Like an alignment of the planets, several events are coming together to make my weekend rock geek style! 

First, today marks the release of Spider-Man 3. Though I won't be among the first to see the film, I am hoping to catch it Sunday with a bunch of friends. I was a big fan of the original Venom storyline in the Spider-Man comics, and in fact found the villain much more creepy in his early days. I collected Secret Wars when the black costume/symbiot first appeared, and loved Spidey in the black threads. When Venom first came on the scene, he looked just like black costume Spider-Man, with one major exception: He could smile through the mask. That alone sent shivers through me and made him one of the creepiest Spidey-villains to date. Only later did he go all pointy teeth and slobbering tongue, and for me it just didn't have the same effect. 

Regardless, it will be fun to see him and Sandman on the big screen.

Another event is Free Comic Book Day on Saturday. Our local comic book stores tend to be a little on the stingy side when it comes to handing out the books, usually with each person only being allowed to choose one (out of about 15 titles) and sometimes a random piece of swag, like a HeroClix promo piece (this year it is Batman). Still, it is an excuse for me to head out to the stores and I try to buy something at each place, just to make it worth their while. I'm still trying to decide which title(s) I will try to pick up this year. "Pirate versus Ninja" has me really intrigued, mostly just because pirates and ninjas rock.

After I hit the stores, I will be heading to the library with some friends to do a little roleplaying. I am hoping to run Truth & Justice in honor of the comic-themed weekend. We may also try to get in some character creation/actual play on Spirit of the Century.

Saturday night myself and a friend will be trying out some two-player games, including Firefly Games' "Monster Island." What could be more comic book than giant monsters fighting for no good reason? We'll probably follow that up with some HeroClix or HorrorClix. My buddy bought the Hellboy HorrorClix Action Pack, and since I have the giant sized HorrorClix Cthulhu, we might just have an end-of-the-world throwdown to cap off the night. 

All in all, it is going to be a heck of a weekend. I will tell you guys more after it all goes down.

Also, there will be a review of Hidden City Games' collectible throwing game "Clout Fantasy" in Sunday's Parkersburg News. I will talk a bit more about this game after the review has a chance to run.

Until then true believers...

ME