I saw Iron Man a while back, before I saw Batman: the Dark Knight. I actually read Iron Man decades ago as a preteen and teen, but can't claim any more than a casual acquaintance. In any case, I ended up liking the movie. It didn't make some of the mistakes I thought it might. I'm looking forwarad to the sequel.

I don't see many movies in the theatres any more. I ought to keep better track of which ones I've seen.

• Planetary: Archaeologists of the Impossible, Book 1: All over the World and Other Stories; writer: Warren Ellis, Artist: John Cassaday, Colorist: Laura Depuy with David Baron and WildStorm FX; copyright 2000 Wildstorm Productions; originally published in magazine format as Planetary #1–6 and Planetary Preview, copyright 1998, 1999 Wildstorm Productions, an imprint of DC Comics; ISBN 1-56389-648-6.

  It's been quite a while since I've read anything approaching a superhero comic with any regularity. This is probably as close as I've come. Very good. I'll probably have to find and read the rest of the compilations.

• The Bible Repairman, copyright 2005 by Tim Powers; Subterranean Press, 2nd printing; ISBN 1-59606-046-8.

  A slim pamphlet, containing one of Tim Powers' typically weird stories.

• A Soul in a Bottle, copyright 2006 by Tim Powers; Subterranean Press, 1st edition, 2006; ISBN 987-1-59606-075-3.

  A slim book with another of Tim Powers' typically weird stories.