This is a pretty clever ad for Full Sail University Online.  It’s, like… the birdcage is a symbol, man.  However, it was a hell of a lot more clever in its original inception: as the subject of a Graham Kahler comic.

This is a page from Songbirds, one of Graham Kahler’s better known works.  I think I first read it in 2006.  Kahler isn’t a huge celebrity or anything, but he has a following, enough that people who are into comics and illustration know his stuff.  And he’s indie enough that he probably couldn’t do anything to defend himself in the event that someone did steal his work.  The resemblance here is uncanny.  I obviously can’t outright say that this is an appropriation of Kahler’s concept without knowing more, but if it were my intellectual property and I saw this… I’d be livid.

The only piece of news that matters from this year’s San Diego Comic Con: Geoff Johns is writing a special one-shot that pits Krypto the superdog against Dex-Starr the blood-vomiting cat.  It’s going to be a Valentine’s day special.  For reals.

The Story So Far: after a long postcard campaign from jerks like me, DC Comics is celebrating the 600th issue of Wonder Woman this month.  Also the 600th issues of Batman and Superman, but those aren’t as important as Wonder Woman.   I was reading iFanboy this morning and stumbled across Jim Lee’s redesign of Wonder Woman for her 600th issue.  I am, surprisingly, not completely disgusted.  Mainly because Wonder Woman’s iconic costume is completely ridiculous and inappropriate; I lovingly call it the USO Ameritits Bikini. Anything is an improvement.

But still… leather jacket?  Black choker?  Jim Lee shouldn’t be trusted with stuff like this (see his bastardization of The Huntress character in Hush).  My favorite take on Wonder Woman remains Carly Monardo’s, mainly because she’s recognizing Wonder Woman’s roots as the princess of effin’ Themyscira and not trying to dress her up as some patriotic Rush Limbaugh fap-fest.

You can see more redesigns like this over at Project Rooftop, a blog that serves no purpose other than hosting fan redesigns of superhero costumes.  Which is wonderful.

Okay. I’ve stated my opinion about the Path many times. In short: it is the best game I have ever played and it has changed the way I think about interactive media. I not only enjoy it, I admire it. For a while I was buying copies for anyone who wanted to play it. I posted that on Facebook: straight up, I will purchase you a copy of this game if you will play it. Many friends took advantage of this, and some of them have had the same reaction as I. Which makes me feel very good. So, having bought the game a thousand times over, what did I do when Tale of Tales announced a limited edition of twenty physical copies? I BOUGHT ALL OF THEM.

No, that’s a lie. I just bought one. I’m not that greedy.

The game saw a retail release in eastern Europe, and being a complete fanboy I begged on the Tale of Tales blog for a chance to purchase a copy. They totally delivered, even signing it.  But the real reason this special edition is awesome? Loot.

In the old days, we called these feelies.  Those maps, cloth pouches and gold coins that came with old Infocom games?  They were awesome. The retail edition of the Path has creepy Polaroids of underage girls. And stickers. But I’m more attracted to the Polaroids.

I actually got this in January but just remembered that I had it this week while waiting for my soundtrack CD to be delivered.  This Polish edition is sold out, but you can still purchase a similar Russian edition from the Tale of Tales store.