HM for Top 12 Picard episodes.

I only have one storyline to go here. This one is just odd, and that's saying a lot for TNG. There are so many odd stories that are a part of this series.

Devil's Due

1000 years ago, the people of Ventax II made a deal with a creature known as Ardra. Ardra promised to give the people of Ventax II 1000 years of peace in exchange for giving control of the planet to Ardra when the 1000 years have come to an end.

The Enterprise happens to be in the area when the contract comes due. The people of Ventax II are panicked and take a Federation science team hostage. When Captain Picard goes to the planet to negotiate the release of the hostages,

Once the Captain arrives, Ardra appears. and claims the planet and everything within it's sphere, including the Enterprise. Ardra displays a variety of powers including changing her shape, causing earthquakes, and making the Enterprise disappear.

Picard convinces Ardra to let an arbiter decide if her claim is valid. Ardra picks Data, and the trial commences.

*Spoilers in case you haven't seen the episode*

After some investigations, the Crew of the Enterprise discovers a cloaked ship that is causing all of Ardra's powers, and they capture the ship and turn the tables on Ardra.

The episode is fun, and shows Picard's ability as a diplomat. Definitely worth the time.

Top 12 Christmas hymns

It's the holidays, so it must be time for a holiday-themed list, right? Well this year, I'm I thought I would list my Top 12 Christmas hymns. Most of them will be familiar, but I expect there might be one or two most of you won't recognize.

These are the songs I associate most with Christmas. Sure you have to have the Chipmunks singing about Christmas time, and it really isn't Christmas for me until I hear Snoopy facing off against the Red Baron on the radio, but these are the songs that really put me in the mood.

I'd totally forgotten one of our traditions growing up was to call my grandma on my Mom's side and sing Silent Night to her on Christmas Eve, and then we got to open one present.

Another important part of this music is singing it with a group of people. The church I grew up in was a singing church. We had a strong history and present of singing accapella, and that really made these songs special. I was going to write about each song, but that was when I was going to do a set of posts. For this, you just get the video and no explanation. I will mention that I really love songs that have a lot going on, especially in a minor key, hence the top pick. But enough of all the background, let's get to the list.

Number 12-Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Number 11-O Come all Ye Faithful

Number 10-Joy to the World

Number 9- To Us a Child

Number 8-The First Noel

Number 7-It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Number 6-Silent Night

Number 5-Oh Holy Night

Number 4-What Child is This?

Number 3- We Three Kings

Number 2-Angels We have Heard on High

Number 1-Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel

The Picard Primer-Getting ready for the Top 12 Episodes Jean-Luc Picard

When I started planning for the Top 12 Episodes of Star Trek TNG, I knew it was going to be hard to bring the list down to twelve, but I wasn't expecting to have so many episodes on the prep list. I ended up with 48 episodes to consider when it was all said and done. When I finished with National Novel Writing Month at the end of November, and my Top 12 Avengers, I started thinking about how I was going to make this list work.

As I looked at the episodes, I noticed that a large number of my top choices involved stories with Captain Picard. It made me realize that if I did the list straight up, I wouldn't be able to give all of the characters their due. Then I came up with the idea of splitting the massive list into two lists.


First I will look at the Top 12 Picard episodes, and then we'll look at the Top 12 for the rest of the crew. This will let me give all of the characters some time. For now, though, let's talk about the man, Captain Picard.

Like with all of the Star Trek shows, the captain is the person that drives the show. The captain is responsible for the major decisions. The captain is the focus of the story and his (or her) story arc is paramount.

Jean Luc Picard was a marked difference from William T. Kirk from the original series. Where Kirk was a shoot-first kind of captain (which isn't really fair to the character, but it suits the idea), Picard tried to use diplomacy first. However, if diplomacy didn't work then Picard could fight with the best of them.

Sure Picard is confusing because he's supposed to be French, and although his brother has a French accent, Jean Luc has a British accent. Whatever.

Picard is a thinker and he brings out the best in everyone he has in his sphere of influence. He sees what people have the potential to accomplish and helps them to make it happen.

He is also a paradox of a man in many ways:

• A man who studies and loves the past who captain's the most advanced ship of his time.
• A man that hates kids, but can't help but draw them into his life.
• A man that strives for peace, but has to fight for it.

Let's get into the list and see how Picard stands out in the pack.

Top 12 Episodes of Start Trek TNG-Four Storylines I Could Do Without

I want to say that I love just about everything about the Next Generation, but I have to admit that I have some problems with different parts of the show at different times. It's just natural that over a seven-year span that something is going to rub you the wrong way. What I discovered is that most of my issues occurred in the early seasons or with specific characters, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Here are a few stories I didn't like at all. (Well, not completely at least.)

That episode where Tasha fights not to get married

Season One was a bit rough, not because the show didn't have everything that it needed, but because everyone was trying to force the Next Generation into the mold of the Original Series. Sometimes those attempts were good, like in the Naked Time, but other times, it was just horrible. Take this episode as an example.

In Code of Honor,  we encounter a civilization that is a combination of matriarchal and patriarchal. The women hold the power, but it is the men that control the power of their wives once they are married. The Enterprise is at this planet because it is the only source of  a medicine needed for a medical emergency and Picard needs to negotiate the agreement.

The man who controls most of the power on the planet notices Tasha and decides that he wants to marry her. His Number-One-Wife does not like this idea and challenges Tasha to a battle to the death in an overly complicated contraption and goofy looking blades for their hands.

This is one of the First-Season episodes where it feels like they are trying to make Tasha seem sexy, but they are doing it all wrong. That may be part of the reason that Denise left the show when she did.

That episode where the writers don't know the enemy yet

It's a new show, and you need to have new enemies, right? The Klingons are allies, and you can only do so many episodes with the Romulans before everyone gets annoyed with them. You need some variety. Enter the Ferengi.

