What's the Story, Morning Glories?

I typically don't stray much outside the DC and Marvel Universes (not even to Marvel's Ultimate Universe), but the premise of Image Comics' Morning Glories sounded intriguing, so I've been picking up the last 10 issues that have been released.  From Wikipedia: "The series focuses on six "brilliant but troubled" new recruits at Morning Glory Academy, a prestigious prep school hiding "sinister and deadly" secrets."

The series is written by Nick Spencer and illustrated by Joe Eisma. Fortunately, each issue is only $2.99, so I'll continue reading.  If Image was charging $3.99, I probably would have dropped the series by now.  While good, it's not fantastic.  The stories are promising, although sometimes confusing.  The characters are interesting, yet not defined enough for me to care about any of them or even keep them straight, especially when each issue focuses on someone different than the last.  I do enjoy the simple yet realistic artwork in brilliant colors, though, and that's another reason I keep reading the series.  It's extremely visually appealing. 

So, while I'm curious about the students and the school, the "big mystery" hasn't really hooked me yet.  I'm waiting for one of those guilty pleasure moments that really draws me into the series.  The series get a B- grade from me.  It has the potential to succeed and is better than average, but I think it could -- and should -- strive to be better.

Canada Takes (Alpha) Flight

Although I find it suspect that Marvel is copying DC (see: Blackest Night) by bringing back dead superheroes from the successful 1980s era, I am SO glad to see most of the original Alpha Flight team back together (where for art thou, Puck?)!  With so many unsuccessful (and, yes, just awful) incarnations over the years (see: Omega Flight), returning to the original team (when it was written and drawn by John Byrne) was the only option. 

Currently, the team is only in "maxi-series" status.  Perhaps Marvel wants to see how that goes before committing to a regular series for the team again.  (Although that didn't stop them when it came to Young Allies (canceled after six issues) or She-Hulks (canceled after four issues) recently.)  One issue into the maxi-series, I think the writing team of Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente with artist Dale Eaglesham are doing a bang-up job.  The writers really know and understand the characters and their individual personalities.  And Eaglesham does a great job of beautifully rendering each character, much like Byrne once did.   Only Marrina seems very different from her passive 1980s persona, but I guess everyone evolves.  Even sea-people.  And double kudos to bringing Northstar's boyfriend/partner into the series.  We also see hints of Aurora's multiple personalities coming back -- it's like Melrose Place all over again!  I can't wait for the team to really take "flight!"

Be afraid...be very afraid.

Am I the only one who's very worried about DC Comics' announcement that they're revamping the ENTIRE DC Universe?  

I've always been a DC fan over Marvel.  That's not to say that I don't read Marvel Comics, but I think the quality and characters at DC have always been, overall, better.  They're like family, and I know them all so well.  That's why, reading daily DCU Source blog postings, I'm very scared for the future.  

Flashpoint?  Great idea.  I love the idea of a temporary shift in reality.  But what DC has planned for the future really frightens me.  Taking all of the comic book series, mythos, characters, and TOTALLY revamping them?  Erasing their past?  Marvel did this when they created an Ultimates universe, while still maintaining the regular, ongoing universe they've had since Day One. (Note: I do not and have not read any Ultimates titles; I think the concept is ridiculous.  How can one expect (or even want) to keep up with the goings-on of two different universes filled with the same characters?)

DC, on the other hand, is making this kind of change to their current universe that's been in effect from the first appearances of Superman and Batman.  Yes, there have been events and retcons that have altered and rebooted the DC Universe (good examples are Crisis on Infinite Earths, John Byrne's Superman, and George Perez's Wonder Woman), but basically it's stayed the same overall. 

While DC may see this is a good jumping on point for new readers, it may also seem like a good jumping OFF point for many decades-long readers.  Gaining new, non-loyal readers in exchange for old, loyal readers?  Not a good marketing idea.  Statistics show it's better to retain and manage current customers than try to recruit new ones.  Why?  It's more costly.  In more ways than one.  

I grew up reading comics.  I read them continuously from about age 10 through age 24.  Then I started picking them up again when I was 38 and got hooked again.  I'm 41 now and I've been trying not to spend as much money monthly on comics ($120?  Yikes!).  This may be the excuse and motivation I was looking for.  Sorry, DC.  But thanks for saving me money.

Gillen Rocks the X-Men

Uncanny X-Men #535

I enjoyed Matt Fraction's run on the Uncanny X-Men, as he really brought some -- excuse the pun -- humanity to the X-Men.  However, I'm really enjoying Kieron Gillen's take on everybody's favorite mutant team even more.  He seems to really know the characters and their personalities and even manages to interject a lot of humor into the dialogue.  He's also not all about unnecessary fight scenes. 

