For today’s buzzComix incentive sketch, click here to view next summer’s sure-fire action blockbuster!

I hope you like today’s comic. I tried to put a little extra effort into it with the backgrounds and the rest of the art. I wanted to leave things on an up note because I will be away from the site both this Friday and next Monday.

Don’t panic just yet, kiddies. While it’s true I’ll be away on vacation, I’ll leave you in capable hands. I have some guest strips lined up. One of them in the bag is a comic by none other than Instant Classic’s creator Brian Carroll. It’s another I, Robot joke, but it’s a good one.

If there are any enterprising young artists out there that want to try their hand at a guest comic, I am currently entertaining submissions. You can e-mail them to me here. Deadline is Thursday at 11:59 P.M. Please nothing larger than 525 x 525 pixels. I know it’s a short turn around, but I didn’t want to get swamped with too many requests over the course of a week.

If I don’t use your guest strip Friday or Monday (and at this point there is still an opportunity for your work to be seen Saturday, Sunday or next Tuesday) I will definitely use whatever is left over to cover for me while I’m away at Wizard World Chicago, August 13 – 15, so don’t hesitate to show me your work.

Anyway, movie stuff.

Is anyone excited to see I, Robot? No one I’ve talked to has. From the looks of it, the film completely distorts Isaac Asimov’s vision. I’m sure there will be nods to his 3 Laws of Robotics here and there, but for the most part, this looks like a mindless summer blow-em-up. Not exactly the kind of description you would expect to see in reference to Asimov.

Not to explain the joke in today’s comic, but the trailers for I, Robot make what I’ve suggested in the strip somewhat feasible. Only Hollywood would assume Asimov was a Victorian and drop him into a story 50 year’s beyond his death. Average audiences eat that sort of convoluted tripe by the trough-full.

Remember when Will Smith used to “own” the Fourth of July weekend? How the mighty have fallen. This film looks like such a dud to me, I doubt it will even trump the huge amounts of positive buzz Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy has accumulated since it’s opening last week.

I, Robot is dead in the water.

In other news, still no word from Mike Deodato and his inclusion of a Theater Hopper poster in Amazing Spider-Man #509. I e-mailed him, but have received no reply. I’m thinking about posting a message to him publicly in a forum he’s known to frequent. I might give that a try later today.

Speaking of comics, be sure to keep an eye on the site in the next couple of days. I plan on posting information about where you can find me at Wizard World Chicago next month. If you haven’t already, start booking hotel rooms! I want to see as many of you in attendance as possible!