Catman Scratches

Lost Your Own Series? Come Join the Avengers Academy!

2012-01-30T10:46:00.000-05:00

I caught up with Avengers Academy over the weekend. (I was about five or six issues behind!) I have to say that AA is probably my current favorite Marvel comic. It's very fresh and relevant and, thanks to writer Christos Gage, the characters become more and more developed with each issue, as they explore their relationships with one another. Gage gives each member their own personality, incorporating diversity in a subtle (or not so subtle) way.

Avengers Academy #1

During Marvel's Avengers explosion of 2010, I sampled each new Avengers comic, only sticking with the Academy after the dust settled. They were the only team to offer something different, and they reminded me of the New Mutants when they first debuted in 1983. And, having been a huge West Coast Avengers fan back in the day, I was happy to see Tigra used again, this time as a teacher to young Avengers-in-training.

I liked the possibilities of characters Veil, Hazmat, Mettle, and Reptil during the first several issues. However, I felt that Finesse and Striker were too generic, both in their codenames and their personalities. The name "Striker" reminds me of a character from the Airplane! movies, while "Finesse" sounds like a hair product. They also have black and white costumes to match their bland, angry personalities.

When it came time to shake things up during a roster change (circa issue #20), I was disappointed that Veil was the one to go. She was my favorite character and had what I thought was the best costume. What about Striker or Finesse? I felt like they could leave and nobody would even notice they were gone.

New additions to the team were -- surprise! -- Lightspeed (from one of my favorite 1980s comics, Power Pack) and White Tiger, whom I had never heard of, but I liked the costume, despite being black and white, colors already in abundance at the Academy. I was excited to see Julie Power join and grateful that at least one of the Power kids was finally being used in a series and allowed to grow up outside of the confines of the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building. She's more a teenager now with a more adult costume (hello, bare midriff!). (Note to FF: let the other Power kids grow up a bit, too!) She also comes with secrets that I never would have guessed (more on that later). Additionally, I was pleased to see series-canceled teens Spider-Girl, X-23, and She-Hulk (Lyra) joined the Academy. I guess they have to go somewhere, right? The new Avengers Academy recruiting slogan should be: "Lost Your Own Series? Come Join the Avengers Academy!"

Not only were there good additions to the team, but the team also added Hawkeye as a full-time teacher AND moved to the old digs of the West Coast Avengers! How psyched was I?! It was like a WCA reunion!

The Avengers Academy series gets a bit bogged down during the crossover events (I'm talking to you, Fear Itself) and is at its strongest when dealing with one-on-one character interaction. I love the relationship struggle between Mettle and Hazmat. It reminds me of the torture that Colossus and Kitty Pryde went through for years and years, with a little bit of The Thing and Alicia Masters thrown in for good measure. And Mettle's kind of sexy in his own, skinless way.

Mettle and Hazmat

Most recently, I loved the very personal conversation between Striker and newcomer Lightspeed. (SPOILER ALERT! Just warning ya.) Striker gay? Lightspeed bisexual? Whoa... Thanks for making me appreciate Striker more, Christos. He's not just a pompous ass; he's confused and insecure! Can we change the generic codename, though? And, come to think of it, Julie always was pretty butch back in her Power Pack days. Now, she's more of a lipstick lesbian -- er, bisexual. I'm still not crazy about Finesse, though. Can we kill her off?

I look forward to the continuation of Avengers Academy with characters that aren't popular enough to support their own series, but as a team do pretty damn well. After The Children's Crusade, how about adding Hulkling and Wiccan to the school? (Hint, hint.)

New Teen Titans: Too Gamey.

2012-01-27T10:46:00.000-05:00

I was soooooooooo looking forward to the New Teen Titans graphic novel, Games. The New Teen Titans from the 1980s was (and probably still is) my favorite comic book. It was what got me hooked into reading comics for decades to come. When I heard that original creators Marv Wolfman and George Perez were teaming up to do a graphic novel based on my favorite team (ever!), I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! Sadly, I was a bit disappointed.

The story "Games" was just average. It reads like your basic technological action movie. This was nowhere near the quality I would expect from such masters of their craft. Where were stories like the first ones involving Deathstroke, Trigon, Blackfire, Brother Blood, or Terra?

More disappointing than the plot was the membership of this particular New Teen Titans. Wolfman chose not to go with the original team that burst onto the scene in 1980; he chose to use the team with members from later years. In fact, it was probably one of the weakest memberships. Donna was no longer Wonder Girl, Wally had gone off as the Flash, Terra was already dead, Speedy had already left the team, and Raven was already in her white costume (instead of the original blue).

Cousin Oliver...er,
Danny Chase.

Most disappointing was the inclusion of Danny Chase, the "Cousin Oliver" of the Teen Titans. Bleh! Whoever thought this was a good character was sadly mistaken. He's like the annoying Agent Cody Banks of DC Comics...and that's *not* a compliment. According to Wikipedia, "Problematically, the character was often portrayed as an overly snide, egotistical brat. This quickly proved unpopular with most fans, and pro- and anti-Chase letters sparked heated debate in the letter column. Wolfman tried various ways to make the character more appealing to the Titans' fan base, including having him briefly disguised as the mysterious "Phantasm" during the Titans Hunt storyline. However, negative fan pressure was strong enough to write Danny out of the series." So why was he used in this story?

Mullet-ready

Troia (Donna Troy)

In addition to the awful choice of Danny Chase, Donna Troy's weird Troia (or whatever the heck her name was at the time) get-up and Gar Logan's mullet make their appearance as well.

Since the story was already set in the 1980s, Wolfman would have been wiser to use the original team-up that was so successful. On a related note, Wolfman goes out of his way to point out to readers that the story is set in the 1980s, but then he throws in an Internet reference. I wasn't even aware of the Internet until the mid to late 1990s.

Naturally, I loved the detailed art by George Perez but it was mired down by the lame story.

Overall, "Games" was a disappointment. I really think long-time fans of the original series deserved better.

What's New is New Again. And Again.

2012-01-23T12:31:00.000-05:00

Astonishing X-Men #48

Astonishing X-Men #48 - New Creative Team! Best-Selling Author Marjorie Liu And Mike Perkins. The X-Men Return To New York City, But It's Not A Social Call. Don't Miss The First Chapter Of What Will Be The Most Controversial Story Of 2012!

Astonishing X-Men #49 - (W) Greg Pak (A/CA) Mike McKone. The Marauders Are Back! Something From Northstar's Past Has Resurfaced And Is Looking For Revenge. Kyle Goes Missing - How Is He Connected To The Person Behind Everything?

I hardly think one issue constitutes a "new creative team."

FAIL.

Newsarama even featured the "new" team of Marjorie Liu and Mike Perkins in an online article. Where's the article about Greg Pak and Mike McKone as the "new creative team" of issue #49? And what about issues #50 and beyond? Let's have a "new creative team" every issue!

