Ok, I lied. More updates to the tune of linkblog.

• Rich Watson puts up his own "Best Comics of 2004" list, along with some political-related stuff and a look at the industry in 2004. I have to say, I like that Rich makes note that these aren't necessarily the best comics published in 2004, but the best that he's read. It's why I always have a problem with best of lists - often, it's canonical without having any real basis for canonization - so when someone goes out of his/her way to note that the list is subjective, it always makes me happy.

Also, Rich shares a bit of a plea:

I was extremely fortunate this year to have been able to attend all four of the major small press conventions in America- what I refer to as the Small Press Grand Slam: APE, SPACE, MoCCA, and SPX. And the one common denominator all four shows have is diversity- of product, of creators, of fans. That's what's going to keep the industry alive as long as there are creators to make the books and fans to buy and read them. I have plans of my own to contribute to that spirit of diversity, which I'll reveal very soon, but seeing such a bounty makes me once again plead to Fandom Assembled: there's no reason for you to settle for mediocrity in the comics you read. If you can honestly say you liked Identity Crisis and "Avengers Disassembled," well, good for you, but if you didn't, and if you swear off Marvel and/or DC forever (like I saw so many people claim to do this year), and if you don't open yourself up to other books out there- because from the looks of it, those so-called events will lead to even bigger and more bloated so-called events next year- you’re doing yourself a disservice.

I always dig Rich's year-end wrap-ups. This one is no exception.

• While I'm not ready to get all biological because of the news (sorry, guys), I - like many others - am really looking forward to Morrison and Quitely doing Superman comics. I may even give the Simone/Byrne ACTION COMICS a look.

• Did anyone else see Closer? I wasn't aware of the theatrical production of it, but I enjoyed the movie. It made me think of comics, though... When people say/write/opine that "nothing happens" in a comic book or whatever, does nothing actually happen? There's a lot of motion in the movie, but it's not kinetic motion - it's interpersonal motion. If this is an example of "nothing happens," then I'm all for it. It's the kind of realism I'd want to see from a mainstream

Also, I can now see where Heidi is coming from on her fascination/crush thing on Clive Owen.