Tales From the Bully Pulpit

I want to take a little time today to talk with you about THE BEST COMIC EVER! THIS IS SO COOL!

Before I get too carried away I guess I should explain the comic a bit more. Tales From the Bully Pulpit is written by Benito Cereno, illustrated by Graeme MacDonald and distributed by Image Comics. It's a one-shot comic with three chapters that covers a complete story in one volume. However, Tales From the Bully Pulpit 2: Legend of the Black Maria has been apparently in the works for some time. I can only hope that more awesomesauce is coming soon.

To get the bad news out of the way first, this comic is really hard to find. It had a limited print run and wasn't widely circulated. I managed to find a copy for about $20, but prices on Amazon have gone up since then. However, if you manage to luck out and find a copy you won't be disappointed.

Tales From the Bully Pulpit has a very simple plotline. Theodore Roosevelt, most awesome president of the United States ever, steals H.G. Wells's Time Machine to explore the wild frontier of the future. However TR quickly realizes the Time Machine can only travel through time and not through space. Uninterested at the prospect of seeing the entire history of one patch of countryside, TR travels to the distant year of 2000 in the hopes that technology has advanced far enough for someone to make the Time Machine travel through space as well as time. (T-A-R-D-I-S, Time And Relative Dimensions In Space) That someone happens to be the ghost of inventor Thomas Edison who adds Science! (and a loveseat) to the Time Machine. TR christens the upgraded Time Machine The Bully Pulpit, and heads off with Edison to the year 2008 to explore the future.

TR and Edison arrive in 2008 Argentina to find that the Nazis are alive and well, and furthermore have taken control of the country. However, they aren't content with a South American country and have decided to invade Mars! TR and Edison decide it's up to them to stop the Nazis. I repeat: TR and the ghost of Thomas Edison fight Nazis. On Mars.

I won't spoil the ending because it is truly epic. This comic is well-worth the time if you can find it and I highly recommend it. The plot is solid, the characters are awesome, and the ending is as hilarious as it is manly. Also, the comic has a number of shout-outs and references to other works including Watchmen, Indiana Jones, and Back to the Future. There's guaranteed to be at least one thing to make you giggle.

Now, I know what you're thinking. Nazis again? Hasn't that been done to death already? Yeah, I'll admit it's kind of cliche and stupid. But this is the good kind of stupid, you know the type. It's chainsword stupid. Giant Robot stupid. Something so ridiculous you have to say to yourself, "I can't believe this is happening," yet at the same time you're saying, "Oh my god, this is so cool!" It's that kind of stupid, which is always entertaining. Truly this is a tale for the ages.

BAK

Adventurer's Rule #3: Never enough Dakka.

ADDENDUM:
Today, 18th of April, is Velociraptor Awareness Day. So, be on the lookout for velociraptors and remember Adventurer's Rule #3: Never enough Dakka. Dakka is the only thing that will save you from the velociraptors. They're very fast and can open doors. By the Emperor, use the Dakka!