DC no longer drawing the line at $2.99

2012-01-23T12:02:00.002-05:00

Apparently, DC Comics didn't learn from their mistake a couple of years ago when they tried raising comic book prices from $2.99 to $3.99, using the stupid justification of "back-up stories." People stopped buying their comics.

Besides the existing Justice League and Action Comics already priced at $3.99, in April's solicits, there appears to be some comics that have gone from $2.99 to $3.99 (Yes, I'm talking to you Batman and Detective Comics) with the justification of a "back-up story." These additional stories may be better than filler like sketches, etc. that comics use to raise the prices to $3.99 or $4.99 (or even up to the atrocious $7.99!!!), but typically they're not even worth the paper they're printed on. Does anyone even recall a good back-up story they read when DC tried this tactic a couple of years ago? I thought not.

So what's going to happen with this increase? People will stop buying the comics. Again.

Boo hiss to DC for repeating their own mistakes.

You can stand under my Umbrella...ella, ella, eh, eh...

2012-01-20T10:09:00.000-05:00

What a great concept the Umbrella Academy is! Babies are mysteriously born throughout the world by mothers who didn't even know they were pregnant. Most are abandoned. A mysterious benefactor adopts 7 of them and raises them at the Umbrella Academy, which I'm assuming is like the X-Men's Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Six of the seven children have powers; the seventh feels like an outcast.

I read through the entire graphic novel (volume one, which is made up of six comics/sections) in no time. The story was very engaging. However, I would have liked to have seen more character development. I didn't feel like I knew much about all of the characters, only a couple of them. The rest were kind of two-dimensional; their personalities weren't developed. I also would have liked more about the children's mysterious backstory. How did it come to be that these children were all born? How did their powers manifest themselves? How did their benefactor track them all down and know about them? And what about the benefactor's background? There's SO much more story that could be told.

All in all, though, I thought the writing was fantastic. It really held my interest. The interior art was a bit child-like/cartoonish; I would have liked it to have a little more realism to it (like the fantastic covers). I'm looking forward to reading Volume Two and beyond!

Fantastic Four: NOT The World's Greatest Comic Magazine

2012-01-11T13:27:00.001-05:00

Last night, I got caught up on the adventures of the Fantastic Four. I read four new FFs and the recently revived Fantastic Four #600 and 601. It's really no surprise that Marvel came back with the long-running Fantastic Four comic. By "ending" with #588 last year, I figured Marvel would run the title FF for a year (12 issues) and then come back with #600. It was just too coincidental. I assume Marvel didn't think about FF doing so well, though, and so now they've decided to keep both Fantastic Four and FF. And, to my knowledge, this is the first time that the Fantastic Four has had two ongoing monthlies at one time (with the exception of The Thing comic back in the 1980s (which I really enjoyed!)).

Fantastic Four #236 (1981)

The Fantastic Four was the first comic to get me hooked on comics. I picked up several issues at my local comic book store in the early 80s and got hooked when John Byrne was writing and drawing "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine." His amazing illustration lured me, but it was his character portrayal that kept me around. I loved the realism he put into each story and his development of Sue Storm from weakest member of the team to the strongest. He showed her getting pregnant, having a miscarriage, and taking on the dark Malice personality, etc. He not only showed Sue as powerful, but he made use of Reed and Sue's son, Franklin, as well, by making the future Franklin Richards into a person to be feared.

Fantastic Four #275

I also loved the romance between Johnny Storm and Frankie Raye, as well as the love triangle(!!) between Johnny, Ben Grimm, and Ben's long-time blind girlfriend Alicia Masters. Byrne was all about developing relationships, and that really made the comic stand out. And when The Thing stayed behind on the Secret Wars planet, Byrne added She-Hulk to the mix, thereby adding a lot of "fun" to the book and equaling out the gender ratio of the team.

Fantastic Four #554 (2008)

After quitting comics in the mid 1990s, I began reading the Fantastic Four again with issue #554 in 2008 when Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch came onboard as the new creative team. Unfortunately, the series has been "meh," even with the change in writers and artists over the past few years. And none of the team members look attractive. Johnny looks like he's got a receding hairline and couldn't possibly be the ladies' man he's made out to be.

Amazing Spider-Man #657

Even the story "Three," in which Johnny Storm dies, wasn't (pardon the pun) fantastic. In fact, Amazing Spider-Man #657 did a better job of handling grief and showing emotion than the Fantastic Four's own comic(s).

After the "final issue" of the Fantastic Four, the new comic (and team) FF came out. It was slightly better than the original, but still lacked the "oomph" of Byrne's Fantastic Four. Only when Barry Kitson is illustrating do the characters really stand out and look attractive again. That was what I first thought upon reading FF #10 last night. The colors throughout each panel were so vibrant, too.


From FF #10, but I'm unclear as to why Sue and Reed are wearing around their costumes to water their plants. Don't they have any sweatpants or anything?

Sadly, with FF #12, Kitson is gone again, and the art by Juan Bobillo flounders in comparison. And, with the team returning to the reinstated Fantastic Four comic, is the Future Foundation (FF) team now just a larger version of Power Pack, made up of just the random children (human and non) living in the Baxter Building with Sue and Reed's kids? This version of FF probably won't last.

So I'm not sure what the future holds for Fantastic Four or FF. Can they ever return to true greatness? At least Barry Kitson is returning for Fantastic Four #602. Let's hope Marvel wises up and keeps him around. The Fantastic Four really deserve to be more visually appealing to their readers. Now, how about that character development so they can actually be deserving of "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine" title?

Bitter Teens

2012-01-06T16:04:00.000-05:00

Teen Titans #4 (2011)

In the latest incarnation of Teen Titans #4, the team hasn't fully formed yet and everyone is still getting acquainted...violently. Superboy and Wonder Girl (Yikes! Can I call her that without getting beat up?) do battle in Times Square on New Year's Eve 2011. What a difference from the romance and losing their virginity to each other in the previous volume of Teen Titans. At least this Superboy looks bigger and more toned than the scrawny one in the Superboy solo series.

Meanwhile, new characters Bunker and Skitter quarrel, too, as do Kid Flash and Red Robin...over clothing. Sigh...

Unfortunately, the dialogue is reminiscent of Felicia Henderson. Is "Scott Lobdell" her pseudonym? Or vice versa? Both writers seem insistent on giving the teens lame dialogue (even for teenagers) and making them angry...all. the. time.

Old Solstice

And what's with Solstice now being puffs of black clouds with intermittent lightning flashes throughout? It was so nice adding some diversity to the team last year, and now the beautiful Indian girl is just a puff of smoke?

New Solstice

As for the rest of the characters and storylines -- eh, who cares? Bring back the old series, please.

Infested.

