OCTOBER 13, 2007
"Rag" to Riches!
Western Pa. man has coveted Batman
comic
(AP) ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. - Holy collectibles, Batman!

A near-mint copy of Detective Comics No. 27, a pre-World War II comic
featuring Batman's debut, was recently found in an attic and sold to a local
collector.

The comic is considered to be the second-most valuable available and can
fetch up to $500,000. The only comic considered more valuable is Action
Comics No. 1, in which Superman makes his first appearance.

Collector Todd McDevitt said the Batman issue he bought is worth about
$250,000, but he won't say exactly how much he paid or who sold it to him.

"It was a typical story of someone cleaning up junk in their attic and finding
an old comic book and wondering if this was one of those ones that was
worth a lot of money," McDevitt told the Beaver County Times.

McDevitt, owner of the Pittsburgh region's five New Dimension Comics
stores, said he has been saving money since 1986 so that he could buy a
valuable comic when it appeared.

When the seller walked in with the Batman issue, "my eyes almost popped
out of my head," McDevitt said.

"I guess I should have been more reserved, but I'm not a very good poker
player," he said.

Experts estimate there are between 20 and a few hundred copies of the
Batman debut.

McDevitt's comic now sits safely in an airtight bag in a bank vault. On
occasion, he takes it out to show friends and customers.

"I've been toying with the idea of reading it, but I haven't yet," he said. "I'm
going to savor it."
OCTOBER 15, 2007
New Story..
New Captain America
by St. Tim
They killed off Captain America a few months ago. I may not be able to tell
you where I was when Kennedy was shot, but I can tell you where I was
when they offed Cap.

It was in Captain America #25, and I was just finishing up some stuff from
work. One of my equally nerdy comic book friends and I had been
discussing the recent "Civil War" storyline and he came up to me with the
news. Captain America is dead. They shot him. I laughed, thinking how
stupid it would be for Marvel comics to kill off Cap with no warning by
something as stupid as a regular bullet. This was a guy who fought the
nazis, saved the world a million times over from aliens, Gods, and robots.
No way was a bullet going to get this guy. But in the end, a bullet did.

And now... 9 months later, Marvel will announce a NEW Captain America. No
word yet on who it will be (my money is on his old partner Bucky, but I've
been proven wrong before) The new Cap will debut in Captain America #34.

He is going to have an updated costume. (Which was helped made
possible by none other than Comic Art GOD Alex Ross). And an interesting
thing is the new Cap will brandish a gun and a knife as well as the
trademark shield. This is sure to have fans on both sides of the fence talking.

I'm not commenting just yet. Captain America is a childhood hero of mine. I
hate to see change, even though I know in comics, you evolve or get dated.
Plus, Ed Brubaker is writing the damn thing and he is great.... So I guess we
will just have to wait and see.
OCTOBER 16, 2007
The Simpsons Game:
Conquering Neverquest
Massively multiplayer mocking from
America's favorite family.
by Hilary Goldstein
www.ign.com
To coincide with the release of The Simpsons feature film on DVD, EA is set
to release The Simpsons Game on multiple consoles October 30. In The
Simpsons Game, America's favorite yellow family discovers their likenesses
have been licensed to appear in a variety of videogames. The Simpsons
clan isn't going to take this sitting down. Their adventure takes them through
a series of movie and videogame spoofs. IGN recently played one of the
levels, Neverquest, which spoofs several fantasy-based games.

Neverquest stars Marge (with Maggie in tow) and Homer. When you enter
the world of Neverquest, the two-headed dragon of Patty and Selma is
destroying a town full of Halflings (who look a lot like Ralph Wiggum).
Broken into several sections, Neverquest is a series of battles with the
ultimate goal of killing Homer's sister-in-laws. It's a dream come true for
Homer and anyone who's been stuck in line at the DMV.

Homer has his standard attacks, which we've discussed in the past. He's a
bruise, who can turn into a large ball and perform charge attacks. He can
also transform into a green sloth-like creature capable of spitting toxic waste
at enemies. His primary use in Neverquest is as a fighter, clearing out the
Moe-like goblins. Marge comes equipped with one power -- the ability to
unite others to her cause. With bullhorn in hand, she calls the Halflings to
her and commands them to attack her enemies. She's very convincing in her
calls to the troops, offering such eloquent statements as: "I'm like Gandalf,
but sexy."

In the first area, the Halfling town is under attack. The little ones are running,
screaming like mad. It's up to Homer to launch himself off bridges and
knock down the Patty/Selma hydra. Once on the ground, Marge commands
her troops to attack. Before long, the beast has been driven back. But your
quest is far from over. It's time to head into the dungeon for some hack and
slash adventuring.