I love the Ferengi, especially when they get a strong development in Deep Space Nine, but watching this episode, you can tell that the writers had no plan for them. Let's imagine the planning meeting:

A: We should have a fight episode.
B: Like where the crew gets trapped on a planet and have to fight for their lives?
A: Exactly. They can fight these guys we'll call the Ferengi.
B: That's an intimidating name. They'll have lots of makeup right?
A: I'm imagining big ears. "The better to hear you with, my dear."
B: Dangerous warriors-we can give them some strange weapons, like laser whips.
A: I like it. Let's give them sharp teeth like wolves too.
B: So what do they want?
A: I don't know. Let's figure that out later.
B: Works for me.

That episode where Doctor Pulaski treats Data wrong

If there's one character that completely annoys me, it is Doctor Pulaski. She is insensitive, and arrogant. I especially cant stand the way that she treats Data. Didn't we have enough stories where Data's "humanity" was called into question without having a main character that treats him like a high-tech toaster every time she crosses paths with him?

In Elementary, Dear Data, the doctor decides that Data can't have any original thoughts. He just puts together his previous experiences in order to make decisions. (Which sounds very similar to what most people do in similar situation.) Since Data and Geordi are running a Sherlock Holmes holodeck program, she challenges Data to solve an original mystery.

This leads to some other problems after Geordi orders the computer to do anything it needs to do in order to create an oponent capable of defeating Data, but we'll talk more about that later when I talk about the reasons why I love this episode.

That episode where Picard has to accept that he used to be a kid

X-babies are awesome, I don't even mind Baby Avengers, but the idea can go too far pretty quickly. Take Rascals as an example. Who was clamoring for the crew of the Enterprise to get age regressed? Do we really need a story where Picard has a reason to hate himself because he's become a kid again?

I also object to the choice of crew members for this episode. I'm sure there was a logical reason to make those choices, but Picard, Guinan, Ensign Ro, and Keiko just don't seem like the best choices (aside from Picard.) I know they were trying to include Ro Laren more to give her character more exposure, and maybe Whoopie had to be on the set of one of her films, but beyond that, I just don't understand it.

The episode didn't do anything for the show, and it just got in the way of a much better story.

Those are my picks for the worst stories of the Next Generation, but you might prefer to put down some others. Leave a comment if you have any.

Top 12 Avengers-Number 1

Top 12 Avengers-Number 1

Captain America

Captain America was not a creation of Stan Lee, in fact, the Captain has his origins before Stan was involved with comics and when Marvel Comics was known as Timely Comics. It was 1940, and the United States was still undecided about its policy concerning World War II, but since every other comic company had someone involved in the fight with Hitler and the Axis powers.

Originally he was going to be called Super American, but the adjective had been worn out by that point, so Joe Simon decided to name his character Captain America. In his first issue, Cap got to slug Hitler in the jaw. With that single issue, Captain America was a hit.

So what's Cap's story? I'm sure you've seen or heard it before, but here you go:

Born a Yankee Doodle Dandy (on the 4th of July in case you don't get the reference), Steve Rogers grew up to be a scrawny Fine Arts Student, and when the war started, he wanted to go and fight, but he was deemed unfit for service. He jumped at the chance to be a part of the Super-Soldier project in hopes that it would help him be able to serve his country.

Since the man behind the program is killed by enemy agents as Rogers becomes a Super Soldier, and since he didn't leave complete records of the formula, Rogers is used as a patriotic super hero. He battles America's enemies both at home and around the world, but in a daring attempt to defeat Baron Zemo, both Cap and his partner Bucky are involved in an explosion over the Atlantic, and they are both presumed dead.

Years later, a frozen Captain America is discovered and thawed from the ice. He recovers thanks to the Super-Soldier Serum and joins the team. Cap has often acted as the leader for the team, and his tactical expertise and experience have always been an asset.

Let's talk for a little bit about what makes Cap so special. The Super-Soldier Serum increases his strength, agility, speed, and everything else to beyond peak performance. He has a shield that is made from a blend of adamantium and vibranium (along with some other things) that is invulnerable and can absorb almost any shock it receives. Cap's long experience as a soldier has taught him how to predict the moves his enemies will make and how to counter them.

Cap has been a part of almost every major story line in the Avengers and the Marvel Universe. Although he only has his enhanced strength and the shield, Cap is still more than a match for many of the opponents he faces, but he does so with a humility that makes him endearing.

Let me tell you about some of my favorite Cap moments.

Captain America defeats Iron Man one-on-one. This has happened more than once actually, and every time it happens It makes me happy. Somehow Cap manages to overcome huge obstacles to defeat the man in the super armor.

Captain America defears the Super Adaptoid in possesion of the Cosmic Cube. The Super Adaptoid is a sentient robot that was designed to defeat any and all chalenges by duplicating the powers of anyone it encountered. At some point, this device gained the powers of the Cosmic Cube. (This is not to be confused with the cube in the Marvel movies.) The Cosmic Cube can basically grant any wish its holder might make. Using the power it had copied from the cube, the Super Adaptoid capture the Avengers, who were led by Captain Marvel (aka Photon) and held them in cubes that their powers could not affect. Captain America (then using the identity the Captain since he had been stripped of the title Captain America by the US government) was teleported to the scene. Cap was able to show the Adaptoid that it wasn't as perfect as it thought even though it had immense power. It wasn't able to create something original or even beat the Captain in combat. This proved, the Super Adaptoid shut down.

Awesome shield tricks I don't remember where this happened, but in a storyline Cap needed to get to the bottom of a deep pit. Without taking time to think about it, he jumped and fell

Cap jumps off the SHIELD helicarrier and hijacks a jet while it is in the air.
At the start of the Civil War storyline, Captain America is on the SHIELD helicarrier talking to the woman that is responsible for reigning in all of the heroes that are against registering. Rather than trying to explain the situation and the reasons that the government is taking these actions, she tries to detain the Captain. Cap doesn't take this approach very well and does something no one is expecting-he uses his shield to smash through the glass of one of the windows, and falls.

This is unexpected enough, but then Cap guides his decent so he lands on a jet plane patrolling around the helicarrier and ejects the pilot so he can fly it to safety.