2012-01-06T15:20:00.000-05:00

Spider-Girl loses her short-lived solo series and Marvel throws her a bone by giving her a Spider Island-related three-issue mini-series. Wow. What a rotten send-off that was.

I just read all three issues back-to-back and had to give myself spider bites just to stay awake. Not only is New York City infested with spider-people, but now wasp-people are after the spider-people. (Really?) And they're called the Sisterhood of the Wasp. (Do they also wear traveling pants?) How about throwing in Spider-Girl partnering with the Kingpin to stop the flying insects? Really? Suh-weet.

If you're at all interested in the Spider Island storyline (personally, I think the hype was better than the actual stories), be sure to pass on the snoozefest that is Spider Island Spider-Girl.

Superman: An Alien Among Us

2012-01-03T11:32:00.000-05:00

I just read the new Action Comics #3 and Superman #3.

Let's start with Action with a preface that not a fan of Grant Morrison. Surprisingly, though, the writing in this issue was decent and easy enough to follow. (I guess Morrison took a break from the crackpipe to write this issue.) I'm disappointed, though, that neither Superman nor Clark Kent isn't liked. Superman for being new, different, and a bit scary to the public; reporter Clark Kent for trying to right the wrongs of the city by uncovering corruption. Neither of these characters are the characters that I've known my entire life, so it's really difficult to accept this as the "new normal." Lastly, why is DC charging $3.99 for Action Comics when we don't get any more story than a $2.99 comic? "Filler" that is basically marketing for other Superman-related comics in the New 52 doesn't constitute an additional $1 upcharge to me.

I liked Superman #3 better than the first two issues of the latest Man of Steel reboot. The story seemed to flow and move along quicker. While I appreciate that writer George Perez gave us more story for our $2.99 in issues #1 and #2, thanks to his throwback to the 80s with his tiny panels with lots of dialogue, it also made for stories that dragged on longer than they should have. It was also fantastic to see Nicola Scott's return to a monthly comic! I love her detailed, realistic, beautiful artwork and I think she's among the Top 5 current comic book artists. (And Superman's ass looks fantastic on the cover.) But Ma and Pa Kent both dead already? What reason does Clark have to return to Smallville in the future? His visits to Smallville were always comforting. Now it just seems he'll be a brooding superhero a la Batman.

All in all, the enthusiasm of "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound" seems lost on Superman in the New 52. He's no longer exciting to people, he's just plain alien.

Flashpoint Woes

2011-12-21T15:57:00.000-05:00

I'm still in mourning over the passing of the former DC Universe to make way for the "New 52." I've been giving the new DC comic series a try, but I'm having a difficult time pretending that everything is starting from scratch where the main Justice Leaguers don't even know one another yet!

Remember what happened when the TV show Dallas pulled that kind of shit, brought back Bobby from the dead, and said the entire past season had been only a dream of Pam's? Viewers were pissed off, the series dropped out of the Top 10, and the show's ratings declined even further from there.

Sure, DC's sales are skyrocketing right now out of curiosity, but how long will that last? The only comics I've truly enjoyed are Animal Man and Aquaman. I've probably enjoyed these the most because I haven't kept up-to-date with these two characters for over a decade and because thus far their stories have operated separately from the rest of the new DCU. It doesn't hurt to have good writers onboard either. But is that enough?

Unfortunately for DC, I no longer have an emotional connection to any of my favorite characters, which makes me not care about reading about their adventures any longer (if they're even in the New 52). So, tell me again why I should continue to put forth $100 a month to something about which I'm no longer passionate?

Earth Two: the Sideways Earth

2011-11-07T10:18:00.000-05:00

Huntress #1 (2011)

DC Comics' mini-series Flashpoint has apparently undone Crisis on Infinite Earths. Along with a lot of other 1980s revivals in the New 52, DC has announced that they're bringing back Earth Two, along with a new Justice Society of America monthly series set on this alternate Earth. They've also hinted that there's a connection between this new JSA series, the new Huntress mini-series, the Mister Terrific ongoing series, and the latest Birds of Prey series. Does this mean that the all of these series are currently taking place on Earth Two and we just don't know it? It's quite possible. Have there been any crossovers with these series and other series in the New 52? Not that I've seen.

Infinity Inc. #1 (1984)

While some (or most) may scoff at this idea, I'm kind of digging it. Why? With Earth Two, it opens the door for reviving Infinity Inc. and the Young All-Stars (two of my favorite 1980s series). It would also allow DC to compete with Marvel's successful "Ultimate" universe and its myriad of titles.

The downside to an Earth Two Huntress? I guess that would mean that the romance between Huntress and Catman would never happen. But she would (hopefully) be the daughter of Batman and Catwoman again, and that would be pretty cool.

Young All-Stars #1 (1987)

But the biggest mystery for me is...what's the connection with Birds of Prey? Does that mean that the current Birds of Prey series doesn't take place on Earth One or New Earth or whatever it's called now?

As for the new Huntress #1, it was just okay. I've always liked Huntress as a character, but have never felt that anyone's ever done anything spectacular story-wise with her. She's always felt like more of a supporting/team player than a headliner. So maybe there's a place for her (again) in a new Infinity, Inc.

Kori vs. Kory

2011-11-07T09:46:00.001-05:00

Princess Koriand'r

So, besides being portrayed as sluttier in the New 52, it seems that DC Comics has also decided to update the nickname of Princess Koriand'r (aka Starfire) to "Kori" from the afore-used "Kory." I guess because that's the trend nowadays? Cindy to Cindi? Tammy to Tammi? Phone to iPhone?

Catman Scratches His Way Into Target

2011-11-04T13:38:00.000-04:00

When I visit Target, I usually wander down the toy aisles, checking out the new superhero action figures. I don't purchase any of them (anymore), but I like to look at them and keep abreast (wink wink nod nod -- that's for all you straight comic book geeks) of what figures are being produced and how good they look. My heart skipped a beat this past week when I stumbled upon a Catman action figure. As you know, he's this blog's namesake.

I never liked Catman much as a kid. He was always portrayed in the Batman comics as a big doofus. Then in 2005, Gail Simone used him in the Villains United mini-series, which eventually paved the path for the Secret Six series. She took a lame and relatively unknown Batman villain and turned him into a sexy villain with a heart. I liked him so much that I used him as the basis for this blog. Although he has yet to appear in DC's New 52, Catman's name still graces the top of this webpage.

So...back to Target. I picked up the Catman action figure off the shelf and began to examine it. It was beautiful. Unfortunately, I couldn't justify spending $15 for something that would probably just sit in a box at home. If I made money off this blog and/or had an office for my creative work, I would pull out all the stops and have Catman paraphernalia proudly displayed. However, this isn't a perfect world, and that isn't the case. I can just hope that someone gives that Catman action figure a good home.

Hawkman gets an Adjective.

