Why send sample pages of the latest story arc in the Marvel universe when you can send a trailer instead. Lately this has been the comic company’s mantra to promote their signature book events.

Marvel Comics (MC) is pulling out all the stops to create buzz for the next big multi-pub series, The Siege. Here’s how MC describes the upcoming series:

SIEGE is coming! It’s all been leading up to this universe shattering four issue limited series from the superstar team of Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel! Following the events of Dark Reign: The List, Norman Osborn sets his sights set on Asgard and nothing will stop him from completing his mission. But what does he want? How do Loki and Thor figure in? And just how does this relate to the inner strife between the Cabal? Marvel’s greatest heroes unite against the deadliest threat they’ve ever faced, but even they have no idea what’s coming next. It’s time for the most jaw dropping comic book event of the decade begins in December with Siege: The Cabal and continues in January’s SIEGE #1!

I have to admit I’m still playing catch up with the Marvel series. Right now Dark Reign is barely keeping my interest, but the thought of Asgardians raining pain down on the Avengers is just to delicious to miss.

As we near the eve of Barack Obama’s inauguration, all you Obamaphiles may want to swing over to your local comic shop on Wednesday and pick up a copy AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583. In this issue, Spider-Man is in D.C. on Inauguration Day and teams up with the “Yes we can” man himself to stop a plot to thwart the swearing in of America’s 44th president.

Obama has been a long-time collector of Spider-Man comics so it seems only fitting that Marvel will give him some props. Now don’t expect to see Obama in a super suit, but you you’re sure to see an “Obama bop” between he and the web slinger to show up in a frame or two.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583 hits the shelves nationwide Wednesday, January 14, 2009.  Look for special variant covers featuring the President-Elect and Spider-Man to be featured on nearly half of the printed issues.

Ed chats with author, Augusten Burroughs on his life and the success of his bestselling book, Running With Scissors. Oh, and make way for Alejandro Leal.
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links:
augusten.com: link to Augusten Burroughs’ official website
Running with Scissors: the official movie site.
Comedy Central’s Motherload: finally, let the testicles have their say on Comedy Central’s new show Baxter & McGuire starting November 6, 2006.
Nip/Tuck website: We didn’t mention it much in the interview, but Running with Scissors is directed and adapted to screen by Ryan Murphy, creator of FX’s runaway hit, Nip/Tuck.

It’s all about unsolved mysteries in the episode of Ed Loves Bacon. Ed goes one-on-one with Author James Ellroy about the subject of his book and upcoming film The Black Dahlia. Plus, learn about some other infamous unsolved crimes.
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links:
theblackdahliamovie.net: link to the official movie site.
ellroy.com: site dedicated to all things James Ellroy.
bethshort.com: you’ve gone this far, find out more about the infamous Hollywood murder mystery.

This week Aaron and Ed throw author A.M. Hatter into the ring to discuss the topic, self publishing, cheesy movies and bad hair cuts.
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