Let's talk about the movies

I didn't do this with the others,but I just appreciated Chris Evans' performance in this role so much. Along with that, the film makers really got the character right. (Certainly better than Cap's first film.) Steve Rogers is all about being that guy that takes one for the team. He will jump on the grenade and think about everyone else first in a combat situation.

I loved watching Cap stand up to Thor's hammer and arguing with Iron Man. (Movie Iron Man gets a pass compared to the comic books.) I wasn't expecting Captain America: the First Avenger to be a period piece, but that ended up being the perfect way to introduce the character.

Steve Rogers is a symbol for America, but more than that, he fights for everyone that needs a hand, and that makes him my favorite Avenger. You may or may not agree, but that's what the comment section is for.

Top 12 Avengers-Number 2

She Hulk

Jennifer Walters was one of the last creations of Stan Lee during his original run as Marvel's idea man. She was an attempt to stop the Incredible Hulk television show from creating a cousin for David Banner that they wouldn't have the rights to.

She Hulk is a result of Bruce Banner trying to save his cousin's life. While he was visiting Jen, henchmen of crime boss, Nicholas Trask, shot her while trying to kill her sheriff/father,  and Bruce gave Jen a blood transfusion that also gave her powers similar to the Hulk.

Over the years, it was explained that her appearance was shaped by her subconscious desire to be the ideal woman as opposed to her small and shy original self. She Hulk became a member of the Avengers and had some solo activity before joining with the Fantastic Four to replace the Thing who had left the team during a period of frustration with Reed Richards not being able to return him to his human form.

After her time with the Fantastic Four, Jennifer Walters , who had become a lawyer, took a job as assistant District Attorney, and was given her own solo book, the Sensational She Hulk in which she knew she was actually a character in a comic book.

She Hulk has been a part of many of the legal proceedings of the Marvel Universe when she was counsel for Speedball after the events that led to the Civil War, and tied up legal proceeding for Peter Parker after it was revealed that he was Spider-man.

I know I can't list a lot of contributions from She Hulk as an Avenger, but she's always there lending a helping, green hand. I love her personality and resolve. Whether she's with the Fantastic Four or the Avengers, or just lending a helping hand, she is a great character that deserves to be at a top spot on this list. I just hope that someone decides she deserves a movie, and does it right. Joss Whedon could write and direct it, just make sure he doesn't kill her, OK?

Don't forget about the Lady Liberators too.

Top 12 Avengers-Number 3

Captain Marvel

This name gets tossed around a lot in the comic book world. The first Captain Marvel, and arguably the best is the DC version, but that doesn't have anything to do with the list right now.

We already talked a little bit about Photon and her time as Captain Marvel, but we haven't really talked much about the woman who has bounced almost everywhere in the Marvel Universe.

Carol Danvers started her story as a Security Chief with the US Air Force. At some point, she meets the alien-Kree hero, Captain Marvel. During an investigation, she almost dies in an explosion of the Psyche-Magnetron which melds her DNA with the DNA of Captain Marvel. Ms. Marvel (as she is known at that time) was a strong presence in the Marvel Universe, bouncing between titles on a regular basis.

Later in her story, Rogue decided to kill her. Actually, the precog, Destiny, had seen that Ms. Marvel would cause Rogue to leave Mystique and suggested that they kill Ms. Marvel. Unfortunately for Rogue, she overheard that conversation and took it upon herself to do the job. While absorbing Ms. Marvel's powers, something went wrong, and Rogue ended up absorbing everything from Carol leaving Ms. Marvel a blank slate.

After this event, Carol spends some time with the X-men. While battling the Brood in space, Carol is experimented upon by the Brood, and becomes Binary, who has access to the powers of a white hole. After dealing with the Brood, Carol stays in space with the Star Jammers.

An interesting manifestation of Carol happens inside the mind of Rogue. Since Rogue absorbed all that was Carol Danvers, that personality still lingers as a strong presence. Eventually, Carol is even able to take control of Rogue's body from time to time, especially when Rogue has been knocked unconscious or severely hurt.

Recently, Carol has taken on the title and role of Captain Marvel, left by the Kree hero that left it quite a while ago. It still remains to be seen what will happen with the character, but things are looking pretty good at this point.

Top 12 Stupid 'Sexy' Costumes-Number 1

In a world that is becoming more and more obsessed with 'sexy,' we are bombarded each Halloween with new 'sexy' costumes. Unfortunately, some of them are really stupid. This list will examine the Top 12 stupidest 'sexy' costumes.

Number 1- Sexy Skunk

So how is this any different from the Number 12 post. I mean this is an animal, sort of, and it certainly is poorly done, but there is one major difference: I can't think of a single person that finds skunks an appealing animal.

Think about wolves or bears or any other animal, and at least one person out there feels a connection to that animal, but get one sniff of a skunk, and everyone either panics or at least talks about how nasty they smell. Now relate that opinion to this costume. Sure the costume probably doesn't come with a scent, but I can't help but think of that smell when I see this costume.

I guess you can come up with some lame odor-related pick-up lines, but if you're trying to get attention at a party, then why are you making it so hard? This costume is just designed to confuse. Enjoy.

Top 12 Stupid 'Sexy' Costumes-Number 2

In a world that is becoming more and more obsessed with 'sexy,' we are bombarded each Halloween with new 'sexy' costumes. Unfortunately, some of them are really stupid. This list will examine the Top 12 stupidest 'sexy' costumes.

Number 3- The Lorax

Let's think about this for a moment. Who is the Lorax? The Lorax is a small animal-like creature from a beloved Dr. Seuss character that championed the trees. The story isn't very long since it is a children's book. The movies gives a little more story, but I don't see that justifying this.

Think about any reason why you might find the Lorax sexy. His environmental message might score a point or two. His love of animals and the trufula trees might add a couple more, but let's be honest here, the Lorax was never designed to be sexy. Do you see the other gender of a Lorax? Maybe they don't reproduce, or they do mitosis or something. You might as well have a sexy amoeba or something like that.

If you really want a perfect reason to not think about a sexy Lorax, think about this guy:

This is Danny DeVito, the man that voiced the Lorax in the latest movie version. I got over the choice after seeing how he did with the part, but maybe I can plant in your head the idea of Danny DeVito when you see a sexy Lorax costume.