2011-10-07T12:07:00.001-04:00

Fred Savage

When I hear the word "savage," I think of the song "Savages" from Disney's Pocahontas movie...and that little tyke from The Wonder Years, Fred Savage. Now I can add DC Comics' new Savage Hawkman comic series to the mix.

Curiously, Hawkman's series is the only one in the "New 52" in which DC has decided to include an adjective preceding the character's name. How strange is that? Marvel does it with a multitude of their comics: Uncanny X-Men, Astonishing X-Men, Mighty Thor, Incredible Hulk, Invincible Iron Man, Amazing Spider-Man, Savage She-Hulk, Sensational She-Hulk (okay, that one is just dating myself now), etc. But DC just has...one. Only one superhero earned an adjective in the "New 52."

I must admit that I'm kind of fond of the use of adjectives. It gives the title a little flair and could also potentially distinguish it from other previous volumes (see aforementioned She-Hulk titles).

Hawkman by Alex Ross

I've never been a particular big fan of reading Hawkman's adventures. I really like him as a character (probably for his revealing costume -- hello, bulky hairy chest!), but I never read his adventures and thought, "Wow! Hawkman's awesome!" or "I wanna be Hawkman for Halloween!" But the latter is probably because of the revealing costume, too. And the lack -- on my part -- of a massive chest.

I read the first issue of The Savage Hawkman and thought it was just okay. I'll continue reading it to see if it leads somewhere good, but it has yet to really sink its claws into me. (Get it -- claws? A hawk has claws? Never mind.)

Savage Hawkman #1

Since Carter Hall (Hawkman's alternate identity) is an archaeologist (even in the new DCU), let's hope we get some sort of Indiana Jones-type adventure in the series. I'd love to see his personal, professional, and costumed lives expand to make him a more well-rounded character. And so DC doesn't cancel the series due to low sales. Let's face it: Hawkman doesn't have a very good track record for longevity in his own series, even when paired up with The Atom. And how random was that?

iVampire

2011-10-06T10:08:00.000-04:00

Even though I think the entertainment world is oversaturated with vampires right now, I decided to pick up DC Comics' new I, Vampire series, despite its grammatically awkward title. Or maybe because of it. I never read the original in the 1980s, but I remember hearing about it/seeing it in comic book stores.

Due to vampires' popularity right now, I'm sure that was why DC decided to revisit this old title. I was intrigued by how DC would incorporate vampires into the DCU, and I hoped it would be more successful than Marvel's attempt last year with their "Curse of the Mutants" storyline.

After reading the first issue of I, Vampire, I can clearly say that I have no fucking clue what happened. Maybe it sounds "racist," but I have no idea who is who in the vampire world; they all look alike to me. I won't give up on the title just yet, though. I'll read the series for a couple more issues to see if I get into more.

Aquaman: Sink or Swim

2011-10-04T15:56:00.000-04:00

Let me preface my review by saying that, yes, I think Geoff Johns is a great writer, but I don't necessarily think that everything he touches turns to gold. Case in point: I loved his work on Teen Titans (and wished he would have continued), but I couldn't get into his Green Lantern no matter how hard I tried.

So, after relaunching many beloved (and neglected) superheroes and series over the years, Johns finally took a crack at Aquaman. After reading it, I have to say that this new Aquaman series is one of my favorites of DC Comics' New 52. The first issue beautifully set the tone for the series and the new reimagining of the character. Aquaman also looks pretty damn good in his original orange and green costume.

Aquaman has been constantly ridiculed over the past few recent years, mocked for his abilities or lack thereof. Johns is well aware of the mockery that has been going on and decided to include this in the series to prove everyone wrong. He wants to show readers that the character of Aquaman isn't who they thought he was. He's not the weakest team member of the 1970s Super Friends cartoon...and he doesn't talk to fish.

Throughout the first issue, as the everyday citizens in the DC Universe laugh at Aquaman, he sets out to prove them wrong and succeeds wonderfully. He's tougher than they think. And not amused by their derision. On the other hand, Aquaman shows his soft side when Mera appears. Johns focuses on character development, something missing in most comics.

As long as the series continues in this direction, I'm definitely onboard.

Angry Teens

2011-10-03T10:44:00.001-04:00

This ain't your dad's Teen Titans. Heck, it isn't even mine.

The latest reincarnation of DC Comics' Teen Titans was nowhere as good as Geoff John's 2003 version or Marv Wolfman/George Perez' 1980 version. It wasn't totally awful, though, either.

These new teens are full of anger. I guess that's closer to how real teens are/stereotyped to be? In this first issue, we meet Red Robin, off his stint as Robin. He's got some issues with the whole former Batman team-up thing. He's also monitoring the recent sudden appearance of teens with superpowers around the world.

And then there's Cassie Sandsmark (Whatever you do, don't call her Wonder Girl!). She's definitely got some anger issues, and a bit of mystery surrounding her existence as well. Gone is the sweet Cassie from series' past. She's also wearing a costume that's a combination of her former costume and Donna Troy's black starry one.

As for the rest of the team, we did see some confusing segment about Kid Flash, but the rest (pictured on the cover) are still yet to come. And, also, where is the new Aqualad?

After reading the first month of #1 issues of the New 52, I've discovered a recurring theme throughout the new DCU: the heroes aren't really "heroes," per se. They're operating covertly, outside the law, as vigilantes and don't really have the support of the public. All of 'em. I'm not sure this is a wise decision on DC's part. Having some vigilantes and covert operations is good. But all of them? It doesn't make any of the teams/individuals unique. Now they're all Suicide Squad, Secret Six, or X-Men-ish. And how are they all funded? How do they survive without jobs? I'd really like to see more of their personal lives, their "secret identities." That's how we really get to know them as characters, not just by watching them battle one foe after another.

Teen Titans was better than I expected (I had low expectations), so I hope it develops into another TT series that I really love. But let's lose the anger...

Lastly, I'm not crazy about the logo. However, I wasn't crazy about the former logo either. Can we take this back to the marketing department?

Who Wears Short Shorts?

2011-09-30T14:22:00.000-04:00

Wonder Woman #1 (2011)

The latest Wonder Woman #1 (volume umpteenth) didn't have me drooling for more when the issue ended. Maybe that's because there wasn't much substance to her character at this point. Or maybe because she was hardly in it. Or maybe it was the choppy childlike art.

Diana (she prefers to be called by her birth-given name over Wonder Woman) apparently lives in London now, which must be a nod to the events of Flashpoint, wherein the Amazons overtook the United Kingdom as the Atlanteans flooded the rest of Western Europe. I was hoping that with this latest version, Diana would be battling more earthly villains than gods and getting away from her "sisters" of Themyscira with five-syllable names. Unfortunately, the gods are still chasing her in this latest volume, and it makes it a bit boring for readers who aren't familiar with the hundreds of Greek gods and Amazons out there. And -- are we really going to keep the helmet and sword left over from Flashpoint, too? Diana's SO much better than that.

