Saturday, December 31, 2011

Goodbye 2011

I wanted to first thank everyone for listening to our little podcast The Comic Conspiracy and for visiting Conspirator Brock.com to get a little more of the conspiracy this year and we hope to keep it going in 2012.
That being said 2011 was filled with so much I'm still shocked that the world didn't explode. What the hell happened this past year?

- Comics Conspiracy turned 18, and Ryan and I both turned 32.
- The Comic Conspiracy Podcast started.
- I read through over 78 graphic novels and books this year (only started counting in March). Highlights: the first three Song of Ice and Fire books by George R.R. Martin, Daytripper, Star Wars: Legacy trades, Batman: The Black Mirror, The Sixth Gun trades, the Grant Morrison Animal Man, finishing Transmetropolitan, and I also continued with the Walking Dead, Invincible and Scalped. So many good reads this year and I am still amazed that I read all of that plus single issues week to week. I am fucking fantastic! okay enough with the self ego boosting.
- I had my first bound collection of comics done by Herring & Robinson. Booster Gold does look good on my shelf. 2012 will see a bound Batman and the Outsiders on my shelf, yes!
- DC gave us Brightest Day and Flash point and then with the "New Rejiggered 52" they scared the crap out of us, and then blew us away with how awesome it was. DC has really done well for themselves in 2011 and they are heading into 2012 with a new out look on the world of comics and it seems to be working.
- Marvel was Marvel all year, and I think it can be summed up with two things: 1) that fight during San Diego Con between a Marvel editor and writer, and 2) the 15 jobs Marvel cut and then the next day posted like 21 internships for the same positions. We can only hope Marvel doesn't spiral even further in 2012 because it would be a shame to lose Marvel to its own devices or to the complete take over by Disney, both of these possibilities make me shiver in fear.
- Speaking of fear, Fear Itself was a complete bomb and Fearless is trying to clean up that mess. Does anyone care?
- We got to see Green Lantern in theaters and it was a steaming pile of shit. Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor and X-Men: First Class were amazing films that made the horror that was Green Lantern bearable. (This is funny that the DC movies sucked when the comics kicked ass; where as for Marvel the movies were amazing and the comics sucked ass.)
- The real push for Digital Comics started this year with Day and Date Digital books. We will have to see how this plays out in the years to come.
- Ryan got to go to San Diego Con for the first time ever this year and I went to Wonder Con for the first time this year too.
- My PS3 was fixed and I got to play the shit out of Killzone 3, God of War 3, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2
- Rocksteady and DC brought us the video game Batman: Arkham City; which I also played the shit out of. Don't forget to visit Calendar Man tomorrow.
- And most importantly this year I became a father on Wednesday (New Comic Day) May 11th and it has been a wonderful experience to be a father and watch my son Brody grow up day by day.


To be honest I'm in awe of how much went on this year with the all the ups and downs. Overall, I am just glad to be done with 2011. I'm looking ahead to 2012 hopeful, excited and ready to make it a great year.

Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Conspirator Brock's Pull List for 12/28/11

For all of the curious people out there wondering what I like to read week to week here is a list of the titles I am going to be picking up for the week of 12/28/11:

(Note: I have included deep links for some titles if you wish to support Comics Conspiracy when you buy digital comics. I have not included links to Marvel or Dark Horse books because you cannot support us currently by buying them through our digital Comixology site.)

01. All Star Western #4 DC
02. American Vampire #22 Vertigo
03. Annihilators: Earthfall #4 of 4 Marvel
04. Aquaman #4 DC
05. Batman: The Dark Knight #4 DC
06. Blackhawks #4 DC
07. Captain America & Bucky #625 Marvel
08. DC Universe Online: Legends #20 DC
09. DMZ #72 Vertigo
10. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz #4 of 8 Marvel
11. Flash #4 DC
12. A Game of Thrones #4 Dynamite
13. Green Lantern: New Guardians #4 DC
14. Justice League Dark #4 DC
15. Legion Lost #4 DC*
16. Superman #4 DC
17. The Unwritten #32.5 Vertigo
18. Voodoo #4 DC

