I had no idea it was such a problem. Now I understand why they told Carter he couldn’t play superheroes at preschool anymore.

Although the exact number of child fatalities connected to an active imagination is unknown, experts say the danger is very real. According to a 2006 estimate, children who regularly engage in imagination are 10 times more likely to suffer injuries such as skinned knees from mythical quests, or bruises and serious falls from the peak of Bookcase Mountain.

Read the rest of the article on The Onion…

Seriously, I’m still a little upset they told him that a few weeks ago. I know he was probably being too rough, but they should have talked to him and reasoned with him rather than restricted it altogether.

AIM (Advanced Idea Mechanics) started as a group of the worlds most brilliant scientists during World War II. They created a three fixtures of Marvel Comics (the Cosmic Cube, the Super Adaptoid, and MODOK). The Cosmic Cube (one of them) is currently causing Captain America trouble thanks to writer Ed Brubaker.

A "new" Super-Adaptoid made an appearance a few years back in the New Avengers Annual #1, but it wasn't anything to write home about. I mainly remember the villain from the Captain American cartoon as a kid and thought it was cool to be able to duplicate the powers of any hero.

Finally, MODOK is the villain that has a big head and little limbs and rides in a rocket chair. I don't know if I would admit to creating him, especially since he's not been that successful in his attempts at world domination. However, I hear he's all set to make a come back this summer in a few Marvel books, so maybe AIM will reappear as well. I know I would be very afraid of a bunch on super-genius types with buckets on their heads. I don't know that I would call MODAM a staple villain, so she doesn't count.

A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) is an organization of brilliant scientists and their hirelings dedicated to the acquisition of power and the overthrow of all government by technological means A.I.M. was organized during World War II as the scientific research division of the subversive military organization HYDRA. In the late 1960's A.I.M. seceded from HYDRA because of political differences and began independent operations. A.I.M. first came to public attention when it was incorporated as an International cartel dealing with the development and marketing of new technological products. At first a supplier of hardware and weapons to governmental and quasi-governmental agencies, A.I.M. was exposed to be a subversive organization by Colonel Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. Since then, all of A.I.M.'s activities have been covert.

A.I.M. has been involved in the creation of three major instruments of deadly potential. The first is the Super-Adaptoid, an android capable of duplicating any super power. (This project was carried out under the code name Them.) The second instrument was the Cosmic Cube, an unimaginably powerful object capable of restructuring reality itself. A.I.M. manufactured the the containing device — the cube — not the reality-rending energy itself. (The origin of the Cosmic Cubes energy is still unknown.)

The third major achievement of A.I.M. was the creation of Modok (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing), an artificially mutated human being with an enormous head and a stunted body possessing superhuman intelligence and the ability to generate mental energy bolts and force fields. Modok was originally an ordinary A.I.M. member who was selected by A.I.M.'s Scientist Supreme to be the subject of a mutation experiment. After being transformed. Modok slew the Scientist Supreme and became the new leader of A.I.M.. a position he has held ever since. A.I.M. has since existed merely to serve Modok's ambitions. Under his leadership. A.I.M. has stagnated and has created no truly impressive weapon or launched any major attack on any nation.

Get more AIM info…

This past weekend we went to Atlanta to visit Jill’s “Favorite Aunt Sue.” It was a great two day trip. Carter had a blast driving in the golf cart, feeding the horses and playing in the river bed. He especially enjoyed dropping (and breaking) the sheets of ice that Uncle Kevin gave him. Here’s a picture of Carter right before dropping another piece of ice.

River Ice

Snowblind - Lame Ghost Rider Villain

Snowblind didn't have a lot going for him. Combine his lame costume with his lame power (I'm blind, but I can see in a field that makes others blind) and you can easily see why he was killed off after only a few appearances in the 2nd volume of Ghost Rider. Not much else I can say about this guy.