Wonder Woman #1 (1987)

I think my favorite "version" of Wonder Woman will always be George Perez', circa 1987. In it, Diana comes to "Man's World" from Paradise Island/Themyscira unfamiliar with protocol, customs, behaviors, etc. She was a fish out of water. (No offense, Aquaman.) It made for some interesting situations as she tried to assimilate into modern times. It also wasn't all about warrior-like battles; there were empathy and emotional storylines. Diana connected on a personal level with people.

The best thing about this newest version of Wonder Woman? The costume. Gone are the leotards that sparked such controversy a year ago. Diana's back to wearing her short shorts. She's also lost any yellow/gold colors to her look, giving her a sleek red, white/silver, and blue look. Two enthusiastic bullet-deflecting bracelets up for the revised look!

Will I keep reading Wonder Woman? Yeah, probably. If only for moral (mortal?) support. I think sometimes I like the idea of her more than the stories that people write for her. A part of me is hoping that one day someone will come along and do her justice...

Birds of Prey: the team that never was?

2011-09-30T10:35:00.000-04:00

Third time's the charm? After reading DC Comics' newest Birds of Prey #1 (volume three), I'm not so sure. Was there never a Birds of Prey team before in the new DC Universe? Apparently not. And this time, they're made up of a bunch of bad-ass chicks. Think Secret Six with only women.

In this first issue, we meet Black Canary and a new character by the name of Starling. They're both on the run from the law. Black Canary killed someone? Hmmm...a mystery to be discovered. And the tattooed Starling sounds like she's just a crazy bitch.

Black Canary is trying to form a new team called the Birds of Prey. She enlists Starling and pays a visit to Barbara Gordon, the old/new Batgirl. At least they still have some sort of a past in the new DCU. Dinah tries to enlist Babs, but Babs shoots her down, suggesting Katana (from the previous Outsiders) instead. Black Canary isn't too keen on that suggestion (another mystery), but she must eventually invite her since Katana appears on the cover (although never in the issue itself). Poison Ivy also appears on the cover, but never in the book (she doesn't even get a mention like Katana does). I guess after the cancellation of her Gotham City Sirens, Harley Quinn going to the new Suicide Squad, and Catwoman getting her own series, DC wanted to give Poison Ivy some prevalence in a new series, too.

I'm not totally sold on this newest incarnation of Birds of Prey, but I'll stick around a few issues to see if I like it any better. I may just end up flying the coop.

Say Hello to the Newest Supergirl

2011-09-28T11:16:00.000-04:00

I like the idea of Supergirl. Besides her cousin Kal-El (better known as Superman), she's a stranger to Earth. However, unlike Superman, she doesn't come to Earth as an infant. She comes as a teenager/young adult, so her reception is a bit more jarring. But, seriously, how many different versions do we need or can we handle for Kara Zor-El? She's died and been brought back to life more often than a soap opera personality.

I wasn't crazy about the Matrix version of Supergirl or the most recent version of her before the Flashpoint event (but I was getting used to it). Now we have DC Comics' latest version of her in the New 52, post-Flashpoint. Rather than crash-landing in Smallville or Metropolis (how convenient), this latest incarnation of Supergirl lands in Siberia, fully clothed in her "S" regalia. She's unsure where she is and why the sun looks different. Russia's army of robots comes after her and she's sure that she'll be killed. That's when she begins to realize that she has some strange powers.

The comic held my interest throughout, so that's a good sign. I look forward to seeing where DC takes her.

As for her new costume, it's not bad, but it's definitely an older version than the previous teenager's bare midriff one. I miss the playful skirt, though, and I'm not sure about the above-the-thigh one-piece that the latest version wears. I think that part could be a bit lower on the sides and that maybe she could lose the big red "V" in the front that basically screams, "Here's my Vagina!"

Nightwing Swings Back Into Action

2011-09-28T10:49:00.000-04:00

In reading the new Nightwing #1, I was pleased to see that there was basically no change to Nightwing/Dick Grayson's history and personality. He's the same ol' Nightwing in the new DC Universe. Whew.

He's just coming off his gig as Batman and returning to the Nightwing persona. The spiffy new black and red costume suits him well, better than most of the costume changes in DC's New 52. His doesn't look like a 1990s redux.

In this issue, Dick mentions that he has "a thing for redheads," which, of course, is a wink-wink-nod-nod to the decades-long flirtation between Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon (Batgirl/Oracle). I hope there's something in store for the two of them in the near future, after all these years. Babs deserves some happiness. She probably hasn't "gotten any" in years!

I like that Dick is living in Gotham City again and that, in this first issue, Haley's Circus is back in town. Dick visits some old friends/co-workers of his and, fortunately, a gloomy cloud doesn't follow his visit. People are more focused on Dick's life than his parents' death many years ago.

The characterization, plot, and writing weren't overwhelmingly wonderful, but they didn't suck either. The story is better when Dick is in his street clothes than his Nightwing costume. There's a real human aspect to him which, unfortunately, we don't see too often in comic books.

I look forward to what's in store for one of my favorite characters in the DCU.

The Bat Does the Cat

2011-09-27T12:12:00.001-04:00

Well, I guess we know now that in DC Comics' New 52, Batman and Catwoman are still pretty good fuck buddies. (Maybe even moreso than before.)

ME-OW.

From the new Catwoman #1

Holy Menage a Trois, Batman!

2011-09-27T12:01:00.001-04:00

I just read the new Red Hood and the Outlaws #1 by DC, featuring Red Hood (Jason Todd / Robin), Red Arrow (Roy Harper / Arsenal), and Starfire (New Teen Titans). All I can say is, "Holy menage a trois, Batman!"

SPOILER! (?) Starfire is apparently Jason's "sort-of-girlfriend," but hooks up with Roy. Because, well...that's what she does. The "new" Starfire will apparently sleep with anyone. I'm curious if down the road the three of them will have a threesome. Now, *that* would be interesting.

These three characters are familiar, yet distinctly different from their pre-Flashpoint counterparts. Red Hood is now a Punisher-like mercenary. Jason Todd is also back to having dark hair. I guess that's so readers can distinguish him from the red-headed Roy Harper. Red Hood rescues the criminal/bad boy Red Arrow out of custody. Starfire is still an alien from the planet Tamaran, but she has no emotions of love or feelings of caring. Her only related interest is physical sex. She was with the Teen Titans in her past life, but she doesn't really remember much about it, including her relationship with Dick Grayson. Those details aren't important to her. Both Jason and Todd seem totally cool with the other sharing a bed with Starfire.

The Outlaws are the tougher-sounding Outsiders and/or Secret Six. They're mercanaries/antiheroes. There's only three of them, with Red Hood acting as the leader.