Graphic Novel
Chase DC
(Chase #1-9 and #1,000,000, Batman #550, DC Universe Secret Files #1, Secret Files Guide to the DC Universe 2000 #31, Superman: Our Worlds at War Secret Files #1, JSA Secret Files #2, The Flash Secret Files #3, The Joker: Last Laugh Secret Files #1, Batgirl Secret Files #1 and Hawkman Secret Files #1)
Hellblazer, John Constantine: Vol. 2 - The Devil You Know Vertigo
(10-13, Annual #1 and the 2 issue miniseries "The Horrorist")

A lot of books this last week of 2011 and I am looking forward to numerous titles this week: Aquaman, Superman, DMZ, Justice League Dark and Green Lantern: New Guardians. Calli is excited for Voodoo and I can say that I am too. In addition to 18 titles I picked up two trades: Chase and Hellblazer (Vol. 2) - The Devil You Know. Chase is a 90's cult series that was written by Comics Conspiracy customer Dan Curtis Johnson (twitter @dcurtisj) and drawn by J. H. Williams III, and it looks to be a great read. As for Hellblazer (Vol. 2) - The Devil You Know, I'm just glad I can read the Hellbalzer series in volume order finally (keep going with this DC). Who knows maybe I'll get caught up with Hellblazer before Ryan Higgins.
Sadly though this week marks the final issue of DMZ. I have really enjoyed this title since I blew through the first six trades in a week, back when I first got hooked on this series. Brian Wood is an amazing writer and the artists on DMZ have always brought an addition to this amazing Vertigo title. I hate to think DMZ is finally coming to an end seeing as it is one of my favorite titles. So much so, that I actually sent a letter in and it was published in issue #65. They say though that all good things must come to an end and I hope this final issue of DMZ makes a great exit. If you haven't check out DMZ you should.

Remember you can now find these titles and more in digital format at our Comics Conspiracy - Comixology Storefront.

As usual I'll be talking comics on The Comic Conspiracy, and on the Geekbox Forums. Now get out there and enjoy some good old fashioned comic book reading.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

It's Tuesday, Ryan Said What? 12/27/11

Ryan had a lot of books to put away today and you think that would make him irritable? Not today. He did however have a great way of saying promiscuous female in a different way:

"She's a dick house."

Sometimes I wish I was really making this stuff up.

Ryan Higgins becomes a different person on Tuesdays and yes he does swear like a sailor once the doors close at 6.

Random Comic Pick - Episode 38

My random comic pick on The Comic Conspiracy: Episode 38 is 52 written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid to name a few, drawn by various artists, and with amazing covers by J.G. Jones.
52 chronicles the events after Infinite Crisis. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman have given up being heroes to live out their lives as Clark, Bruce and Diana. After their departure other heroes emerge to fill the space left by these three power houses.
This DC series was released weekly for one year from May 2006 and until May of 2007. Early 2007 is when I got back into comics and 52 was recommended to me by Ryan Higgins, so I picked up a few of the early issues, and immediately I was blown away. I can rightly say that this is where DC hooked me and I have been a DC guy ever since.
I must say that 52 is a great introduction to some of the lesser known characters in the DC Universe and overall a wonderfully good read from start to finish. It is collected in four trade paperbacks, or you could track down all 52 issues (We may have a set at the shop. Contact Ryan), or you can start 52 digitally with Week #1.

Remember Comics Conspiracy is a great place to order comics and you can also download comics at the Comics Conspiracy - Comixology Storefront for your computer, tablet or phone.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas!

To all of or fans and haters, thank you for listening. I hope this time of year is filled with good times, friends and family, and please enjoy the holidays responsibly. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Conspirator Brock's Pull List for 12/21/11

For all of the curious people out there wondering what I like to read week to week here is a list of the titles I am going to be picking up for the week of 12/21/11:

(Note: I have included deep links for some titles if you wish to support Comics Conspiracy when you buy digital comics. I have not included links to Marvel or Dark Horse books because you cannot support us currently by buying them through our digital Comixology site.)

