dr Sexy's pneumonia under control, we'll be in good shape. Me, I sound as perfect as ever, of course.

We only have a small stack of titles we spoil this week: 52, MANHUNTER, MIDNIGHTER, SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL, 68, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, BULLET POINTS, CIVIL WAR, CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE, IRON MAN HYPERVELOCITY, IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN, NEWUNIVERSAL, PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL, SPIDER-MAN AND POWER PACK, UNCANNY X-MEN. We get REALLY side-tracked on comic movies, the Marvel Comic Book Creator software, Sirius Radio, Tina Fey versus Paris Hilton, delays by artists and writers AGAIN, and we spoil XMen 3, in case you didn't see it yet. Or read the spoilers that whatsisface blabbed on N3 a while ago. Oh, and we talk about the secret hole to the girls' locker room in high school that HappyJack never told me about. We also spend some time bashing Marvel for their whorish marketing tactics and COLOGNE? Are you kidding me? I suppose it'll come as no surprise when you learn how much we hate emo, too.

Titles we spoil this week: USAGI YOJIMBO, 52, BATMAN, BOYS, DETECTIVE COMICS, GUY GARDNER COLLATERAL DAMAGE, JACK OF FABLES, JUSTICE, JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, SUPERMAN BATMAN, ASTONISHING X-MEN, BLACK PANTHER, DAREDEVIL, IMMORTAL IRON FIST, MARVEL 1602 FANTASTICK FOUR, NEXTWAVE AGENTS OF HATE, WINTER SOLDIER WINTER KILLS ONE SHOT, WOLVERINE ORIGINS. To kick off the new year, we spend the entire episode sniffling. Must be that new year's bug. We also read from your letters AND comments! More artist/style discussions, some news and complete side-tracking on ComicSpace.com.