Biographical Data

Real name: Unrevealed
Other aliases at time of death: None
Former aliases : None known
Dual identity: Known to the legal authorities
Occupation at time of death: Businessman dealing in narcotics, sometimes assassin
Former occupation: Assassin
Citizenship: United States of America
Legal status: Held in police custody at time of demise.
Place of birth: Unrevealed
Place of death: Manhattan
Cause of death: Life force drained by Deathwatch
Marital status: Unrevealed
Known relatives: None
Known confidants: None
Known allies: Captain Gene Hoffman (NYPD), (former) Deathwatch (deceased), Francesca Tofield
Major enemies: Ghost Rider II, Deathwatch (deceased), Hag, Troll, Lieutenant Michael Badalino (NYPD)
Base of operations at time of death: an unspecified brownstone in Brooklyn Heights, New York
Former base of operations: None known
Group membership at time of death: Headed own narcotics distribution organization
Former group membership: None known
Extent of education: Unrevealed

Physical Description

Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 190 lbs.
Eyes: No visible irises
Hair: White
Other distinguishing features: None

Powers and Abilities

Intelligence: Normal
Strength: Normal, (enhanced) Superhuman Class 10
Speed: Athlete, (enhanced) Enhanced human
Stamina: Athlete, (enhanced) Enhanced human
Durability: Athlete, (enhanced) Enhanced human
Agility: Athlete, (enhanced) Enhanced human
Reflexes: Athlete, (enhanced) Enhanced human
Fighting skills: Highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant
Special skills and abilities: Trained in assassination techniques
Superhuman physical powers: Aside from the above listed attributes, the ability to project a "white field" of light in which only he can see, but normal human beings cannot. Ghost Rider II can see within this field unless Snowblind turned part of it back upon himself. Snowblind's physical attributes increased within this field of light
Superhuman mental powers: None
Special limitations: Snowblind is blind except within his "white field".
Source of superhuman powers: Unrevealed

Blackout - Lame Ghost Rider Villain

Blackout II (not related to the original Blackout, I guess) would be just a typical villain if not for the stylish braids he wore in his bright white hair. Despite being part demon, he had to resort to implants (metal ones, natch!) to get the requisite fangs and claws. He has the distinction of having his faced permanently scarred by both Ghost Rider I (John Blaze) and Ghost Rider II (Dan Ketch).

Biographical Data

Real name: Unrevealed
Other aliases at time of apparent death: None
Former aliases: None known
Dual identity: Secret
Occupation at time of apparent death: Assassin, follower of Lilith II
Former occupation: Enforcer, professional criminal, serial killer
Citizenship: Unrevealed
Legal status: Criminal record in the U.S.
Place of birth: Unrevealed
Place of apparent death: Greenland
Cause of apparent death: Impaled through the eye by Blade
Marital status: Presumed single
Known relatives: Lilith II (alleged grand-mother), the Lilin (children of alleged grandmother)
Known confidants: None
Known allies: Lilith II, the Lilin (Pilgrim, Creed, Meatmarket, Nakota, Doc, Fang); (former) Deathwatch (deceased), Hag, Troll, Mr. Stern, the Firm
Major enemies: Ghost Rider II, Kingpin I, John Blaze, HEART, the Morlocks, Mr. Stern, the Firm, Morbius, the Nightstalkers, the Darkhold Redeemers, Dr. Strange
Base of operations at time of apparent death: New York area
Former base of operations: International Contractors Unlimited offices, New York
Group membership at time of apparent death: The Lilin
Former group membership: Operative of Deathwatch
Extent of education: Unrevealed

Physical Description

Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 230 lbs.
Eyes: Red
Hair: White
Other distinguishing features: Blackout II has chalk-white skin, prominent sharpened mechanical teeth (fangs), razor-sharp metal fingernails, and long hair worn in two long braids. The left half of his face was horribly scarred in a battle with Ghost Rider II and his entire face further scarred in a battle with Ghost Rider II and John Blaze.

Powers and Abilities

Intelligence: Normal
Strength: Enhanced human
Speed: Enhanced human
Stamina: Enhanced human
Durability: Enhanced human
Agility: Enhanced human
Reflexes: Enhanced human
Fighting skills: Highly experienced hand-to-hand combatant, superior acrobat and wrestler
Special skills and abilities: Unrevealed
Superhuman physical powers: Aside from the above listed attributes, the ability to see in near darkness.
Superhuman mental powers: Psionic ability to extinguish both natural and artificial light sources in his immediate vicinity
Special limitations:
Blackout ll's skin is highly sensitive to light.
Source of superhuman powers: Hybrid physiology due to semi-demonic ancestry (Blackout II is apparently descended from both human and demonic ancestors)