Last time we checked in with Van Halen was early March, when its much-heralded reunion tour was falling apart. The group was supposed to play Raleigh's RBC Center on March 7, but that show was among 17 dates to be scratched for unspecified medical reasons involving guitarist Eddie Van Halen.

That's when the waiting game began. Our original Raleigh date was rescheduled for April 13, then to a date "after April 19," and finally to Monday night.

At least it looks like the show is going to happen. The tour resumed April 17 in Reno, Nev., drawing a good review in the local paper: "The band was in top musical form ... Nearly two hours, a drum solo and guitar solo later, the band didn't seem to let up." Van Halen released a statement of its own that called the Reno crowd "energized and amazing," adding, "The band is thrilled to be back on the road!"

But a few nights later in Ohio, the Cincinnati Enquirer was much more lukewarm, citing "a noticeable lack of buzz for the better part of the two-hour show."

So there's just no telling what awaits us here, which is to be expected. During the tour hiatus, frontman David Lee Roth did a television interview in which he likened Van Halen to NASCAR: "Are you here to see the winner or the crash?" Then he added, "Don't answer; we have both!"

Maybe that's what we'll get.

See Grey Blackwell's animated Van Halen short at http://cartoons.newsobserver.com

David Menconi

Pop Culture Haiku

Special Love & Marriage Edition

It's wedding season! With spring and (impending) nuptials in the air, there's plenty of celebrity love to celebrate. So, we present this special Love & Marriage edition of pop culture haikus. Below you will find observations and advice for would-be newlyweds, packed as always in clip-n-save, 17-syllable chunks.

Calling each other

"Husband" and "wife" is fun for

A few weeks, then -- eh....

People say couples

Fight mostly about money.

Yes. Totally true.

The bed becomes less

About sex and more about

Who gets which pillow

The day will come when,

Reading the comics, you will

Laugh at "The Lockhorns"

Remember to make

Time to be casually smug

To your single friends

Watch with amazement

As your political views

Drift gradually right

Kids: Do they enrich

Your life or devour all

Your energy? Yes.

Brace yourselves for the

Erotic journey that is

The joint tax return

Glenn McDonald

Superheroes off-duty

PL listens in as Batman, Superman, Iron Man and Spider-Man gather for their monthly meetup:

Batman: So, Tony. You must be excited about your movie.

Iron Man: I am Bruce. This superhero movie thing is like mining gold!

Spider-Man: Tell me about it. My last film grossed more than $300 million -- domestic. No more crime-fighting for me. All I do now is make guest appearances and play golf.

Batman: Sweet. That darn Clooney almost killed my franchise -- I am not a fan. Thank goodness for "Batman Begins." And this summer, "The Dark Knight." Ka-ching!

Superman: I didn't think anyone could do me justice after Christopher Reeve. But that kid Routh was OK. But you know, I kinda miss the early days. When we were just in print. It just seems like everything is so high-tech now. I mean, you can't sneak a DVD under the covers and watch it with a flashlight, you know.

Iron Man: Um. You can if you have a portable DVD player, Grandpa!

Superman: You know what I mean. And just remember, without the suit you're mortal. I could crush you.

Batman: Simmer down. Ironman, you're buying the first round.

Get your comics free

Saturday is free Comic Book Day. Head to these stores to get a copy of selected titles:

Capitol Comics of Raleigh

3027-A Hillsborough St.

832-4600

Foundation's Edge

2526 Hillsborough St., Raleigh

832-0044

Amazing Tales

2109-144 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh

832-3500

Ultimate Comics

105 N.C. 54 West, No. 229

Near The Streets at Southpoint, Durham

806-8282

Chapel Hill Comics

412 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill

967-4439

Ultimate Chapel Hill Comics

1300 Fordham Blvd., No. 9, Chapel Hill

960-8107

Ultimate Comics at Northgate Mall

1058 W. Club Blvd., Durham

286-4737

Meet Iron Man, 1:30 -4:30 p.m.

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