01. Amazing Spider-Man #676 Marvel
02. Batman #4 DC
03. Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes! DC
04. Captain Atom #4 DC
05. Catwoman #4 DC
06. DC Universe Presents: Deadman #4 DC
07. Fables #112 Vertigo
08. Green Lantern Corps #4 DC
09. Justice League #4 DC
10. Legion of Super-Heroes #4 DC
11. Red Hood and the Outlaws #4 DC
12. Star Wars: Agent of the Empire #1 of 5 Dark Horse
13. Supergirl #4 DC
14. T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #2 of 6 DC

The week of Christmas and it is a large week for comic books. I know it doesn't show on my pull list, but Marvel had a lot of big titles ship this week (unlike last week where most of the books on the wall were mini's), so hopefully you have some money left over from all of your Christmas shopping to get your fix this week.
I'm going to be enjoying Justice League, Batman, Red Hood an the Outlaws, Green Lantern Corps, and Catwoman this week as is Calli. She loves Catwoman. It has become her favorite book out of the "New Rejiggered 52" and I'm glad she gets her fix right before Christmas.
Speaking of Christmas, Fables has an over-sized holiday issue out today that I am curious to read since it is the only holiday book I will have picked up this season.
This week I am giving the Star Wars: Agent of the Empire a shot because the art looked good and it is written by John Ostrander; so I hope I going a dose of Star Wars lore in my pull list now.
Overall though this week looks to be a good one for comic books, but Amazing Spider-Man is again on the chopping block, because they break the fourth wall on the cover and the creative team is writer Dan Slott and artist Humberto Ramos the duo who gave us horror that was Spider-Island. If I end up chopping Amazing Spider-Man I will have only a few Marvel titles on my pull list. I want to be upset about this, but Marvel has sucked so bad for the past couple of years that I wonder why I should care at all, they obviously don't.
Anyway, all they negative vibes aside have a wonderful Christmas!

Remember you can now find these titles and more in digital format at our Comics Conspiracy - Comixology Storefront.

As usual I'll be talking comics on The Comic Conspiracy, and on the Geekbox Forums. Now get out there and enjoy some good old fashioned comic book reading.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Random Comic Pick - Episode 37

My random comic pick on The Comic Conspiracy: Episode 37 is Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Brett Booth. I normally don't pick up the holiday specials, but I gave this one a shot last year and I must say it was a wonderful story that is very much in the holiday spirit. Larfleeze wants everything this Christmas including Santa. Will he get his Christams wish and ruin Christmas or will the heroes stop him? You'll have to check this special out for yourself.
If you happen to be playing DC Universe Online this holiday season you are most likely playing out the story from this comic book.
There were some interesting things included in the special that are worth checking out. One of them is the recipe for Larfleeze's Orange Lantern Cookies which I think everyone should try at least once. I have yet to make these, but maybe when Brody gets older we can whip up a batch or two. Here is the page and baking instructions:

Cookies:

¼ cup butter (softened)
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons of orange juice concentrate (thawed)
1 teaspoon of orange zest
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
A dash of salt
½ cup white chocolate chunks



Step 1) Preheat your earth-oven to 350 degrees
Step 2) In a big bowl beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, orange juice concentrate and orange zest. Then add egg and vanilla until it looks delicious.
Step 3) In a small bowl stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda and dash of salt together.
Step 4) Add the small bowl to the big bowl and stir until smooth. Mix in white chocolate chunks.
Step 5) Drop small balls of dough across a greased cookie sheet.
Step 6) Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 7) Let the cookies cool as you mix the frosting


Frosting:
2 tablespoons orange concentrate (thawed)
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons butter (softened)
1 ½ cups powdered sugar

Step 1) Mix all of the above until it looks like frosting!
Step 2) Spread the frosting across cooled cookies (it will melt otherwise!)

This recipe makes about two dozen cookies, enjoy!

I hope everyone has a great holiday season! (Remember to visit Calendar Man on Christmas!)

Remember Comics Conspiracy is a great place to order comics and you can also download comics at the Comics Conspiracy - Comixology Storefront for your computer, tablet or phone.

