Desperate Manhunters

I came back into comics around the time that the new Manhunter by DC Comics was supposedly cancelled with issue #30. I really didn't have much interest in the series, as the comic -- from what I remember -- was always about a generic Manhunter character. Plus, there now have been eight Manhunters in the DC Universe . After discovering that one of my favorite "lost" superheroes (Obsidian) from the 80s Infinity, Inc. was now appearing in the new Manhunter, I had to take a peek! Right away, I was hooked by the writing of co-creator Marc Andreyko. I bought up all 30 past issues and read them all in a row, cover to cover. I could tell that Andreyko was more interested in telling a story than fight/action sequences. He used a variety of minor characters in his stories that I grew to know and care about. (I use the term "care" loosely, though, as some of them are assholes, but I still want them in the stories.) He also successfully merged Kate Spencer, the new Manhunter, into the world of DC Comics as she became the attorney for superheroes and supervillains of the DC Universe, such as Copperhead, the Shadow Thief, and even Wonder Woman. And Andreyko was all about Infinity, Inc., bringing back characters from one of my favorite series from the past, as well as using Infinity's premise of superheroes' children when he revealed that the new Manhunter was actually the granddaughter of Phantom Lady and Iron Munro from The Young All-Stars, a follow-up to the All-Star Squadron. You with me? Good. Andreyko even brought back Mister Bones from Infinity Inc.'s Helix team. Yea for Andreyko reviving some of my favorite characters that DC shooed aside!

When the series returned with issue #31, it took a surprisingly different (and downward) turn for me. The comic was no longer about Kate Spencer, attorney to superheroes, and her supporting characters. It was now about being a member of Birds of Prey (Oy vey! Kat'e not team-oriented!) and Manhunter, the vigilante, going to Mexico. And staying. For issue after issue after issue. And the fabulous crisp art apparently stayed in the U.S., too, leaving only jagged lines by Michael Gaydos. What happened to our girl, Andreyko?

I've now just read the latest issue, issue #37, and discovered that now Andreyko went all Desperate Housewives on us. Flash forward about 12 years. Kate Spencer's young son, Ramsey, is now a young adult, gay, in a relationship, and becoming a superhero in his own right. Kate is in a relationship with a younger man. Dylan has a mechanical leg. Huh? I guess Andreyko wanted to wind things up since the series is going to be cancelled -- again -- with the next issue (#38). Maybe if the Mexico storyline wasn't involved and there was better art upon the series' return, this second cancellation wouldn't have happened? Hmmm?

Sigh...I'm going to miss Kate Spencer and her cast of characters.

Hmmm...I Wonder...

What's it like to be a writer for Wonder Woman? She's gone through so many incarnations over the years that I'm not sure that she really has a defined personality anymore. I guess you just kind of wing it and do whatever you want?

Based on their personality profiles, I could tell you who many of the superheroes are, but it seems that Wonder Woman -- although one of my favorite characters -- never has a consistent one. When last I left her in the 1980s, Wonder Woman had re-emerged in the DC Universe as a sweet, innocent, naive child of a small unknown island. She was taken in by the motherly Julia Kapatelis and befriended Julia's daughter, Vanessa ("Nessie"), as she tried to assimilate herself in "man's world." The stories were touching and showed a "human" side to the Amazon. One of them about a young girl's suicide was one of the most well-written stories I've ever read in a comic book.

Doing a little background check on what I've missed, I discover that Nessie became the Silver Swan and tried to kill Wonder Woman. Not only that, now that whole history has been wiped out and Wonder Woman lives in a world where Julia and Vanessa never even existed. And recently, the peace-loving women of Princess Diana's homeland have attacked the U.S. in Amazons Attack! How about that?

Re-joining Wonder Woman with her latest series' incarnation in "Ends of the Earth" from WW# 20-23, written by my favorite Secret Six author, Gail Simone, I have to say, "Huh?" Wonder Woman is tough-as-nails and in some weird dimension, wearing a fur-lined uniform through the snow that Sarah Palin only wishes she could pull off while snow-shoeing in Alaska. She's joined by two other Wonder Women, both wearing outfits veering slightly from the normal Wonder Woman uniform, one being a Princess-Leia-in-Return-of-the-Jedi-like bikini slave outfit. Oh, and she has a claw. Then she meets Beowulf. Yes, that Beowulf. Cut to: the story arc ending (thankfully!) with her bringing back to modern-day Earth some devilish-looking giant and battling him in the reflection pool next to the Washington Monument. Whew. Got all that? Meanwhile, Donna Troy is housed up in Diana's apartment with a bunch of tall, white, intelligent gorillas. Um...yeah.

I think it's time someone took the time to define Wonder Woman's personality and give her some stories that are worthy of her name.

Batman R.I.P.

After seeing the movie The Dark Knight, I was in the mood for more Batman. With the Batman comics starting the "Batman R.I.P." storyline, this seemed like a good place to jump back in. I picked up all the comics on the Batman R.I.P. checklist, which included Batman #676-681, Detective Comics #846-850, Nightwing #147-150, Robin #175-176, and Batman and the Outsiders #11-13. I've read them all now and all I have to say is, "Huh?" I used to love Grant Morrison's wacky storylines for Animal Man in the 80s, but with Batman today, I think he's on something. Seriously. I never got into the story. And wasn't sure even how to begin. Batman of Zur-En-Arrh? Excuse me? Did you say "Surrender?" No. Batman of Zurrrrrrrrrrrr-ennnnnnnnn-arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrh. Oh, okay. Can I have some of what you're on, Grant? And whatever the DC Executives are on who okayed this storyline? After that, throw in some Bat-Mite and we've got ourselves a party!