Essence

The story in the first issue was well-written by Scott Lobdell. The introduction of the mysterious character Essence intrigued me. The plot was interesting enough that I'll continue buying the series for the time being. I'm curious to learn more about these three characters, as they were favorites of mine in the "old" DC Universe.

Superboy Takes Flight...Again.

2011-09-19T15:14:00.004-04:00

When I stopped reading comic books in 1994, Conner Kent had just come on the scene and was this arrogant little twit with an awful haircut, sunglasses, leather jacket, and Chachi leg band. He was one of four new Supermen who appeared after the famous "Death of Superman" saga in which Doomsday supposedly killed the Man of Steel. I really didn't think he'd last.

When I started reading comics again in 2007, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Conner Kent had not only stuck around, but that he'd matured, changed to a much simpler costume, was kinder and more respectful of others, and gotten a whole helluva lot more sexy. He had suddenly (13 years later) gone from one of my least favorite characters to one of my all-time favorite characters.

So when I heard about DC Comics' new reimagining of their entire universe now in 2011 and saw the cover of Superboy #1 from the New 52 collection, I was, naturally, a bit scared. Gone were the casual T-shirt, muscles, and tight-fitting jeans. Conner now resembled a cross between Tron and the New Mutants' Warlock.

I bought and read the new #1, and...it didn't suck. For once, the art on the interior (by R.B. Silva) was better than the cover art. (It's usually the other way around.) The story was pretty interesting, too, but I have to try to forget everything that Conner once was. While sad that Conner was once again scrawny looking, I was relieved that he wasn't mechanical, as the cover implied. He's this naive human-like construct, living in a "Truman Show" world. He was created from half Kryptonian DNA and half -- shhhh! Supposedly, it's a secret. Unless it's something different than Lex Luthor's DNA this time around, it's not going to be much of a surprise for those of us already familiar with Conner's origins.

I look forward to seeing where DC takes Conner this time around. Let's just hope that on the way, he swings by a gym and an Abercrombie & Fitch.

A Daken To Get In Bed With

2011-09-14T10:59:00.000-04:00

When I started reading comics again in the late 2000s, I was surprised (and a little disappointed) to find out that Wolverine had a full-grown, adult son. I felt like it was Marvel trying to capitalize on Wolverine's success since he's, undoubtedly, the most popular comic book character...ever. Daken then took over Wolverine's title series as "Dark Wolverine" during Marvel's Dark Reign period, and that's when I discovered how different and distinct he really was. I had to go back and read his beginnings in past issues of Wolverine: Origins. His real name is Akihiro, but people referred to him as Daken, which translated to "bastard dog" or "mongrel," a slur on his obvious mixed heritage (his deceased mother was Japanese).

What I found in reading Daken's misadventures was that Marvel was really pushing the boundaries with this character. He was nothing like his father. He was narcissistic, vain, unscrupulous, uncaring, sexually forward, and, best of all, bisexual. Marvel handled his bisexuality (using whomever to get what he wants) tastefully, humorously, and without regret.

It was no surprise that after the whole mess that was Dark Reign ended, Daken received his own monthly series and Wolverine got his own title back (as a new series starting over at #1 as well). The unfortunate part was that Daken was still (mis)labeled as "Dark Wolverine." I'm sure it's all a marketing tactic for those unfamiliar with Daken (but very familiar with Wolverine), but to me it seems a bit tacky and incorrect.

Unfortunately, the first nine issues of Daken's new series, written by Daniel Way, didn't interest me at all. The storylines involved Daken in the "Wolverine Goes to Hell" crossover storyline, as well as Daken going to the fictional Asian island of Madripoor and taking over the criminal underground there. Daken's series focused more on the Asian character Tyger Tiger than Daken himself. Yawn. Where was the Daken that I came to know and love? And it felt like Way didn't even want to touch on Daken's bisexuality. It's like the spirit of Daken was sucked right of him, leaving him nothing but a lame, generic character. To quote Pretty Woman, "Big mistake. Big. HUGE."

I was seriously considering removing Daken from my reading list. Then with issue #9.1 [groan...another lame marketing tactic], Rob Williams took over writing chores. By issue #10, Daken is taking Hollywood by storm. Now, THIS is a Daken I can get in bed with (so to speak). Daken is back to his most charming self. He's using both his skills and his sexuality to get what he wants. Thank you, Rob Williams, for bringing Daken back to life.

Aqualad: FAIL

2011-09-13T14:07:00.000-04:00

It seems that Aqualad just can't catch a break.

First, there was the original Aqualad from the Teen Titans, Garth, that everyone seemed to make fun of and, basically, found useless. In an attempt to recreate/reimagine himself, Garth became Tempest. Unfortunately, Tempest never caught on in popularity either. To put him (and his legion of non-fans) out of their misery, in the Blackest Night maxi-series, Garth is killed off.

To revamp the Aqualad name and bring some diversity into the teenage superheroes of the DC Universe (besides the go-to Static), a new Aqualad appears in Brightest Day #10. He's African-American; sports dreadlocks, a cooler costume, and tats; has better/expanded powers; and has a mystery surrounding him. At this point, it seems like DC is really going to do something big with an Aqualad.

Then comes DC's event series Flashpoint...and changes all DC history. Where is Aqualad? Is there an Aqualad? Who knows. He's not shown in any new issue of the new Aquaman series. He also doesn't appear in the new Teen Titans series.

Goodbye, Aqualad. We hardly knew ye.

Wild About Animal Man

2011-09-12T10:50:00.000-04:00

The new Animal Man series is one of my favorites (so far) of DC's New 52. Jeff Lemire's new version harkens back to the days of Grant Morrison writing the title in the late 1980s. The theme is a bit darker than your typical superhero comic book, and I'm already excited about the potential odd storylines.

One of the strongest parts about the series is the character development. At the beginning, we see Buddy Baker in his family setting. He's in superhero semi-retirement, but being recognized for his new work as an actor. His wife Ellen is there, and we can already sense some tension between the two. There's also Buddy's two kids -- Maxine and Cliff -- both rebellious in their own ways.

Buddy decides to jump back into action when a crazy man who lost his daughter to cancer enters a hospital wing waving a gun around other cancer-stricken children. After saving the day, Buddy returns home to some mysterious developments...

Animal Man is one comic of DC's New 52 that I can't wait for issue #2 to see what happens next.

Welcome to the Dollhouse

2011-09-12T10:32:00.000-04:00

I read the new Detective Comics #1. Wisely, DC Comics decided to include Joker as the first villain in this new series. He's still the twisted clown prince of crime, but he's taken it to a new level in DC's New 52. His violence is even more senseless and, for lack of a better word, *extreme.* I won't give away the details, but let's just say that Joker is willing to do almost anything to achieve his goals.