Top 12 Stupid 'Sexy' Costumes-Number 3

In a world that is becoming more and more obsessed with 'sexy,' we are bombarded each Halloween with new 'sexy' costumes. Unfortunately, some of them are really stupid. This list will examine the Top 12 stupidest 'sexy' costumes.

Number 3- Sexy Darth Vader

Originally, I was going to make this my #1 pick, but then I thought about it some more. When I talk about a costume being stupid, I'm mostly talking about it being pointless and uninspired. This costume does have a point, although it is not your typical kind of attraction.

This costume has to have been put together for the fetish crowd. You've got a mask/helmet, skin tight latex(?), all you need is higher heels.

I'm not against that if that is what floats your boat, but it's definitely not a costume for everyone. Besides, when I think of Darth Vader, I'm not looking to be aroused. Think about what he looks like under the mask. Definitely not sexy.

If you want to do something Star Wars related, there are plenty of options that would actually be considered sexy. (This is the part where I reassure my friend, Matt, that aside from this aside, Princess Leia won't be on this list.) Pick one of those, and stop freaking everybody out. Nah, just do what you want, but if you're going to wear this costume, expect lots of reaction

Top 12 Stupid 'Sexy' Costumes-Number 4

In a world that is becoming more and more obsessed with 'sexy,' we are bombarded each Halloween with new 'sexy' costumes. Unfortunately, some of them are really stupid. This list will examine the Top 12 stupidest 'sexy' costumes.

Number 5-Pokemon

"Gotta catch 'em all!"
"I'd like to get a Pikachu" (peek at you)

I could go on with lame pick up lines, but if you wear this costume, you will hear more than these, and much worse. Think about what Pikachu looks like. He's a small chubby mouse that is bright yellow. There just isn't enough to make me think of Pikachu, and I'd rather not think about an electric mouse like that anyway. I guess I can give the costume makers a point or two for the tail and the ears, not that that really takes any effort, just someone realizing that without them, this is just a girl in a tube top and a skirt.

If you're a fan of Pokemon, then feel free to dress up as your favorite, but do them the courtesy of trying to look like that Pokemon, OK?

Top 12 Avengers-Number 4

Thor

While trying to come up with new ideas for heroes, Stan Lee started thinking about mythology. It occurred to him that while most people were familiar with Greco-Roman figures, they weren't really familiar with other groups like the Norse. Since there would be fewer people complaining about discrepancies, Stan suggested that Marvel try using Thor as a hero.

This was great because not only did we get to have Thor, but Norse mythology had already provided a large group of allies and enemies to make writing a little bit easier. Odin and Loki have been huge features in the book, as well as Fenrir and the Midgard Serpent.

One of the most important parts played by Thor was the reason for the creation of the Avengers. Loki was trying to trick and theoretically kill his brother, Thor, by pitting him against the Hulk. Not only Thor replied to the call for help, but so did Ant Man, Wasp, and Iron Man. The four teamed up, and with the help of the Hulk, they managed to defeat Loki's evil scheme.

Since Thor has to split his attentions between Midgard (Earth) and Asgard, he hasn't always been an active part of the Avengers, but his presence is always welcomed, and appreciated.

I think what I really like about Thor is the option of the different worlds. With Asgard, you also get all of the Nine Realms with all of the insanity. Frost Giant, Dwarves, Dark Elves, Hel are all great possibilities, and you get all of the great enemies and allies like Enchantress, the Warriors Three, Sif and the rest.

I almost forgot to talk about Thor's alternate personalities. Early on, Thor had to spend a good portion of his time as Donald Blake, which was referenced in the Thor movie, but the original concept was Donald Blake as a doctor with a bad leg whose cane turned into Thor's hammer. At another point, Thor had disappeared, and a mortal named Eric Masterson was given the powers of Thor in an attempt to find the thunder god.

Thor is a big hit and he has been for a long time. With the success of Thor and the Avengers, look for more and more people to get interested as well.

Top 12 Stupid 'Sexy' Costumes-Number 5

In a world that is becoming more and more obsessed with 'sexy,' we are bombarded each Halloween with new 'sexy' costumes. Unfortunately, some of them are really stupid. This list will examine the Top 12 stupidest 'sexy' costumes.

Number 5-Nemo

Wow, so some orange and white stripes is all it takes to turn a girl into a clown fish? That doesn't seem quite right. Look around at some of the other costumes to see why this one misses the mark. While looking for an image, I saw a great one with a kid basically carrying a large stuffed fish as a suit.

I guess you can pass it off as just wanting to recreate the colors of Nemo, but you certainly can't pretend that you look like him.

Top 12 Stupid 'Sexy' Costumes-Number 6

In a world that is becoming more and more obsessed with 'sexy,' we are bombarded each Halloween with new 'sexy' costumes. Unfortunately, some of them are really stupid. This list will examine the Top 12 stupidest 'sexy' costumes.

Number 6-Cookie Monster

Let's start with a simple statement that I think that most of us can agree upon-Cookie Monster is not sexy. He is a big blue monster that overindulges in cookies. (I won't deny my enjoyment of cookies, but that is a different subject.)

For this post I have a few pics of different attempts at a 'sexy' costume. This first one is just lazy. Couldn't we at least give her a blue dress to add to the illusion? If anything, it looks like the Cookie Moster has become a zombie and traded his love of cookies into love of brains.

Next up we have Team Sesame in some dresses that don't really do anything for the project. Also, can we just say no to pedophilia 'sexy' Elmo dress? (Yes, I know that Kevin Clash is a mature African-American man, but you don't think of him when you think of Elmo. You usually miss Keven even when Elmo is right there.)

I thought I should be fair and throw in a costume I think is halfway decent. Not only is most of the costume blue, giving an attempt at pretending to be a big blue monster, but she also has a cookie in her hand. Sure Cookie Monster still looks like he's gone full zombie, but at least this costume is trying.