Seriously? This is what you give Batman fans who went in droves to the movie theaters this past summer and then out to buy Batman comics as a follow-up? Rabble and Bat-Mite? The Riddler makes more sense than "Batman R.I.P."

The "New" Supergirl

I'm just now reading the "new" Supergirl comic by DC Comics and catching up with the past 30+ issues. The first few were exceptionally written by Jeph Loeb, but I was still trying to figure out what happened to the Supergirl that I used to know and love (before she was killed in Crisis on Infinite Earths oh-so-many years ago) but who received little credit. Thankfully, Jeph was helping me get there. I was getting into the groove and then DC did their "One Year Later" storyline across all their comics and Supergirl's storyline went haywire. It became some weird sci-fi storyline with armageddon-like themes. WTF? Thankfully, now that I've caught up to Supergirl's 30s issues, good storylines that include a dying boy and New Krypton -- stories that actually make sense and exhibit true writing ability -- are coming back into play. Thanks for not totally f***ing up our "Girl."

Identity Crisis

I'm still catching up with reading past storylines and just finally read the mini-series Identity Crisis. All I can say is...WOW. That was one of the most amazing storylines I've ever read and, despite already knowing the outcome from current series I read, I got weepy at the end.

Brad Meltzer dove into the characters of the Justice League of America better than anyone I've ever read. He showed their human side, that they do err and aren't "perfect." Plus, he answered a lot of questions that readers have probably had since comics began. "Why hasn't anyone figured out the superheroes' secret identities?" Now we know. And we're a bit grateful. Not only for the answer but because the answer showed that our favorite heroes do what they have to do sometimes to keep things in check. They're real people, with real choices. Choices that have consequences they sometimes just have to live with.

I also loved that this series was very adult-oriented. Meltzer didn't dumb down the storyline or go easy on the characters. As an example, I point out the rape scene of Sue Dibny, wife of the Elongated Man. My eyes opened wide. My heart skipped a beat. I actually felt a sense of dread and panic for a character in the "funny books." THAT is the sign of a fantastic writer. Kudos to Meltzer and the entire Identity Crisis storyline. Now currently struggling to enjoy Final Crisis having been mildly shocked by the events in Crisis on Infinite Earths, and been underwhelmed by Infinite Crisis, Identity Crisis stands out as the leader in the Crisis pack.

Secret Six...the ongoing series

After reading Villains United and the Secret Six mini-series, I was SO excited to learn that The Secret Six were getting their very own ongoing monthly comic, written by Gail Simone, the writer who made me fall head over heels for the team members originally, and drawn fantastically by Nicola Scott.

I've now read the first three issues of the ongoing series and all I can say is, "Meh." What happened to the wonderful character development? What happened to the weird conversations with Ragdoll? And, most importantly, what happened to giving us some sexy Catman action?

Sigh...

I'm sticking with you, Gail, but I hope you can make me drool with antipication every month like you did with the previous limited series.

Villains

As I started getting back into comic books after a 15-year sabbatical, I recall seeing Salvation Runin the comic book store, but skipped over it until halfway through the series when I finally realized what it was actually about (since the title was NOT a dead giveaway). I then picked up back issues and followed the series through its end. I'm not sure how sales were for Salvation Run but, in my opinion, it might have done better with a clearer title. But I digress...

The idea that a large number of DC Comics villains were sent to a "prison planet" intrigued me, as it recalled Marvel Comics' Secret Wars back in the 1980s. Plus, I do love mustache-twirling villains (what would a hero be without a villain?) and its rare that a villain is the star of a comic book series. While Salvation Run was just "okay," I did discover that DC had put out another comic about villains a couple of years previous called -- what else? -- Villains United. I picked up all the back issues (because I do loves me some villains!), despite not being incredibly thrilled with the line-up other than Cheshire, whom I've always liked as a character since my 1980s New Teen Titans days. Immediately, I was drawn in by Gail Simone's storytelling and character development. Further, I discovered that the storylines were very adult-oriented and "spoke to me," if you will. The old Batman villain (and Catwoman knockoff) Catman is now hot and sexy? Cheshire flirts with him, they fall into bed, and have a child together? A new Ragdoll has a twisted sense of humor and is seemingly in love with a Parademon from Apokolips who looks after his welfare? Vandal Savage has a daughter code-named Scandal who's a lesbian and partnered with fellow teammate Knockout who's also from Apokolips? The also now-sexy Deadshot is caught in bed with Knockout as Scandal walks in on them?! SCANDALOUS! I love it! These are not your 1980s comics characters! And suddenly, I'm in love with all these minor characters I didn't know I could instantly love!

I voraciously devoured every issue featuring the Secret Six that I could get my hands on (including their appearances in Birds of Prey). I was a bit disappointed that the Parademon was taken away from us too soon because I loved the twisted chemistry between he and Ragdoll, but I was grateful for Simone to bring on the equally twisted "new" Mad Hatter. And then I was pleasantly elated when Ragdoll disposed of him by pushing him off a cliff because, truly, one eccentric person in the group is enough.

Losing Knockout to death in Birds of Prey was a bit sad...but quickly gotten over. She always seemed generic and disposable to me whereas a few of the other Secret Sixers are certainly not.

So, with all that said, it's not difficult to guess that I am full of anticipation for the new ongoing Secret Six series featuring Gail Simone's writing. I wish it (and her) much success as I want to continue to read where the future takes some of my newfound favorite characters month after month after month. And, it goes with saying, that I look forward to many future sexual (and sometimes bizarre) escapades of the Six.