It's Tuesday, Ryan Said What? 12/20/11

Ryan hasn't had any real good one liners lately, and today I was surprised at how calm he was all day, especially since the saver books filled two long boxes. But, late in the day Ryan had a rush of oddness spout forth. Here are a couple of those comments:

"I'm not a steam sexual."

"Shit, another dumb book."
(When I used the speech to text feature on my phone to get this down it came out "I shit weather dumb but." Gotta love technology.)

The Thursday Guy (our friend and person who works on Thursdays at the shop) was at the shop this evening, and I was pushing his buttons about Nightwing being a blah character. He had this to say while telling me I was wrong and would get beat down if I kept up with my Nightwing bashing:

"It should have been Dickpoint not Flashpoint."

Obviously he needs to be on the podcast. I keep asking him, but he declines every time. I will keep at it.

Ryan Higgins becomes a different person on Tuesdays and yes he does swear like a sailor once the doors close at 6.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Just A Thought On Digital Comics

I know we have been talking about digital comics a lot lately on the podcast as are most people in the comic book industry: customers, retailers and publishers, and everyone seems to be concerned about a lot of different things. Will digital replace physical comics? Is my Local Comic Book Shop (LCBS) going to be put out of business because of digital comics? Why should I as a retailer support a push to digital? So many concerns, so many people out raged at the thought of losing physical comics, and I couldn't help, but realize that all of this discussion is just internet cannon fodder for dramatic effect and manipulation.

The overall question of digital vs. physical; neither can beat the other right now. They both need each other. As of this blog post physical books have been around for a very long time and digital books on an e-reader device has only been around since 1998 and the big push to digital books only started about five years ago when Amazon released its Kindle (2007). It has been over ten years since the digital books became a reality, and for the first time Amazon has said that it has sold more digital books than hardcover books in the past year. Just know that this statement doesn't include trade paper or pocket sized versions. So to say that things are shifting towards a digital only world is more than a little premature.
Especially since the storage capacity and file size of certain digital media is still a concern for most of the 99% who will not be able to afford solid state drives for at least a decade (if the economy stays like it is maybe two) and aslo, because storing my media in "The Cloud" is a novel idea, but in reality who's to stop anyone from getting their hands on my digital files? This is just one hurdle for digital media to overcome.

Let's get back to digital comics. I think we have a very long way to go to see digital versions of comics over take the print market. Comics are a cross between a textual and visual media which works very well in print form, and this experience is lost when you read a digital comic. You can't feel a digital comic, smell it or even hear the sound effects in your head and the page turn as you read on. Sure a e-reader could have sound effects, but much like Higgins distaste of laugh tracks on comedy shows I think one might get tired of the effects track added to a digital comic. And I fear an attempt at making a digital comic smell.
What is also lost is the social experience of going to your local comic book shop to get your fix. When you buy digital you lose out on this experience. I know hearing the die-hard Marvel fan boy every week spout out reason after insane reason as to why Marvel rules to the casual reader who just came to the shop to try something new with a rejiggered DC title, or the group of collectors that sit around and talk about how comics used to be, and my personal favorite the guy who rambles on and on about the one factoid he corrected someone in the industry about and how he influence the market because of this. How can you pass up the chance at free entertainment like this? Besides, what is buying your comics online going to give you? How about an ad for a title you have no interest in or something else that has no relevance to you.

So, I really don't know where this fear of closure is coming from when it comes to the LCBS. I think people are to quick to assume that their LCBS is going to go the route of Borders when it comes to competing against digital comics. A big thing that people fail to realize is that Borders didn't die from digital books, it died from poor business choices and a direct physical competitor called Barnes & Noble. LCBS don't really have that direct physical competitor. Most shops tend to get along with each other. For example, we have a lot of Comic Book Stores in the Bay Area and we all are competing against one another for business, but we also help each other out, and most of us know that each shop serves its own niche group of customers. Most comic book customers often go to other shops to find things they can't get at their LCBS, but return to their LCBS for a majority of their business.

