Save the Robot – Chris Dahlen

I’m behind again. So again, call it a two-fer:

Power Fantasies – Are games – and comics – just “power fantasies”? Or rather, what does it take to be more? I compare the new Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 – which really is just a beat-’em-up, bash-’em-all – with Batman: Arkham Asylum, which, while still not rocket science, is a subtler, smarter and more engrossing experience.

The Rise of Ugh-Meck – I wrote about this topic here in January; here are some more thoughts, which are now informed by the game project I’ve been working on (which I still need to write about, but I also need to finish it).

Three other things to announce.

- I’m working on this new magazine called Kill Screen with mastermind publisher Jamin Brophy-Warren and faboo designer Anthony Smyrski. The whole thing’s almost ready to go to press and thanks to Kickstarter, it’s funded. Impossibly badass. We have a great slate of art and text for issue one, which I’ll post more about later.

- I’m in the new Onion AV Club Inventory book, which hits stores Tuesday. The advance copy is terrific – great writing on every pop topic under the sun, and with illustrations. The one that went with my “tragic masturbation scenes” list was a total hoot.

- A comic book script that I wrote was accepted for Terminal Press’ Zombie Bomb anthology, edited by Adam Miller and the awesome Rich Woodall. The story’s called “My Little Zombie,” and it’ll run in Volume Two. This is the first piece of fiction I’ve written that’s been accepted by anyone. It feels really cool. If you’re at the Baltimore Comic Con this weekend, Woodall’s bringing a sample book with some fantastic art and stories from the book, so be sure to check that out!

See, this is why I like fall – everybody gets stuff going. I just posted links to a bunch of great projects that involve some of my favorite people in the world, and I get to be involved in all of them. Next time I start whining about the recession or how there’s nothing on television, I’m going to reread this post.