The bulk of the dungeon is a Gauntlet spoof. At one point the game even
goes to a 2D overhead view. "Ooh, it's just like my favorite 2D game," Homer
says, "Dig Dug." Goblin Moes spawn from huts which must be destroyed.
Homer proves the more effective character here, as he can kick the tar out of
anyone in sight. Marge has plenty more lemmings to round up for her
frightful army.

Eventually you come to a massive dragon sculpture. To get past this
requires a blood sacrifice. But no way is Marge or Homer going to take it
upon themselves to sacrifice for the greater good. So Marge orders the little
ones to their doom. It's an especially sad moment if you happen upon one of
the random Wiggum quotes. You don't want to hear a hypnotized little boy cry
out in glee, "I'm following the MILF" before walking into a sacrificial chamber.

The level ends with a spoof on Joust, with the Patty/Selma hydra acting as
the impossible-to-kill phoenix darting across the screen. Homer can turn
into a ball of gas and float Joust-style into the air. Marge, however, has little
to do with this battle. That's a bit awkward when playing co-op.

The Neverquest level shows once again that The Simpsons Game is
packed with biting humor. Though we're still a little unsure of the co-op
gameplay mechanics, it looks like this will turn out as the funniest Simpsons
title to date. We just hope that somewhere along the way we have a run-in
with Spider-Pig.

The Simpsons ships on every current console on October 30.
OCTOBER 17, 2007
STAR WARS Anniversary Weekend
30 years ago, in a town not so far away...
by Crutchboy
Well we are approaching the week of Plano Tx's Sci - Fi Expo featuring STAR
WARS FAN DAYS. This event will mark the 30 year anniversary of Star Wars
fanaticism (1977-2007)! Scheduled guests to appear will be Dave Prowse
(Darth Vader), Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca),
Kenny Baker (R2D2), Amy Allen (Aayla Secura) and others too, including
many sketch artists who have contributed to the Star Wars world. The expo's
admission price is free but the star's autographs will range from $20-$30
each. There is an events lineup up for both days and you can view all of
these with other details here are the SCI-EXPO website. The Busy Gamer
Crew will be there to cover this awesome event!  MTFBWY!
OCTOBER 18, 2007
WIZARD WORLD RETURNS
TO TEXAS NOVEMBER 16-18
Smallville’s Supergirl Laura
Vandervoort To Appear Saturday &
Sunday

Show Exclusive To Include
X-Men: Messiah Complex Book

A Costume Contest  
Wizard Schools and Much More
Congers, NY (October 15, 2007) –Wizard World Texas, the annual, family-
friendly pop culture extravaganza, is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year
at the Arlington Convention Center the weekend on November 16-18. Tens
of thousands of comics, cards, toys, anime and manga fans are expected to
attend the three-day event. Wizard is rolling out the biggest names in
comics, giving fans a unique opportunity to get up-close and personal with
their favorite creators.

Wizard World Texas will give fans the chance to meet and interact with
entertainment and comic industry luminaries, including: Actress Laura
Vandervoort (Smallville’s Supergirl); Dan Didio (52. Countdown) DC Comics
Executive Editor; Marc Silvestri, (Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine) Founder, Top
Cow Productions; Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies Cover Artist) master of
the macabre and painter extraordinaire.

Autograph signings: actor Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk); actress Noel
Neill (The Adventures of Superman); actor Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights);
The Defuser (Courtesy of Austin Books & Comics); Fat Momma & Feedback
(Who Wants To Be A Superhero?); Herb Jefferson (Battlestar Galactica
original series); Sonny Strait (Dragonball Z, Full Metal Alchemist voice actor);
Bobbie Weiner (aka Bloody Mary), and Dazza, with more being added
leading up to the show.

The show exclusive – X-Men: Messiah Complex #1 featuring an exclusive
sketch cover by Wizard World Texas Special Guest Marc Silvestri - is
available with advanced tickets and a costume contest is scheduled for
Saturday. The program schedule is still being finalized but will include
Wizard Schools hosted by Mitch Breitweiser (Breaking Into Comics) and
Online Comics hosted by Drunk Duck.

“As the final stop on our Wizard World Tour, Texas will closeout 2007 with a
bang,” said Rob Felton, vice president and associate publisher of Wizard
Entertainment. “We have Supergirl, a whos’s-who of comic elite, great
retailers and tons of fun pop culture personalities, sure to make the
experience truly memorable for all of our attendees.”