As a side note, we see Commissioner Gordon as a young redhead instead of the white-haired father-figure we got so used to seeing.

Superman gets Cocky.

2011-09-12T10:21:00.001-04:00

In reading the new Action Comics #1, written by Grant Morrison, Superman has a different past history. Clark Kent works for a rival newspaper and isn't -- yet, anyway -- infatuated with Lois Lane. Gone, too, is his recognizable costume. In his spare time, he's flying around in a short-sleeved T-shirt and jeans a la Superboy (before DC's New 52).

To be honest, I'm not sure I like the "new" Superman. And, actually, it seems that not many people in Metropolis do. He's more like an outlaw (like Batman at his beginnings) than a revered superhero. He seems arrogant, cocky, and not at all Superman-like. For him, it's more like "Truth, Justice, and My Way."

While I don't mind messing with his origins and stories a bit in this revamped DCU, you can't really mess with the Superman legacy or what he stands for. There's just something wrong about that. Superman had and has a good heart, was/is caring, and was/is a do-gooder, and this new version is anything but.

Green Arrow shoots...and lands a little off-target.

2011-09-09T10:33:00.000-04:00

Oliver Queen (AKA Green Arrow) is back on top. He owns the company QCore (think: Apple in the DC Comics Universe). Get it -- apple core? Oliver Queen? The company came up with the Qphone and Qpad. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, it looks like his staff would rather see him retire from his executive position since he's always off "on business" somewhere. What they don't know is that his business is kickin' ass.

The first issue of the new Green Arrow series was just kind of average. It had a lot of random action and violence scenes, as well as generic bad guys, which didn't do anything for me. As an introduction, it didn't really succeed. I really want to know more about Oliver Queen, the person. Is he dating/married to Dinah (Black Canary)? Was there ever a Speedy sidekick? Is Connor Hawke, his son, still around?

The new Green Arrow seems to be younger, a little slimmer, and shows off his body (and abs) in his tighter suit. In the first issue, he also has yet to grow the beard/goatee for which he's renowned; there's just the appearance of some stubble. Fortunately, his look isn't too much of an extreme change. He's still got that Robin Hood look and feel, including the hood, which I love.

Green Arrow is one of my favorite DC characters, so I hope he's given some better storylines in issues to come.

Welcome Back, Babs!

2011-09-08T12:54:00.000-04:00

I know a lot of people have been skeptical about Barbara Gordon being able to walk and becoming Batgirl again. This, however, was one change in DC Comics' "New 52" that I was actually looking forward to. I was never a fan of Cassandra Cain's darker version of Batgirl and, though I read the entire series, I never felt that Stephanie Brown quite captured Batgirl's essence.

I'll miss Oracle, but having Babs back in action is, I think, a good thing. She is the one true Batgirl. The only difficulty I'll have reading the series is picturing Babs as a free-spirited young adult again, instead of as the older, wiser, cautious, and set-in-her-ways Oracle. Does this mean that Babs is younger than Kate Kane? And now we'll have a Batgirl and a Batwoman both as redheads. What will Gotham City's villains think? That they're mother and daughter?

After some significant lagging in her writing abilities with the later issues of the Secret Six (did she stop caring?) and her Wonder Woman run, I see that Gail Simone is back at the top of her game in the new Batgirl. It was a great opening story to what looks like a "fun" series and gave a brief, but reasonable, explanation for Barbara Gordon being able to walk again. I also like that Babs has a recurring fear of being shot again. It gives her a weakness, and it'll make for some great storylines in the future.

I'm sold. If no other new series, I look forward to reading Batgirl for years to come.

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!

2011-09-08T12:30:00.000-04:00

Wait...where's the Justice League? Well, you won't find them in Justice League #1.

This new series, the first of DC Comics' "New 52," only has appearances by Green Lantern, Batman, and a pre-Cyborg Victor Stone. We see how the "new" Green Lantern and Batman meet and, as a side story, Vic Stone playing high school football. Does this mean that Vic was never in The New Teen Titans, one of the greatest comic book series of all time? How truly sad.

There wasn't a lot of "meat" to the highly anticipated (and sold-out) comic book, especially with a $3.99 price tag. I sincerely hope it gets better. Geoff Johns did a wonderful job in the past with super teams like the Teen Titans and Justice Society of America, so let's hope that he can accomplish the same with the new Justice League. This issue, though, isn't it.

I look forward to there actually being a Justice League in future issues and seeing more of its teammates. At least from the cover, we can anticipate that DC decided to de-pants Wonder Woman in favor of her famous blue and white-starred bikini shorts.

Flashpoint Fizzles Out

2011-09-08T12:08:00.001-04:00

I just finished reading the 5-part Flashpoint mini-series and several related individual mini-series. I was a bit disappointed, especially with the "grand" finale in Flashpoint #5. All of the events just seemed to...fizzle out. (Is anyone as tired of the overused Reverse Flash/Professor Zoom and redundant time-traveling storylines as me?) I guess I was expecting more of a lead-in to DC's "New 52." I learned more about Flashpoint and its consequences from reading articles online than from reading the comics, and there's some shame in that. To me, that means that the writers, editors, and powers-that-be didn't do their job. On a related note, I think the best part about Flashpoint #5 was the interaction between Flash and Batman at the end. I wish more comic book series employed this human touch. It makes the characters feel more real and relatable and demonstrates true story-writing ability.

Aquaman looking bad-ass.

