The Return of the Iron Guy and the Great Greg Heffley Debate

Hey, hey all you readin' and rockin' guys in blogland! 'Tis I, Iron Guy Carl, posting again after a looong absence. I've hated to be gone for such a long time but life is sooo busy these days that I hardly get time to look at my computer. But I got inspired to write again lately after my annual trip to North Myrtle Beach beach a couple of weeks ago. It's really beautiful down there, as you can see:

It's also a very fun place--here I am, tackling a burger that's worthy of the Iron Guy!

But I also got the chance to see my good friend Library Ninja Bill:

There he is with his wife (known in the superhero world as The Valkyrie) and my wife (known to crimefighters everywhere as The Blond Phantom)

It was good to see him and catch up. Among the things we talked about was my review of Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by the terrific Alan Silberberg. I reviewed that book on the Boys Rule Boys Read blog and you can see my review here. In that review, I said that I liked it a whole lot more than the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. "Those are pretty strong words," said Bill. Well, I feel pretty strongly about that book. It's terrific and you really need to find it. It started a little debate between us as well. I told him what I'm about to tell you. And I tell you this because you, like Bill, you are trusted friends and only to you could I confess this deep, dark secret. You ready??

I'm not a Greg Heffley fan.

Yes, I know that's a lot to take in. But be prepared for the second great shock. Want to know why I'm not a fan?

Grag Heffley's a jerk.

There! I said it! I know that puts me in the bad graces of guy readers everywhere. I know that might make me a member of a tiny, tiny minority. It might even make me an endangered species--but, then, I'm the Iron Guy and I can handle myself!

I'm sorry, but I just couldn't read any more of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books after that first one. I mean, after Greg Heffley made faces at the kindergarten class and then let his best friend Rowley take the rap for it, well, I just couldn't work up any sympathy for GH. I did enjoy the rest of the book--it really is funny--but I just couldn't bring myself to read the rest of the DWK books. So am I wrong?? Am I acting too much like a grownup?? Are you a fan of these books? If so, hit that "Comment" label under this post and tell us why. Or do you agree with me? If so, tell us that too. The Iron Guy does not shrink from a controversy and I'm hoping to start one here with the Great Greg Heffley Debate!!


Conter Point by Library Ninja Bill - Iron Carl, you make me sad. Although I have not yet gotten around to raeding Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze which I plan to soon sinse you have thrown down this mighty guantlet. I will concede to you the point that in The Wimpy Kid series Greg Heffley is indeed a jerk, but one that most people can probably identify with or at least I can. While I was not a monster at Greg's age, I certainly did some pretty self-centered and stupid things. So believe me when I say to a certain extent I can laugh and cringe at Greg's actions (some of these things hit close to home unfortunately). Also it is when Greg's great and stupid plans go astray that make the series so funny. So I am a defender of Greg (both the good and bad). If any of you out there agree with my point of view let's put The Mighty Iron Carl in his place!!!!! I hope to hear from all of you out there in "The Land of Blog" with your thoughts and opinions. This could be a very interesting discussion.

Peace all,

Iron Carl and Library Ninja Bill 

Wimpy Kid, Manja, Graphic Novels and Turkeys Fighting Back!!!!!

Hello all,

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I would have but when I went to get my turkey for the feast, I ran into a one with a serious attitude!!!! Check it out:

Ultimo - The Turkey Who Stood Up!!!!

Needless to say, I had tofu this Thanksgiving. Anyway lets talk good reads:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney - Well I just finished reading the latest installment in "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series, "The Ugly Truth," and it was great. Just as funny as it's predecessors with our hero Greg Heffley telling of the struggles of being a kid in a world that just does not understand him. It seems as Greg and Rowley (his best friend) have had a falling out and Greg has to start the school year out all on his lonesome. In this book Greg learns responsibility, um or not, when hired by a neighbor to take care of her plants while she is gone away. Greg goes to a school Lock-In and has a blast, well um not exactly. Greg's mom goes back to school and decides to get a maid to help with the house work making his life so much easier. Oh wait a minute, that's not exactly right either. Anyway this is a hilarious book and series that just keeps hitting on all pistons, so check it out. Highly Recommended!!!!!! (unless you hate laughing then this book is definitely not for you)  Others in the series if you want to check them out are:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Roderick Rules, The Last Straw and Dog Days. Again great stuff!!!!!

Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata - This Manga is intended for Young Adult (teens). Well it seems there are death gods (Shinigami) in another dimension who keep tabs on us human beings. When it is time for them to power up they write a person's name down in a journal and that person dies. They don't do this very often and one among them named Ryuk has become bored. So he drops a journal (A Death Note) down into the human world to see who will pick it up and what will happen. Light Yagami a very bright teen finds it and soon figures out what it can do through experimentation and visits by Ryuk. There are rules to how the "Death Note" can be used and it is not as simple as it seems. Light decides to use it to take out criminals and those he sees as deserving to die. The police soon catch on to all these criminals dying and are soon in hot pursuit of this mass murderer. They even bring in a special agent, whose true identity is known by no one, known only as "L." From there the game is afoot, as Sherlock Holmes would say. This is a really fascinating read that makes one think about what are the responsibilities of those with great power. 

Green Lantern: Agent Orange by Geoff Johns, Philip Tan, etc. & Green Lantern Corps: Emerald Eclipse by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason - The War of Light also known through prophecy as "The Blackest Night" is quickly approaching and both of these GNs are integral leads into this upcoming storyline. In "Green Lantern: Agent Orange" Hal Jordan and the rest of the Green Lantern Corps meet an enemy long known by The Guardians but kept a secret through treaties made long ago. Well the treaty is broken and all heck is about to brake loose. Orange Power Rings, representing greed, and all owned by an ancient entity known as Agent Orange or Larfleeze has declared war on The Green Lantern Corps. As the story and fight rages on other Corps such as The Sinestro Corps, The Blue Lantern Corps and The Star Sapphires are drawn into this mess. Things are heating up to critical mass and we have not even talked about The Red Lantern Corps or The Indigo Tribe. Sound like a bunch happening, eh? Well it is and "Green Lantern Corps Emerald Eclipse" adds even more to the impending War of Light. It seems that that Sinestro has gone missing and in his place Mongul decides to take over. That leads to a battle royal within The Sinestro Corps. On top of that a Red Lantern has shown up on OA (The official home of The Green Lantern Corps and The Guardians) and set loose all the prisoners being held there. The Green Lantern Corps really finds it's back against the wall in trying to not only maintain order, but staying alive. There is much more going on in both these books than I have described, if you can believe that, so check them out for some really good reads!!!!!!

Well, that's all this Library Ninja has for now guys and girls, until next time, HiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiYaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Library Ninja Bill