Many notable comic book artists, writers and creators will also be in
attendance, including: Jeff Balke (Foxwood Falcons Colorist); Joe Benitez
(Top Cow & Detective Comics Artist); Mitch Breitweiser (Captain America:
The Chosen Artist); Michael Broussard (Unholy Union, The Darkness Artist);
Buzz (JSA Artist); J. Scott Campbell (Spider-Man Artist); Courtesy The Comic
Asylum Kristian Donaldson (Fallen Angel, Supermarket Artist); Raven
Gregory (Grimm Fairy Tales, The Gift Writer); Adam Kubert (Action Comics
Artist); Joe Jusko (Vampirella Cover Artist); Michael Lark (Daredevil Artist);
Courtesy of Splash Page Comic Art John Lucas (Exterminators, Civil War
Frontline Artist; Andrew Mangum (American Wasteland, Grimm Fairy Tales
Artist); Angel Medina (Sensational Spider-Man Artist); James O'Barr (Creator
of The Crow); Greg Pak (World War Hulk Writer); Humberto Ramos (X-Men
Artist); Darick Robertson Courtesy of The Hero Initiative (The Boys Artist);
Kenneth Rocafort (Madame Mirage Artist); Bill Sienkiewicz; Billy Tan
(Uncanny X-Men Artist) and Ethan Van Sciver (Green Lantern,
Superman/Batman Artist) among others.

For a complete list of events, guests, activities, ticket prices and times, visit
www.wizardworld.com.

About Wizard
Wizard Entertainment is the industry leader in the comic book and collectibles market
that publishes four magazines, Wizard: The Magazine of Comics, Entertainment and
Pop Culture, InQuest Gamer: The Gaming Magazine, ToyFare: The Toy Magazine and
Anime Insider, as well as publisher of Toy Wishes: The Ultimate Guide to Family
Entertainment. Wizard’s publications have a monthly national readership of more than
two million and are currently sold in 25 countries and five languages. Wizard can be
found online at www.wizarduniverse.com
OCTOBER 19, 2007
HALO 3 KICKS MOVIE
SALES IN THE NADS!
Is video game blockbuster to blame
for movies' box office shortfall?
By Mike Smith
Could the release of Halo 3 be behind October's underperforming box office
numbers? That's the suggestion made by industry journal Advertising Age.
In a Monday article, the publication linked Ben Stiller flick The Heartbreak
Kid's disappointing first-weekend take of $14 million to the release of Halo 3
the previous week.

September 25, Halo 3's launch day, saw the game haul in a gargantuan
$170 million, more than doubling the October 6-7 weekend's total box office
take of $80 million -- the lowest October weekend since 1999. According to
Advertising Age, execs at Paramount are investigating the possibility of a
correlation.
BUSYGAMER.COM EXCLUSIVE STORY
Cuero Texas is Chupa-crazy!
by St. Tim
No doubt you may have heard of the
mysterious creature found in Cuero Texas in
recent months. Some say it is a coyote with
mange, some say it is a stray ugly dog, and
yet still others say it is the mythical beast The
Chupacabra.

Well whatever you think it is, the owner of the
corpse decided to put the head of the beast
on disply this past weekend in the beast's
hometown of Cuero Texas.

It was on display during a yearly small town
carnival event called "Turkeyfest". (Aptly
named because they have a turkey race in the
city streets between two rival birds)

The exhibit was interesting for two reasons.
One: This thing does not look like a coyote to
me, as a matter of fact, I don't know what the
hell it looks like, the pictures don't seem to do
it much justice. Two: it harkens back to the old
side show freak days, that can no longer be
found in traveling circuses.

The head of the animal (samples of the rest of
it were sent off to labs to discover just what
the hell it is) was chained in a glass cooler
and on display for crowds of onlookers
(Sometimes as many as ten people deep)
Sorry for the glare and bad pictures...We work
with what we got .
Photos taken last weekend in
Cuero Tx of the frozen head of
the so named Chupacabra.
Original photo that surfaced
this year of the Chupa beast!
SPECIAL NOTE FROM THE BUSYGAMER CREW!
This following weekend the BG Crew will be AFK attending the SCI-FI Expo
"Star Wars Fan Days". The celebration will carry on throughout the week till
the next weekend where the Official Busy Gamer Launch Party will ensue!
Due to all this going on no page updates will be performed untill the return
and recovery of our most talented staff! But we assure you that printing will
continue as usual following the aftermath with pictures of lotsa of geeky
goodness!  -The BG Staff
CRUTCHBOY'S GOOD ADVICE FOR THE DAY:
"If you're riding a bicycle down a hill,
turn your head before you spit"
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