Top 12 Stupid 'Sexy' Costumes-Number 7

In a world that is becoming more and more obsessed with 'sexy,' we are bombarded each Halloween with new 'sexy' costumes. Unfortunately, some of them are really stupid. This list will examine the Top 12 stupidest 'sexy' costumes.

Number 7- R2D2

So we have two options here: one is a awesome small robot, the other one is a person deluded into thinking they look like an awesome small robot. R2D2 is probably the best thing about the Star Wars movies. He's funny even though he doesn't talk in a language we understand, he is always getting people out of trouble, and he's just so adorable.

This costume just doesn't capture any of those characteristics. It completely misses the character and doesn't do him justice. She could at least where some kind of helmet, right?

If you're going to wear this costume, do me a favor and at least figure out a way to make R2 noise, OK? That will make all the nerds of the world feel a little bit better.

Top 12 Stupid 'Sexy' Costumes-Number 8

In a world that is becoming more and more obsessed with 'sexy,' we are bombarded each Halloween with new 'sexy' costumes. Unfortunately, some of them are really stupid. This list will examine the Top 12 stupidest 'sexy' costumes.

Number 8-M&M

I get the appeal of this one, and it should probably be lower on the list. I mean, think about the classic tag line for M&Ms- "melts in your mouth, not in your hand." It's the perfect line to get the attention of that cute person at the party-perfect ice breaker.

That being said, there isn't much to sell this costume. Sure you get to see a lot of skin, but it certainly doesn't look anything like an M&M. At best it looks like an M&M is trying to tear its way out of your stomach. (This usually isn't considered sexy.)

I don't want to be picky about this, but isn't green supposed to be the sexy one? I'm pretty sure that the girl  in the picture above doesn't really want people thinking about a 'boy' M&M when they look at her.

Top 12 Stupid 'Sexy' Costumes-Number 9

In a world that is becoming more and more obsessed with 'sexy,' we are bombarded each Halloween with new 'sexy' costumes. Unfortunately, some of them are really stupid. This list will examine the Top 12 stupidest 'sexy' costumes.

Number 9-Twister

Maybe I'm wrong, but I was pretty sure that girls didn't appreciate it when guys randomly grabbed at them. Unfortunately, this costume practically begs to be touched. All you need is someone to shout "right hand blue!" It's a fun idea, although this costume looks like it could easily pass as a go-go dancer.

On the plus side, this does bring up a classic game with lots of appeal. I'm sure that will get you some consideration. With all of that in mind, I had a friend that just took the 'board' and turned it into a dress one year, and I thought that was a lot more original. It's up to you though. Take this one or leave it.

Top 12 Avengers- Number 5

Photon

Monica Rambeau started her comic book story as a member of the New Orleans harbor patrol and gained her powers while trying to stop the creation of a weapon. Bathed in extra-dimensional energy, she gained the ability to transform her body into any form of energy. This gives her the ability to fly, and project energy either in energy and human forms.

After gaining her powers, Monica decides to become a super hero and takes the name Captain Marvel which while being one of the more popular names in the Marvel Universe, isn't currently in use. After Carol Danvers loses her powers as Binary, Monica gives up the name and becomes Photon.

I don't really know Monica as Photon, but I'll use the name to keep things simpler.

My main connection to Photon is during her time leading the Avengers. I really appreciated her in this role. It wasn't an easy time to be an Avenger, let alone leading the team. The ranks were a bit thin, and the original Avengers all had their own problems that kept them away from the team. Photon still did a great job in my opinion.

She did have some trouble with the Super Adaptoid after it had gained access to the Cosmic Cube, but that is to be expected. Other than that moment, I can't think of a problem she wasn't able to lead the team through.

I especially appreciated her upbeat attitude even in the worst conditions. She hasn't been a regular part of the Avengers for a while, but hopefully she'll be back sometime soon.

Top 12 Stupid 'Sexy' Costumes-Number 10

In a world that is becoming more and more obsessed with 'sexy,' we are bombarded each Halloween with new 'sexy' costumes. Unfortunately, some of them are really stupid. This list will examine the Top 12 stupidest 'sexy' costumes.

Number 10-Sexy Crayons

I know a girl that wore this costume a few years ago (I think it was a purple crayon) and if you're reading this, I'm sorry, but you fell for the trap. The trap is that the makers of cheap costumes don't want you to be creative, or work out ideas of your own. Just like with the Tootsie Roll, they want you to conform to their image of what the costume should look like.

I'll give this one a small amount of acknowledgement for thinking about the crayon tops, but they do look a bit silly. There are lots of better ways to make that work (why not go with a wig the color of your crayon? Most crayons aren't sharpened after all.)

I guess the idea is to have a costume with an association with thin crayons, but that just makes it worse in my opinion. If you're thinking about being a crayon this Halloween, then try to come up with something on your own. I'm sure it will turn out much better.

Top 12 Stupid 'Sexy' Costumes-Number 11

In a world that is becoming more and more obsessed with 'sexy,' we are bombarded each Halloween with new 'sexy' costumes. Unfortunately, some of them are really stupid. This list will examine the Top 12 stupidest 'sexy' costumes.

Random Animals That are Neither Sexy nor Animals

Number 11-Tootsie Roll (and other candy)

So quickly, I want to emphasise that my list isn't an attempt to make people feel bad about their costume choice. Wear what you want. This is more about pointing at the companies that make the costumes and being disappointed that they don't try harder, or provide something more.

Look at this 'costume.' It's really just a dress with Tootsie Roll stamped on the front. Are there really that many people that don't see that? Ladies, you can save yourself some money:

1. Wear the dress you want.
2. Get a piece of paper.
3. Write "Tootsie Roll" on the paper.
4. Stick it to the front of your dress with tape or a safety pin.
5. Go out and spend the money you would have spent on this costume on something worthwhile.
6. Take the sign off the dress.
7. Wear it whenever you want.

Top 12 Avengers-Number 6

Hawkeye and Mockingbird

I know that lots of people are shipping Hawkeye and Black Widow after the Avengers movie, and there is some justification for the connection, but I always preferred to see Clint and Bobbi together. Let's get some background first.

