NERDS AROUND TOWN
Nerds Around Town: Aquaman, Superman and the X-Men
Oct 21, 2019, 6:14 am
ART BY JESUS RODRIGUEZ
Born with a comic book in one hand and a remote control in the other, Cory DLG is the talent of Conroe's very own Nerd Thug Radio and Sports. Check out the podcast replay of the FM radio show at www.nerdthugradio.com!
GOOD DEED OF THE DAY
Nov. 2 is fast approaching and that means Extra Life is almost upon us. It's a great charity drive that benefits the Children's Miracle Network and Nerd Thug Radio has been a happy member of the process since we started our little show three years ago. Join in, donate, help kids, have fun... It's pretty simple.
KING OF THE SEA
Jason Mamoa continues to impress in how he handles his career. I've mentioned several times how he's incredibly famous for basically only being in about 4 or 5 roles his whole career, but he continues to impress apparently bringing in a whole pitch to his initial meetings with Warner Bros for an Aquaman 2. They currently say he is co-writing the sequel, which is an awesome credit to his resume, I'm not sure if he's got other writing credits, I know none of the DC stuff before this or the Game of Thrones he wrote for so this would be a heck of a debut movie to co-write. Anyway his passion for the characters and roles he takes on are I think what people cling to and he continues to impress with that passion.
CLARK WHO?
Rumors have been swirling for awhile about Brian Michael Bendis' big plans for Superman and it looks like one of those is him getting rid of the Clark Kent identity. They've been slowly rolling this story out overtime with Lois Lane and Superman kissing publicly recently resulting conversation about their relationship and how Clark Kent factors into it. From there the story is going to continue and eventually Superman will choose or be forced to reveal that he is Clark Kent and at that point, there will be all kinds of issues coming from this. Heroes will feel betrayed and allegedly it will inspire a villain of some merit to "repent" so to speak, it's interesting to see where this goes.
THE WOES OF THE X MEN
Cullen Bunn gives an awesome and honest interview on AIPT, which is a great comic book website to check out. He talks about how he had big ideas for lots of characters and stories but Hickman's coming House of X basically prevented him from being able to make too many major changes to the overall arc and characters of the X Universe. Although honestly, I think considering how Hickman's story would rewrite the very reality of the X-Men universe they could have done whatever they wanted. I personally would like to see a story where basically they say, go crazy, do whatever you want. This is ultimately the problem with working in someone else's sandbox though, they limit how you tell your stories but it is the X-Men.
NOT THAT YOU ASKED
Casting has been coming out about Matrix 4 and honestly I'm excited about the casting, Jessica Henwick was awesome in Iron Fist and fantastic in her limited role of Game of Thrones. Capable of great action and good acting, I think she's a great choice for any action movie, but the real question I have is, do we need a Matrix 4? What's it supposed to be about? I hear most of the cast is back but for real, what are we doing here? Another Matrix movie? Weren't 2 and 3 bad?
Feel free to check out my brand new comic book Another Day at the Office or buy a shirt from Side Hustle Ts where some proceeds help people struggling with cancer or listen to Nerd Thug Radio. Thoughts, complaints, events and comments can be sent to corydlg@gmail.com.
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How latest Astros events highlight serious concerns around core philosophies
May 22, 2025, 12:59 pm
Two seasons ago the Astros were oddly feeble at home and warriors on the road. Now, this season is headed nowhere if they can't pick it up away from Daikin Park. In the first week of April, the Astros won their initial road series of the season. It will be June before they win another. Well, presumably June. Approaching seven weeks since they took a series at Minnesota, it's now seven consecutive road stops without a series victory. In six straight three-game road series the Astros have lost two out of three, including at the laughingstock White Sox. They did split the four-game set in Arlington against the Rangers last weekend. The Astros’ road record is 10-15.
Now they're home for 10 in a row, starting with four versus the team the Astros look up at in the American League West standings. The Seattle Mariners hit town three and a half games ahead of the Astros. Last June, the Astros trailed the Mariners by 10 games and wound up winning the division. Expecting a sequel as good as an original usually is not a good idea. Winning this series is certainly not a necessity given the season still only reaches its one-third completed mark this coming Tuesday. Still, at least getting a split is advised, or the Astros are looking at falling five and half games off the lead should the Mariners win three out of four, seven and a half back should Seattle sweep. But flip the script. If the Astros sweep, they go to bed Sunday night leading the division. Taking three out four would be just fine, and have the Astros within a game and a half of first.
The Astros are carrying a payroll roughly 75 million dollars larger than that of the Mariners. The M’s have a farm system (currently one of the highest rated among the franchises) vastly superior to what the Astros have (one of the worst systems in the sport). So if Mariners’ ownership opted to loosen the purse strings in pursuit of in season talent infusions, the M’s are way better positioned to make an impact move than are the Astros. Just remember, even if the Mariners are going to pull away, the wild card picture does not have three teams that are obviously ultimately better than the Astros.
Positive vibes only
If you're into good luck charms, dig up a four-leaf clover or find a rabbit's foot, then cross your fingers where Ronel Blanco is concerned. It is quite an ominous sign that the Astros sent Blanco back to Houston a day early after he reported soreness in his pitching elbow. I mean, who would be surprised to hear that Blanco is done for the season a la Hayden Wesneski. It's increasingly essential that Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez hold up physically and qualitatively the rest of the way. That Brown had his worst start of the season Wednesday in Tampa is no big deal. It's called being human. The Rays torching him for three home runs and five runs in five innings spiked Brown's earned run average all the way up to 2.04. Ooooh. Brown has been fantastic.
The Astros underestimated how long Spencer Arrighetti would be out. Shocking! Some boost from him seems necessary. There is only so much the Astros can reasonably hope for out of Lance McCullers, and the likes of Colton Gordon and Brandon Walter. That either Cristian Javier or Luis Garcia makes it back by, say, August is a best-case scenario. Then it would be hope about level of performance. The Astros hold no monopoly on serial pitching injuries. The Mariners have lost three-fifths of their stout starting rotation. George Kirby making his first 2025 start Thursday is a boost for them. Logan Gilbert and Bryce Miller are both still out.
Heart of the matter
Among the core frustrations for Astros’ fans are the continued crummy overall performances of Jose Altuve, Christian Walker, and Yainer Diaz. If it turns out that the 35-year-old Altuve has truly fallen over the hill as opposed to just enduring an extended deep slump that would be an obvious bummer. The same with the 34-year-old Walker though there is no emotional tug for Astros’ fans with Walker as there is with Altuve. Yainer Diaz is just 26. His regression is troubling, perhaps low-lighted by his one walk in his last 33 games played, four walks for the season in 170 plate appearances. That’s pathetic. Yainer, Victor Caratini, and Astros’ pitchers have collectively done a brutal job at dealing with opposition running games. The Astros have given up 62 stolen bases in 67 attempts, with one of the five caught stealings a pickoff, another a botched double steal.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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