I wrapped up Batman over the weekend. I do intend to go back and finish of the Riddler stuff, but for now it hits the shelf. I'm always appreciative of games that drop you back into the wrold after you've finished it. As I knew I was closing in on the final battle with the Joker(which was pretty great, by the way), I started to debate whether to go back and get all the collectibles beforehand. Then I figured no game these days with that amount of collectible stuff would force you to restart the game to get everything. I was right, but the fact that I had accepted the possibility of having to start over stands as a good testament to how fun the game is. The game ends in usual Batman fashion with him running off to do something else, which leads me to the sequel I want, Batman: Gotham City. Take the kind of gameplay started in Arkham Asylum, throw in a larger area and stealth that traverses the rooftops and alleyways of the city. It just sounds too cool to let go. And given that the game looks like it's selling well along with great review scores, I can only hope it comes to fruition.

I don't know what to add to the Disney buying Marvel extravaganza that has taken place over the last week. I think it's good from a business perspective. As comics are getting back to the kind of level that they had in the 90s boom and bust, it's good that Marvel will have some pretty significant backers for the inevitable bust in the next few years. Especially with comics beginning to cost $4 a piece, regardless of extra backup material. I do wonder how long until the crossover movies/cartoons/comics/games will begin to see the light of day. I know Square Enix and Disney aren't exactly happy about the Kingdom Hearts situation. Why not cut S/E out entirely and replace them with Marvel characters? Marvel Hearts? One thing's for sure, we will see official Mickey in Spider-Man duds sooner rather than later. But if I hear word of Spider-Man going into the Disney vault, I quit.

I don't really mention it much, mainly because I don't think about it, but I've really been enjoying a vast majority of my comics recently. Red Sonja is pretty great. No, not only because she's practically naked, but because it's a genuinely fun book. Also, yes, because she's practically naked. Amazing Spider-Man has also been on a tear recently. While I lament the shrinking space in the 'S' box for comics, I'm really digging the current stuff and I plan on getting the ones I have bound into hardcovers. I've already sent out my Irredeemable Ant-Man and Justice Society of America. If they come back even half of the reported quality I should be expecting, I imagine I'll be sending many more comics to get bound. Library Binding if you're interested. I heard about them through CGS a while back and only recently got the guts to wrap up my books and send them off to the mysterious bindery. I will report back with pictures and the like when I get them. But, if they work out well, it will be a great way to clear out some boxes and fill up some shelves. Then I look forward to having a shelving space issue, but that's a bit more easily remedied.