Hawkeye lost his parents at an early age and ran away to the circus with his brother Barney. Clint was trained to be a master archer, and headlines at the circus. Eventually, he decides to use his archery to become a hero. However, his initial encounter with the Black Widow messes that up a little bit. Clint fell in love with Natasha and she convinced him to help her steal industrial secrets from Tony Stark. After a few stories with Clint as a reluctant criminal, Iron Man actually puts him up for membership in the Avengers.

Clint was a part of the smallest team, when the Avengers were really figuring themselves out. It was just Captain America, Scarlett Witch, Quicksilver, and Hawkeye. After a bit, Giant Man, Wasp, and Hercules. Clint was a major player in the Avenger, and the driving force behind the creation of the West Coast Avengers, and the Great Lakes Avengers.

Clint has tried his had at using Pym particles to make him Goliath, but I always prefer him as the man with the bow. He always keeps his foes guessing with all the trick arrows at his disposal.

Bobbi Morse has a very confusing background before she started working with SHIELD and became Mockingbird, and I'm planning to ignore all of that. I want to talk about the woman that got Clint Barton to settle down, at least a little. Mockingbird doesn't have any super powers, but she has been trained by SHIELD, and wields a staff that can separate into two batons that she has been extensively trained to use.

The best thing about Mockingbird is when she takes her name literally, and makes fun of her opponents. (This is something that I appreciate in a lot of heroes.) Hawkeye and Mockingbird make a great team. I'm not sure of their status now that Bobbi isn't dead any more. Hopefully these two can get it together.

Note: There have been lots of stories about Clint hooking up with other heroes. My favorite was the issue of What if? where the heroes of the first Secret War never made it back to earth, and Hawkeye ended up marrying She-Hulk.

Top 12 Stupid "Sexy" Costumes for Halloween

In a world that is becoming more and more obsessed with 'sexy,' we are bombarded each Halloween with new 'sexy' costumes. Unfortunately, some of them are really stupid. This list will examine the Top 12 stupidest 'sexy' costumes.

Random Animals That are Neither Sexy nor Animals

This first one is more of a catch-all, and is designed to get the ball rolling. These costumes are more lazy than stupid, although the laziness makes them all the more stupid. I mean does this look like a Tiger?

Does this look like a Wolf?

I certainly don't think so. At least the Playboy Bunny look doesn't bother trying to look like a bunny, and just goes for the sexy. (Although they do add the cotton-ball tail.) I'm sorry, but those other costumes don't manage to pull off either category as far as I'm concerned.

With that in mind there is one specific animal costume that will get its own ranking, but we'll talk about that one later.

Top 12 Avengers-Number 7

The Hulk

Of all the characters considered to be Avengers, the Hulk is probably the most unconventional. If you go back to the origins of the Avengers, you will find that Loki tried to use the Hulk to destroy his brother, Thor, but unintentionally brought together the heros that would become the Avengers. The Hulk played a huge part in winning that battle, and he agreed to join the team.

Shortly after the team formed, the team's distrust of the the Hulk became apartent to even the Hulk's single-minded intellect. He left the team and rarely has anything to do with them. He does pop up from time to time, usually unexpected, but not unwanted.

The Hulk is a creature that exists because of the bravery of one man, Bruce Banner. While doing tests with Gamma radioation, he noticed a young man, Rick Jones, near the location of a Gamma bomb that was about to explode. Banner hurried to the site and saved Rick, but Banner was caught in the blast. Exposure to the Gamma radiation should have killed him, but instead, it transformed him.

In the original concept, Banner became the Hulk at night, but later, the transformations happened when Banner got angry. Generally the Hulk is only looking to express his anger through destruction, and the madder he gets, the stronger he gets. Bruce is always looking for a cure for his condition, and some of these attempts have led to some very interesting storylines.

Let me tell you about a couple of my favorite Avengers-related storylines involving the Hulk:

It's the 90's and one creative team decides to see what happens when you seperate Bruce Banner from the Hulk. In the comics, the job is done and it doesn't turn out well at all. The seperated Hulk is full of rage and does not have the calming influence of Banner to bring that rage under control. In one issue, the Avengers decide to deal with the problem since the Hulk is one of their own.

The East Coast team sends Hercules, and Namor, while the West Coast team sends Iron Man and Wonder Man. The four heroes do their best, but it isn't enough to stop a Hulk without the Banner persona. This Hulk does not have a limit to how much rage it can possess, and since the Hulk gets stronger the madder he gets, there is no limit to his strength either. Eventually, the Hulk gets bored with the fight and wanders away.

I also really enjoyed the time when the Hulk and Bruce Banner were united as one coherent being. He could think, but he still had the strength to do whatever he wanted. This Hulk was very different from your typical "Hulk smash" creature. Eventually, the rage took over the mind and the Hulk went back to his usual stories.

The Hulk has also been the most used in movies and television. Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno did an excellent job bringing David Banner's story to life. (I guess Bruce just wasn't right.) The show ran for several seasons with tie-in movies involving Daredevil, and Thor.

The Hulk has also had two movies recently and a role in the Avengers. Look for the green beast to continue to entertain.

Top 12 Avengers-Number 8

Vision

At some point during the writing of the Avengers, someone came up with a crazy idea. (In this case, I'm talking about the writing staff right now.) They thought it might be a good idea to make an character that was an android to explore some unique ideas. That is when the Vision was created. Even with an idea, someone has to make that idea work. So the writers started exploring possibilities, looking for ideas that could lead to stories that would draw the readers. (Isn't this the eternal goal of comic book writers?)

Vision was originally created by Ultron in a plot to destroy his own creator, Henry Pym. The sythezoid was given the brain patterns of Simon Williams (aka Wonder Man) who was still believed to be dead. This was an error on Ultron's part since he didn't know that Wonder Man had died his first death as a hero.

Vision had several occasions where he betrayed the Avengers because of his robotic nature. He built Ultron an adamantium body, and driven a bit unstable by losing his body in a fight with Annihilus, Vision tries to take over all of the computers in the world in order to make the world a better place.