When it comes to digital comics closing down your LCBS or taking over the print market I think we have a long way to go. I think that the affiliate program that Comixology has with retailers is a good start to keeping the retailers in the loop when it comes to where the market is heading and I know that the digital terrain is littered with corruption and greed, and policies that are written to only benefit the company not the creator and completely shun the brick-and-mortar stores from staying alive in these tough economic times. The digital media market needs to support a lot and that means a cut should go to stores that people digitally want to support. From what Higgins has told me about our digital sales we are doing well, and I know that is in a big part due to our loyal listener base (Thank you!); and the fact that DC is working with Comixology and retailers to make an affiliate program that works across the board. Marvel and a few other publishers are still holding out, but they will have to just realize that including a free digital copy in a copy that is $3.99 with only 20 pages of story doesn't help the print copy or the digital copy one bit. If you didn't get that jab it was aimed at Marvel.

I have now rambled on for a long time and I need to wrap this up because I have already lost your attention and so you have moved on to looking at porn or surfing the internet for the first six minutes of The Dark Knight Rising. Digital Comics are an option, print comics are a standard, and my opinion of the current state of the industry is that it is in transition and we will just have to wait and see where things end up.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Conspirator Brock's Pull List for 12/14/11

For all of the curious people out there wondering what I like to read week to week here is a list of the titles I am going to be picking up for the week of 12/14/11:

(Note: I have included deep links for some titles if you wish to support Comics Conspiracy when you buy digital comics. I have not included links to Marvel or Dark Horse books because you cannot support us currently by buying them through our site.)

01. American Vampire #21 Vertigo
02. Batgirl #4 DC
03. Batman and Robin #4 DC
04. Batwoman #4 DC
05. Danger Girl and the Army of Darkness #4 Dynamite
06. DC Universe Online: Legends #19 DC
07. Deathstroke #4 DC
08. Demon Knights #4 DC
09. Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E #4 DC
10. Green Lantern #4 DC
11. Grifter #4 DC
12. Resurrection Man #4 DC
13. Severed #5 Image
14. The Shade #3 of 12 DC
15. The Stand: The Night Has Come #5 of 6 Marvel
16. Star Trek / Legion of Super-Heroes #3 IDW
17. Suicide Squad #4 DC
18. The Unwritten #32 Vertigo

Graphic Novel
Walking Dead (Vol. 15) - We Find Ourselves Image

What the Hell! There are almost twenty comics on my pull list, and if we weren't shorted Legion Lost #4 it would have been one closer. What is going on here? Most likely it is due to the holiday quickly approaching we are getting a few more titles than normal from our lovely comic book publishers. Even Higgins was bitching that it was, "So many fucking books." Something he hasn't said in a long time while he was putting them on the shelf.
Despite being a large week for books it does look to be a fun week of reading with: Suicide Squad, Resurrection Man, Green Lantern, Grifter, Star Trek / Legion of Super-Heroes, and the new Walking Dead graphic novel; I can't wait and Calli was excited that she was getting Batgirl. I think it is time to cozy up with comics.

Remember you can now find these titles and more in digital format at our Comics Conspiracy - Comixology Storefront.

You can still order comics from us directly by visiting the shop, giving us a call (408) 245-6275, or dropping Ryan an email at ryan@comicsconspiracy.biz.

As usual I'll be talking comics on The Comic Conspiracy, and on the Geekbox Forums. Now get out there and enjoy some good old fashioned comic book reading.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Random Comic Pick - Episode 36

My random comic pick on The Comic Conspiracy: Episode 36 is All Star Superman by Grant Morrison and drawn by Frank Quitely.
I read this a few years ago when I first got back into comics and really liked it.
The All Star books that DC put out were to be by top tier creative teams to give readers phenomenal stories about the core elements of major characters in the DC Universe. They only ended up doing All Star books for Batman and Superman, and All Star Superman stands out as the better of the two (even though Jim Lee's art on All Star Batman is awesome).
One because it is by the creative team of Morrison and Quitely who are amazing at what they do not only as individuals, but as a team as well. Second reason is because this book actually finished its whole run. And finally because it is no doubt going to be a classic must read for the Superman lore.
All Star Superman is now available in a one volume trade paper back ($29.99; Thank you Higgins), an Absolute edition ($99.99) and digitally (about $2 an issue). Check it out.

