A fond obituary for the Marvel Universe

With the news yesterday that the "old" Marvel Universe is going away to be replaced by a new, merged one, it's kinda hard not to come up with an obit for the ol' reliable. Read it here on Newsarama.com.

Jim McLauchlin

When super-athletes meet super-heroes

Eric Drath is an Emmy Award-winning documentarian who did the AMAZING and important boxing film Assault in the Ring. Now he turns his eye to the intersection of super-athletes and super-heroes with a new joint project from ESPN and Marvel Comics. Read all about it over at Newsarama.com.

Jim McLauchlin

photo illustration: LiveStar Entertainment

There's more to L.A. than just LAX

Travel can be a righteous pain in the butt, so minimizing the flak is a lesson well taken. Often, using that smaller airport can result in a much better experience.

So yeah—next time you're coming to L.A., you might wanna look at the smaller, sometimes BETTER alternatives to LAX. They're all highlighted with pros and cons at the mighty Berkshire Hathaway Travel Blog.

Jim McLauchlin

photo: Long Beach Airport

The man who brought back Bubble Up…and Schlitz!

John Nese (above) is the proprietor of Galco's Old World Grocery, which has become a haven for more than 750 craft sodas, most of which you thought were gone. That old favorite you used to have at Grandma's? It still lives here.

His story is amazing. Please read it at Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection!

photos: Jim McLauchlin. Photo graphics by Buddy Scalera.

Artistic legend Jack Davis retires

Jack Davis, one of the most celebrated and versatile artists in American history, has finally retired.

You might not know the name, but you've DEFINITELY seen the work: From Time and TV Guide covers to Mad magazine and famous movie posters, David has done it ALL. He's one of the most significant cultural figures of the second half of the 20th century, though he remains oddly unaware of his impact.

You can read all-out Jack and view a GREAT gallery of art, some rarely seen, over at Wired.

Jim McLauchlin

illustration: Jack Davis drawing of Oakland As manager Bill Martin from a 1980 Borden Crunch Stix ad campaign

Josh Dysart, just hours before he goes to Iraq

Josh Dysart is a helluva writer, and he puts his money where his mouth is. He's going to Kurdistan in Iraq to work with the World Food Programme and write a comic about the refugee camps there.

Josh Matters, with a capital M. Please read about him here.

Jim McLauchlin

photo courtesy Josh Dysart

Writing/Riding on a Train: Bill Willingham

Bill Willingham, author of Fables, Down the Mysterly River, and more was the very first writer out of the box for Amtrak's Residency program. Read about his travels, and what he wrote and learned, at the BHTP Blog. Enjoy!

Jim McLauchlin

photo courtesy Bill Willingham