Vision develops a relationship with Wanda Maximoff (aka Scarlett Witch) and unconsciously using her hex powers, Wanda enables the couple to have a pair of twins. This relationship causes lots of trouble though, because of Wonder Man's brain patterns. Because Vision is basically Wonder Man, Simon also falls in love with Wanda creating an awkward love triangle.

Although he has had many set backs, Vision is a capable hero who brings a lot to any team he joins. He has super-human strength and the ability to fly, but the most important ability is being able to alter the density of his body. Vision can calculate at amazing speeds, and does not need to sleep so he can handle extended missions.

Top 12 Avengers-Number 9

Janet Van Dyne was a wealthy socialite with no real concerns on her mind until the day her father, a scientist, was killed. She then teamed up with Henry Pym, the scientist and hero known at the time as Ant Man. Hank used his Pym particles to allow Janet to shrink in size, and sprout wings from her back when she was at wasp size. She could also shoot energy blasts called 'wasp stings.'

In her early career, Jan was a bit of a flake. In the one TPB I read recently, she made a comment about wishing she could "contribute like the boys" or some such nonsense at least three times in the ten issues, and she wan't part of all of the stories.

Fortunately, Jan got over that attitude, as well as her marriage to Hank. They were married for quite a while after Hank got his head out of the clouds, and realized she actually liked him, but the marriage ended when, under pressures to be stronger, faster, better, he finally cracked under the pressure of the super hero life. (This pressure influenced him to led him to try Goliath, and Yellowjacket personas, as well as the creation of Ultron.)

My real experience with Jan was the time frame when she was the Chairperson of the East Coast branch of the team. At first it could be said that she only held the role because she was one of the founding members of the team, but she quickly became the leader that the team needed, and worked hard to make their adventures worth the money for the comic book. She worked hard to improve herself while still shopping and having make overs with the girls whenever she could find the time.

One of her most impressive feats was pushing her ability to become the Wasp by reducing the amount she had to shrink in order to gain use of her wings and stings. She actually reached the point where she could be almost at her full height which made her a very fierce woman with whom to tangle.

With or without the team, she has faced some of the biggest names in the Marvel universe including, the Hulk, Hercules, and she even held her own for a while against the Absorbing Man.

Just because she's small and a bit flaky at times, doesn't mean you should count out the Wasp.

Top 12 Avengers-Number 10

This one also has to be a combo job. This pair of pals probably would have been higher on the list, but I never really saw much of them, however, Beast and Wonder Man make a pretty enjoyable combination.

Beast and Wonder Man

Although he is a genius that will quote whatever obscure thinker you want to mention, the Beast is still a zany guy at heart. That may have to do with his roots as one of the original X-men. Beast and Iceman were often playing jokes or trying to use humor to lighten the dark situations those youngsters faced. When the original team was rescued from ? the Living Island by a new batch of recruits, everyone had to make a decision about what the future would hold.

Beast decided that since he had graduated from the Xavier Institute that he would move on from the X-men. He started off doing research with the Brand corporation until an experiment with a hormonal extract further mutates his body turning him into a blue ball of fur. He would be the funny man on a number of different teams, but one of the most-remembered teams was the Avengers. That is where he met and developed a wonderful bond with Simon Williams, aka Wonder Man

Simon Williams started his career as a villain trying to gain revenge on Tony Stark for the loss of William's family business as makers of weapons. After losing his business, Williams tried embezzling money. After he is caught and goes to jail, he agrees to be part of an experiment to turn him into a super being with ion-based powers.

Unfortunately for Simon, his early attempts at villainy ended in death. This led to some complications when it turned out that he wasn't really dead, just waiting for his body to adjust to its new ionic powers. After waking up, Simon joined with the Avengers and became a regular with the team. There was also another complication because while Simon was comatose, his brain patterns were used to give the android, Vision, a personality. This personality fell in love with the Scarlet Witch, which is exactly what happened with Wonder Man when he woke up. (However, at that point Vision and Wanda were already married.)

Anyway, Wonder Man and the Beast were on the Avengers together. They fought all kinds of evil during that time. However, what makes them most memorable, and gets them a spot on this list is the way they did it. There are lots of antics and some hearty banter as well.

Top Twelve X-men-Number 1

Before we get to the number one pick, lets take a moment to look over the list:

Number 12-Cannonball

Number 11-Beast

Number 10-Magneto/Joseph

Number 9-Rogue

Number 8-Gambit

Number 7-Nightcrawler

Number 6-Colossus

Number 5-Shadowcat

Number 4-Storm

Number 3-Wolverine

Number 2-Cyclops

Jean Grey/Pheonix

Before I get started, I need to remind you exactly what this list is here to express. This is not just a list of my favorite X-men, it is also about the contribution the character makes to the story of the X-men, and the Marvel universe. While Jean may not be my favorite character, there is no denying that she is the most important person involved with the team.

Jean discovered her telepathic powers when her best friend was killed in a car accident. Jean shared her friends death and basically shut herself off from the world. Worrying about their daughter, Jean's parents contacted their friend, Charles Xavier. Being a telepath himself, Professor X was able to block off Jean's telepathic abilities to help her maintain her sanity.

Although she was Xavier's first student, she was the last addition to his X-men. She made a big impression on the boys, and quickly earned their respect. Her powers were an important part of keeping the team alive and winning battles.

As with all of the X-men, Jean's powers grew over time. She also began to be involved with Cyclops. Jean took the code name Marvel Girl. (More accurately, it was handed to her by Professor X.) After 'graduation,' the team shifted from the school uniform to something a little flashier. After the expansion of the team with the addition of the new X-men, Jean decided to stay with Scott and the ream. This led to the biggest event in Jean's story.

The X-men had borrowed a space shuttle to battle Magneto on his asteroid base. The team was fleeing, but the systems were pretty much shot, and they were flying into a radiation storm. Someone had to pilot the vessel, and after knocking out Scott, Jean was the one for the job. She used her reawakened telepathy to learn how to fly the shuttle and, after locking her teammates in protective cells, flew the shuttle with only her telekinetic shield as protection.

