We're the Princes of the [Democratic Process]

This week's Time cover:

Hmmm, let's see...

Obama: Edwards' blade did not cut deeply enough. He was right about you. You're slime.
Clinton: Edwards was an effete snob! He died on his knees. I took his head and raped his woman before his blood was even cold.
[Obama looks at her in fury]
Clinton: Ah, I see. Edwards lied. She was not his woman. She was *your* woman. And she never told you. I wonder why. Perhaps I gave her something you never could, and secretly she yearned for my return.

Don't take this as an endorsement, either. Because remember, if McLeod wins, then we end up spending a Saturday night watching Highlander: The Source. And that, my friends, is a battle no one wins.

Dote up a cat, my X-Men

More manga X-Men character designs were released. They're--they're something. It's not that the actual drawings are terrible, they're pretty good, but.

Kitty Pryde: the name says it all! No, really. It does. No need for any further characterization: it's cats all the way. Lots of cats. Oh, she may be bishoujo now boys, but trust me: this can only end in the lingering smell of Meow Mix and lonely nights on a shredded, cat-pee-stained couch by the time she's 30.

Seriously, this is a path that just encourages more shit like this.

Nightcrawler: guy, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out there saving Rosette or something?


And finally, Beast: I'm so sorry. I am so, so sorry. Someone needs to bundle your ass on the first Catbus out of Xavier's or whatever ASAP--Mei and Satsuki have got to be better than this.


You can check out the full versions of Anzu's character designs here.

Bet all those "L" and "R" mixups in Japanese seem pretty insignificant now, huh?

Times when it is a good idea to send a text message:

• You need to send someone detailed information like an address or phone number
  
• One or both of you are in a place you cannot talk, like a meeting or class or very noisy room
• You want to be disgustingly cute and tell your significant other that you less-than-three him/her

Times when it is a bad idea to send a text message:

• You and your soon-to-be-ex-wife are in the middle of a nasty divorce and having a dot over an "i" can make the difference between her just being pissed off at you or her waiting at the door to stab you in the chest with a knife.  
  

Oh, Turkey, between this and Brides on Tour, it makes one long for the days when we could simply laugh and watch Turkish Star Wars.  In fact, I hear that sort of thing is in now.

Even with those eyes, Natalie Portman can't emote

Japan loves Star Wars. And this year is the 30th anniversary of Star Wars in Japan. So of course we want to find out how to draw Star Wars characters manga-style.




What, we don't? Well, too late! Now you too, can learn how to draw such strong female Star Wars characters such as Padmé Amidala, Mara Jade, Aayla Secura, and Anne! Wait... who the hell is Anne?


It's so simple- just a few lines here and there, and big eyes, and ta-dah, you have a handmaiden/queen/senator from Naboo! Oh, and bangs, you mustn't forget the bangs, because:

"Manga characters seem to almost always have bangs. Even if the character being drawn in real life does not, the Manga style usually incorporates them anyway, along with longer than usual flowing hair. This often helps add dramatic action to the pose or motion."

I'm a bit surprised they didn't put Princess Leia in there. You know, 'cause then you'd have mother and daughter (and sister-in-law) and then we could really delve into some manga stereotypes.

Oh, there she is. Well then.

Anne?

Which looks better: one, or two? One... or two...?

Realmscon mascot? Homage to a film classic? Or both? You decide!



Well, Nazi chic certainly does exist in Japan, so I guess either way it fits. SS-tan!

I want girls, girls, girls

The winner of the Shadowline "Who Wants to Create a Superheroine" contest has been announced, and while the concept itself is actually quite cute, the best part is that heroine Journey Dominguez, "a normal teenage girl", is a glossy 20-something pin-up vixen with cha-chas nearly the size of her head. Yeah, that's pretty much artist Franchesco's default style, but still. Glad to see Shadowline has really gone for something... um... unique. With any luck, contest winning author Tom Arguello will have the heart to put Journey on the upper side of the 17-year divide so readers can savor her shapely body and come-hither eyes with all of the taste, none of the guilt.



Kinda makes a person nostalgic for the early, not-hot days of Kitty Pryde and Jubilee, though. Check out the rest of the top entries for a good laugh and a head scratch.