Two of my favorite X-Men characters of all time are Colossus and Kitty Pryde (whatever her code name may be nowadays), so I'm glad to see them so prominently featured.  (He rocks those hoodie sweatshirts and cargo shorts!)  I love the dilemma the two of them are now facing.  After years and years of being apart due to their age difference (Kitty being a minor and all), they finally consummate their relationship (see Astonishing X-Men #14) and then Kitty is rendered into an all-the-time intangible state.  The only way she can touch or be touched is when she's wearing some special suit.  That, of course, makes it difficult to...you know..."consummate" again.  ;)  Brilliant!  The agony of not being together continues...

Seeing the wickedly hated Agent Brand in there, I thought, "Wow, she looks like Agent Diana Prince."  Then I realized...oh, it's Terry Dodson drawing (same artist who drew Wonder Woman when she was going through her Agent Diana Prince phase). 

I hope Gillen has a good, long run on UXM.  I'm looking forward to the interpersonal relationships between the characters finally being explored much more.  (And, yes, that goes double for Scott Summers and Emma Frost!)

Green Lantern: Overexposed!

Green Arrow #12

How much is too much?  All of DC's comics -- and I do literally mean ALL -- are coming out this summer with Green Lantern movie marketing bands slapped on their covers.  Nice idea to promote the movie; poor execution.  It's very distracting and takes away from the beautiful covers.  Take a look at Green Arrow #12.  Is it Green Lantern, Brightest Day, or Green Arrow?  With so many marketing banners, the image keeps getting pushed down more and more.  In fact, Swamp Thing's head has to take up some of Green Arrow's title just to fit on the page. 

Is there really a comic book reader/buyer/fan out there that doesn't already know that the Green Lantern movie starring Ryan Reynolds is coming out this month?  Or that this summer is a fantastic summer for superhero movies with the likes of Iron Man 2, Captain America, Green Lantern, and X-Men First Class? 

Perhaps DC should focus their marketing on non-comic reading folks.  Comic book fans are already going to go see the movies.  It's the rest of the folks that may or may not.

The New New Teen Titans

Teen Titans #100

As you can tell from my previous posting, I'm thrilled by the new direction and writing and art chores on the Teen Titans comic.  After the disaster that was Felicia Henderson, I have nothing but high praise for J.T. Krul and Nicola Scott, especially the introduction of their newest diverse member, Solstice.  

On June 1, DC Comics announced:  "DC Comics will be making history this September. We’ll be renumbering the entire DC Universe line of comic books with 52 first issues. We’re publishing innovative storylines featuring our most iconic characters helmed by some of the most creative minds within the industry."

My first thought was, Damn!  And the Teen Titans are so close to reaching their 100th issue!  Luckily, though, it looks like they still will.  The Teen Titans comic is shipping twice monthly this summer, so it will reach issue #100.  That looks to be like the last issue, though, as DC Comics' series will begin with #1 in September, thereby eliminating the long-running Batman, Superman, Action Comics, Detective Comics, and recently renumbered Wonder Woman comics as well.  So much for reaching issue #1000 for those series one day!

Teen Titans #1 (2011)

DC recently posted on their DCU Source blog some samplings of the future comics/series that will begin anew.   One of those was for the Teen Titans.  In the new series, "Tim Drake is forced to step out from behind his keyboard when an international organization seeks to capture or kill super-powered teenagers. As Red Robin, he must team up with the mysterious and belligerent powerhouse thief known as Wonder Girl and a hyperactive speedster calling himself Kid Flash."  And then there's the image of the new Teen Titans team and their new costumes.  I really like Red Robin's new costume; it's very "Black Condor."  It's also much more visually appealing than his current costume and really sets himself apart from any Batman, Robin, Nightwing, or Red Hood costumes, giving Red Robin his own identity.  The rest of the team's costumes, though, I can do without.  They look like a throwback to the early 1990s when storylines and character development were "out," and stylized art, accentuated body parts (hello, big female boobies and tiny, tiny waists), and hologram covers were "in."  Who's that crawling on the ground with their hair sticking straight up?   Legion from The New Mutants?  And is that a new Solstice or Terra in the background?  She looks awfully dirty, whoever she is.  I guess the color scheme for the new group is black, red, and gold?   

I'll definitely give the new series a try, since the Teen Titans are my favorite group of all time.  Sadly, though, just when the Teen Titans were getting back on track with Krul and Scott, in comes writing chores by Scott Lobdell with art by Brett Booth and Norm Rapmund.  I hope they do the Teen Titans proud, but I hope this isn't the rebirth of the quality-lacking 1990s that drove me away from comics oh-so-many years ago.