In a startling announcement that this newsman can only call "out of left field," Judd Winick, writer of the critically-acclaimed ADVENTURES OF BARRY WEEN and the less critically- acclaimed GREEN LANTERN and EXILES, was actually, as absurd as this sounds, a cast member of the Real World III in San Francisco, some six years ago.

"Yep, that's right," says Winick.  "I never made a big deal about it because I didn't think anyone would be interested." 

The fans were, naturally, shocked.  Some even felt betrayed. 

"Real World III?  With Puck and Pam and Pedro and the guy in the cowboy hat and everything?  No way.  If I had known that, no way I would have picked up BARRY WEEN.  I mean, who can take a guy from the Real World seriously?  It's like, I'm glad I read it now, but if  someone had told me at the time, I just would have thought that was lame," comic book fan Rick Williamson added.  And allow me to add that the cowboy hat guy was actually Real World II.

"It's not like Real World has made any difference in my career.  It's just like, a show I happened to be on, and the place where I met my future wife," Winick adds.  "I didn't expect anyone to care, so I didn't say anything.  I was actually a bit embarrassed when
this all came out." 

Industry analyst Michael Lendhart claims, "It's really hard to tell how this revelation will affect Winick's career and the sale of his books.  Everyone was so in the dark about his past before, they might be a bit turned off.  It's not like comic books are desperate for media attention.  Why, just the other day, I heard a character in SPIDER-GIRL say "Girl, who do you think you are, Jennifer Lopez?"  Now, they probably should have said "J. Lo."  And really, maybe a Destiny's Child reference would have been better.  But either way, that's what people want.  That kind of connection to the mainstream.  Comics are plenty hip as things are, trust me.  I mean, we already have Kevin Smith, and he writes a few comics a year, sells some books, kills some people off - everyone's happy!  I just hope Winick's revelation doesn't suffer from some severe backlash."

"It's not like it was my fault for being on the Real World," Winick concludes.  "I don't expect or deserve any sort of special attention.  I don't think this should, or will, affect my career in any way at all."

Finally, David "Puck" Rainey adds, "This is such shit, really.  If Judd wants to go ahead, and write his little comic books, that's fine, whatever, that's his deal.  Puck has his own problems to deal with."

Assumedly, the "problems" he alluded to in the preceding statement involve figuring out his first story arc as the new writer of THOR, which he wasannounced by Marvel as yesterday.

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