After crashing in the bay, Jean emerged from the water declaring herself to be Phoenix. Over time, Jean showed a massive increase in power. she could rearrange the molecules of her clothes, stop Scott's eye beams from leaving his eyes, and even travel through space. It was later revealed that during those final, desperate moments, Jean had connected with the galactic force known as the Phoenix force. It was feared throughout the universe, and with good reason.

As the Phoenix, Jean (actually the Phoenix Force using her form while the real Jean was in a healing cocoon at the bottom of the bay) helped to save the universe by healing the fractured M'kran crystal.

Things started to get complicated for Jean when the X-men had supposedly been killed by the destruction of Magneto's underground base. (They got away, but were out of contact for a long time.) During that absence, Matermind was using his illusion powers teamed with the Hellfire Club's White Queen, to corrupt her mind. She had illusions of living another life where Mastermind was her husband. When the X-men battled the Hellfire Club, Jean was revealed to be the new Black Queen of the organization. In the struggle to free Jean's mind, a hunger was unlocked and after the battle, Jean took off into space.


Overwhelmed by a hunger from the Phoenix force, Jean flew off to an alien sun and destroyed it, killing the population of an entire world. The Shi'ar empire threatened to kill Jean, but Professor X suggested that they try to contain the power of the Phoenix force. They were not able to make this work, so Jean was sentenced to death. Facing Jean's destruction to protect the universe, the X-men faced the Shi'ar Impreial Guards in a battle on the moon. Jean's personality surfaced enough to activate a laser in the battle area that killed her.

Later, Jean emerged from her cocoon and the original X-men were reunited to form X-factor. During her absence, Scott had married a woman named Madelyne Pryor, who was actually a clone of Jean. This clone ended up becoming the Goblin Queen during the Inferno storyline.

Jean is probably best known for her frequent deaths and resurrections. I'm not even sure how many times this storyline has been used, but currently she is dead, but who knows for how long.

Although Jean and Scott never had any children, they still have a family. Scott and Madelyne had a son, Nathan, who was whisked away into the future and became Cable. Also, in the Days of Future Past storyline, Scott and Jean had a daughter, Rachel, who had been kidnapped and turned into a mutant-hunting hound. She was later deprogrammed by the future X-men, and Rachel's connection to the Phoenix force was used to send Kitty back in time.

Due to a temporal anomaly, Rachel not only survived the change in the timeline when Senator Kelly was save, but she also found herself in the present. After joining with the X-men for protection, Rachel tapped into the power of Phoenix and used that power to fight with her friends.

Who knows what the future holds for Jean and the Phoenix Force, but personally I miss them both. Hopefully Jean will return soon.

PS I recently saw that something temporal happened and brought the original X-men from the past into the present. I'm not sure what that means for the team, but it looks interesting if nothing else.

Top 12 Avengers-Number 11

Justice and Firestar

I had to put these two together. Ever since they became a couple, it just seems like a natural combination to me. (I'll do the same thing a few other places as well.) Both of these characters have extremely detailed and complicated back stories, and it is only their lack of time with the Avengers that puts them so low on the list.

My first experience with Firestar was as a part of the television show Spiderman and his Amazing Friends. This was a Saturday morning cartoon that starred Spidey, Firestar, and Iceman. I'm not sure who came up with the team, but it was a fun show, and I really grew to appreciate all three of the characters.

Firestar has the power to generate microwaves and she uses them to create heat that allows her to fly and shoot heat blasts. She was originally brought in for Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends and she was brought into the X-men comics to give a new mutant for Emma Frost and Professor X to fight over. In the end, neither one won, and Angelica went off on her own and wasn't really seen much.

A while later, Firestar was recruited by Night Thrasher to battle Terrax a former herald of Galactus. This is where her character managed to do a lot of developing, and form the relationship with Vance Astrovik who used to be called Marvel Boy, but switched to Justice.

Vance Astro was slated to be the biggest hero in history when he took off on a one-man flight to Centauri IV at sub-light speed. The journey took him close to 1000 years, and when he landed, he was greeted by a large human colony. It turns out that faster-than-light speed had been developed shortly after he stared on his historic flight so everyone was able to beat him there. Because of complications on the trip, Vance was trapped in his flight suit. Also, during the trip, Astro's latent telekenisis developed.

Afer arriving, Vance was abducted by the Badoon along with Yondu, a native of the planet. Most of the other inhabitants of the planet were wiped out. Taken to Earth, they encountered Charlie-27 who was born on Jupiter, and Martinex from Pluto. The four managed an escape and formed the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Later during their adventures, the Guardians went back in time, and Vance accidentally caused his younger self to develop his powers and thus creating a new reality. This other Vance is actually who we want to talk about.

Vance ran away from home because his new powers led his father to become abusive. Vance joined the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation, an organization for wrestlers with super powers. After returning home, he applied to the Avengers, but was rejected. Vance jumped at the chance to found the New Warriors.

After the Warriors disbanded, Justice and Firestar joined the Avengers. He is currently working as a teacher for the New Avengers.

Technically, Vance and Angelica aren't together anymore. (Maybe they are though, Marvel can let threads like that drop from time to time.) However, I think they were always best when they were together. Hopefully someone at the Bullpen will sort that out some time soon.

Top 12 Avengers #12

Tigra

Greer Grant Nelson was an ordinary woman until with a wonderful husband and not many worries int the world until her husband was shot in an off-duty incident. (He was a cop.) While trying to make a living, she started working for a scientist who had developed a way to help a person reach their ultimate potential. That is when Greer became the Cat. (Part of a 1970's attempt by Marvel to gain new female readers.)

As, the Cat, Greer had a special suit that mimicked a cat that included claws that had were attached to a line so she could swing from place to place, or secure her enemies. Later Greer was turned into the Tigra to act as the defender of a secret race of Catpeople.
Tigra has spent time with the Avengers and West Coast Avengers, and her unique skills have often proven to be very valuable. I like Tigra because her partially feline personality is fun to experience.

Sadly, Tigra is often the target for "we need a death syndrome" which is experienced by both Marvel and DC comics. Fortunately, Greer isn't dead at the moment.