Before we get started today, I want to mention the passing of Dave Cockrum this past weekend. Dave was a talented, familiar comic book artist who spent some time working with Superboy and The Legion of Superheroes at DC, and did amazing work on Uncanny and Giant Sized for Marvel. The family asks you not to call, but provides the following email address for those of you who wish to offer condolences: magnetorampant@yahoo.com.

It has been, well, years really, since I last picked up and read any of the Star Wars Extended Universe novels. Admittedly, I'm more than a touch behind, as I stopped reading somewhere in NJO and haven't caught up to anything new since my sophomore year of college. However, when standing in the middle of my study surveying my bookcases for something to occupy my lunch break a week or so back, I found myself picking up the first of Michael J. Stackpole's X-Wing series. As always, I enjoyed it tremendously; perhaps more so because it had been a number of years since I'd last visited. Currently, I'm in the middle of Aaron Allston's Wraith Squadron, and am planning to hit a selection of other New Republic era novels to get my space legs going before diving back into the NJO from Vector Prime. Honestly, the past several years of new Star Wars movies had soured me to the point I'd almost forgotten how much I love this universe. (Please note, there is also a lot of abject crap in the Extended Universe, and probably as many books which should be ignored as there are which should be read. I should know, I own most of them.) so all this rekindled geek literature love, combined with my insane desire for a Jedi game on the Wii, has driven my thoughts towards a galaxy far, far away. As George Lucas and company gear up for their TV series set between eps three and four, I find myself wishing I could control the direction of the franchise. What do I want?

Before I start, let me say thanks to my very alert readers, who picked up a mistake of mine in a story which ran on Sunday. I wrote about new pictures from the set of Fantastic Four 2, but mistakenly put the link to older pictures. The new pictures can be found here. Again, thanks to readers Ryan, CharlieBrown, Andy and Tim for catching my mistake. Well played, gents!

News of the week which caught my attention: Yet another rumor of Japanese anime being turned into American movies. This one comes to us via Comic Book Movies (the financing company) and Ishimori, Inc. You can read the whole story here.

I continue to have mixed feelings regarding major motion pictures based on anime titles. I am an anime/manga fan, and while I'm certainly not as knowledgeable as some of you true buffs out there, I've certainly seen and read my fair share. With the overwhelming popularity of comic book/graphic novel movies in Hollywood these days and the ever increasing presence of Japanese media in America, anime movies would seem to be a forgone conclusion. And since American audiences seem to have a tough time accepting non-children's animation in major theater releases, live action is undoubtedly the way to go.

Hi. It looks like you and I are going to be seeing a lot of each other, now that this snazzy new weekly column deal is happening. If that's the case, we've got to lay down some ground rules so we know where we stand. Here's how it is going to be:

Rule 1 - The movie business is driven by opinion, not fact; and the geek business doubly so. I'm going to say some things you disagree with - and at some point I'll probably insult something you like. I'm an opinionated guy, and I tend to think I'm right about everything. But let's be fair, you know you do the same. If it makes you feel better, feel free to hate/make fun of things that I like if you ever feel slighted. I'll even provide a list of possible topics.

Rule 2 - A good relationship is built on open conversation. See that comment option down there? Use it. Use it like Popeye uses spinach. I want to know what you are interested in, and I want to know when you disagree with me. Sure I'm a writer - but I'm only one geek among millions - and you've all got opinions as legitimate as my own.

Rule 3 - I'm allowed to make new rules at any time, and break them at will. It IS my column, after all.