Remember Comics Conspiracy is a great place to order comics and you can also download comics at the Comics Conspiracy - Comixology Storefront for your computer, tablet or phone.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Conspirator Brock's Pull List for 12/7/11

For all of the curious people out there wondering what I like to read week to week here is a list of the titles I am going to be picking up for the week of 12/7/11:

(Note: I have included deep links for some titles if you wish to support Comics Conspiracy when you buy digital comics. I have not included links to Marvel or Dark Horse books because you cannot buy them through our site.)

01. Action Comics #4 DC
02. Amazing Spider-Man #675 Marvel
03. Animal Man #4 DC
04. Batwing #4 DC
05. Detective Comics #4 DC
06. Green Arrow #4 DC
07. Huntress #3 of 6 DC
08. Justice League International #4 DC
09. Red Lanterns #4 DC
10. Stormwatch #4 DC
11. Swamp Thing #4 DC

The fourth month of the "New Rejiggered 52" starts up this week and I'm still enjoying most of the titles that DC started out with back in September. Stormwatch though isn't holding my attention and it maybe cut from my pull list after this week and Amazing Spider-Man better catch me with this new Vulture story arc or it's gonna get the axe too.
Action Comics, Swamp Thing, Animal Man, and Detective Comics this week; lots of good reads ahead of me. This is good because last week's light comic releases left me really wanting more. Calli got her copy of Huntress and was excited to finally have something to read. You should get out there and get to some reading.

Remember you can now find these titles and more in digital format at our Comics Conspiracy - Comixology Storefront.

As usual I'll be talking comics on The Comic Conspiracy, and on the Geekbox Forums. Now get out there and enjoy some good old fashioned comic book reading.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

It's Tuesday, Ryan Said What? 12/6/11

Ryan was on fire today, but that is to be expected when it's Tuesday, and he had to de-polybag a bunch of comics from "I won't say the publisher", but you might be able to figure it out. Here are some of the highlights of what Ryan said today about kids:

"Let the internet deal with them. Comixology can have them. I don't want them."

"Let him be curious and stupid elsewhere."

"Kids like me...We have a similar reading level and we can relate when it comes to upper body strength."

"Lock them up until they are 18."

And there were two other good quotes:

"Fun to me is the absence of people."

"Maybe he sent a picture of his cock."

Ryan Higgins becomes a different person on Tuesdays and yes he does swear like a sailor once the doors close at 6.

Randm Comic Pick List Update 12/6/11

I have updated my Random Comic Pick master list. Check it out.

My Random Comic Picks

Random Comic Pick - Episode 35

My random comic pick on The Comic Conspiracy: Episode 35 is once again the Vertigo series Daytripper written and drawn by Gabriel Bá and Fábio Moon.
I know, I know, Daytripper was my random comic pick back on Episode 17, and you can read my little blurb about the story there.
So, this post is just going to be used to shamelessly plug the shit out of Daytripper, because it is must read for anyone. Which makes it a fantastic Christmas gift for the reader in your life.
I think the main reason why I picked it again for my random comic pick was because I recently re-read the trade and was still blown away at how great this book is. We talked on the podcast about our top picks for 2011 and I think this is going to be one of my top picks for trade paper back / graphic novel.

Remember Comics Conspiracy is a great place to order comics and you can also download comics at the Comics Conspiracy - Comixology Storefront for your computer, tablet or phone.

Monday, December 5, 2011

It's Tuesday, Ryan Said What? 12/5/11

I know it's Monday, but Ryan said this and I had to post it.

"Brock, you are the flashlight in my eyes."

Was he hitting on me?

And it is amazing what you find when you search a person's name and look through the images...

Photo originally posted here.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

An Epic Holiday Gift

If you went out on Black Friday or shopped online on Cyber Monday to grab a cheap copy of The Lord of the Rings Extended Trilogy on Blu-Ray for the nerd you love this Christmas then you need to make sure you grab this too. I saw this at my local Safeway and had to snap a photo and share it here. I like how all the hobbits, Gimli, and Gollum are all shorter dispensers. This made my night. Better get yours before they sell out!

"The Fellowship of the Pez"