Flashpoint: Batman Knight of Vengeance - one of the better related mini-series to the Flashpoint storyline. It involves Thomas Wayne (Bruce's father) as Batman because Bruce died during the shooting that one fateful night at the theater instead of Thomas. It's provides a good "what if?" storyline.
Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons - another good mini-series with Deadman, Nightwing, and Dick Grayson's still-alive parents as traveling circusfolk.
Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman - another good Flashpoint related mini-series. Aquaman and Wonder Woman's proposed union dissolves and the Atlanteans flood most of Europe, making him one of the world's most wanted.
Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies - Ties in with Emperor Aquaman. While Aquaman has flooded most of Europe, Wonder Woman and her furies have taken over England.
Flashpoint: Citizen Cold - Captain Cold as a hero? Well...not really. And not really a great story either.
Flashpoint: Deathstroke & the Curse of the Ravager - Ever wonder what would happen if you crossed Deathstroke and Capt. Jack Sparrow? Me neither. Skip it. I read the first issue and it was as lame as expected.
Flashpoint: Legion of Doom - the Legion of Doom, with its recognizable headquarters shaped like a scary, giant Darth Vader-like head, holds a special fondness in my heart. It reminds me of Saturday mornings as a kid, watching my favorite classic Super Friends cartoon shows. This series focuses mainly on the villain Heatwave going on a killing spree with the assistance of his corrupt pal, Plastic Man. Unfortunately, there's no true "Legion."
Flashpoint: The Outsider - I skipped this series all together.
Flashpoint: Abin Sur - The Green Lantern - what if Abin Sur had lived and there was no Green Lantern Hal Jordan? Another average series.
Flashpoint: Project: Superman - This series imagines Kal-El as a government-kept secret. He's scrawny and shy. I'm guessing it's the premise for the new Superboy series, which I'm not sure I'm going to like. (Goodbye, former sensitive-jock Conner Kent. I'll miss you.)
Flashpoint: Frankenstein & the Creatures of the Unknown - Dracula and vampires have been done to death (literally), so how about some focus on Frankenstein? Frankenstein as a superhero and a leader of a superhero group? Yeah...it's as bad as it sounds.
Flashpoint: Secret Seven - I bought and read this series for two reasons: the resurrection of Amethyst and George Perez as the artist. While the art was fantastic (naturally), the story just wasn't there. It was primarily about Shade the Changing Man (double yawn).
Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost - I think this series really helped support the main Flashpoint series as much as Emperor Aquaman and Wonder Woman and the Furies did. I suspect its events also directly relate to the New 52.
Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint - Why was this series called The World of Flashpoint? Oh, I guess because nobody would buy it if it just said Traci 13? Anyway, it's about the mystical Traci 13 and her family. Good, but nothing extraordinary.
Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance - resist buying this series unless you're a big fan for the Wildstorm Universe's Grifter being integrated into the DCU.
Flashpoint: Hal Jordan - Hal Jordan as an every day hero instead of a superhero. See: Marvel Comics' Steve Rogers, Super Soldier (when he's not being Captain America).
Flashpoint: Grodd of War - The world is divided up among villains. Grodd happens to own all of Africa. A good one-shot tie-in since we don't really see/learn much about him and his kingdom elsewhere.
Flashpoint: Reverse-Flash - if you didn't read enough of him in the main Flashpoint mini-series, here he is again, still time-traveling and fucking things up.
Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries - The super-liberal, justice-seeking Oliver Queen as an arms dealer. Meh. I guess that's why there was only one issue.
Flashpoint: The Canterbury Cricket - I draw the line at giant, talking insects. Seriously. What is this? Kafka?

I guess there were no Teen Titans in the world of Flashpoint? Maybe the adults ate their young.

So now that Flashpoint is now over, let's get into the meat of things and see what this whole New 52 is really all about. I hope it was worth it...

The Bobby Ewing Syndrome

2011-07-14T11:22:00.000-04:00

Since the announcement of DC canceling all of their titles and basically starting all over with 52 new titles, I've continued to pick up my comics at my local comic book shop, but as I read them, I find I have little to no enthusiasm in the characters or storylines anymore. Why? Because I know the series are going to end, the characters will no longer be themselves, they'll no longer have their history/connections, and the entire DC Universe is going to start anew in September with characters I don't even know or recognize anymore. So, really, what's the point? Come September, it'll be like waking up in Dallas, finding Bobby Ewing alive and well in your shower, and realizing that everything that happened previously was all just a dream.

I don't even have the same excitement for Flashpoint and its many, many related mini-series, an event I was really looking forward to. Again, I figure, what's the (flash)point?

The best thing to really come out of this announcement is that I can sell entire set/series of comics on eBay since they won't really matter anymore in the continuum and, having ended, they're actual complete sets, not just partial sets of an ongoing series. Thanks, DC, for helping me clear out my clutter and giving me some extra spending money.

What's the Story, Morning Glories?

2011-06-27T12:27:00.000-04:00

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

2011-06-27T12:02:00.000-04:00

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.

2011-06-14T12:44:00.000-04:00

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

2011-06-12T10:58:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-06-10T09:42:00.001-04:00

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

2011-06-10T09:20:00.003-04:00

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.

Drawing the Line at $4.99

2011-05-06T09:35:00.001-04:00

Brightest Day #24 (2011)

Yesterday, I stopped into my local comic book store and picked up the past two weeks' comics from my reserve bag. Included in the stash were the last issue of Brightest Day, the last issue of Justice League: Generation Lost, Action Comics #900, and Avengers Academy Giant-Size #1. The first two were $4.99 each, Action Comics $5.99, and Avengers Academy was $7.99! Are you freakin' kidding me with all of these jacked-up prices?! I bought the first three because they're part of the ongoing series that I've collected, but I couldn't justify spending $7.99 (really?) on the Avengers Academy book. I can honestly say that I've never seen such an expensive "regular" comic book. Even Annuals don't cost that much! I hope whatever's in it isn't integral to the regular series' storyline, because if it is, I'll never know about it. How many people does Marvel think will actually fork over $7.99 for a single comic book?

Avengers Academy Giant-Size #1 (2011)

I read the Brightest Day and Justice League issues one evening. While they were enjoyable, they certainly didn't provide more excitement than a $2.99 comic. In fact, BD had several two-page spreads, so it wasn't even more story, just bigger pictures. I felt a little violated.

A few days later, I read Action Comics #900, hoping for some big revelation or big conclusion to the "Reign of Doomsday" storyline. Nope. It was just a mediocre segway story that was about the same length as a regular issue. I can't even call it a "bridge" between two other issues because nothing much really happened. If I hadn't read the story, I certainly wouldn't have been lost reading Superman or another Super-title. The additional $3 I paid for this "100 page" issue were random Superman stories that weren't part of current continuity...and weren't very good themselves.

DC may be "Drawing the Line at $2.99," but I'm drawing it at $4.99. No $5.99 or $7.99 comics in my future (even $4.99 was severely pushing it!). It's time for me to re-evaluate the comics I currently read and shave a few off the list accordingly.

He's Here, He's There, He's Everywhere!

2011-05-05T10:32:00.000-04:00

Etrigan, taunting DC readers

Is Etrigan the Demon the new Lobo? Anybody remember back in the 90s when Lobo was turning up EVERYWHERE in DC comics? Did anybody really like him? Or was it a just a marketing push, thinking that if we were exposed to him enough, he'd eventually wear us down, and we'd begin to want to see more of him? You know, kinda like Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan.

It seems that DC's new Lobo is Etrigan the Demon. He seems to be popping up in all of the DC comic books I read, and his rhyming speech is as annoying as reading Zatanna's backward spells. Are there people out there that go ga-ga for Etrigan appearances? And, if so, are they aware of this ailment from which they suffer?

Tiny Titans Etrigan

Even the Tiny Titans aren't safe!

Enough with Etrigan, I say! Let's put him in Hell and leave him there!

Daken, Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!

2011-05-04T14:20:00.000-04:00

My wish from my September 2009 posting came true: Daken -- Wolverine's son -- received his own series. Unfortunately, that's where my enthusiasm ends.

Having a day off recently, I sat down and read 4 or 5 consecutive issues of Daken: Dark Wolverine. (By the way, I still hate that they use that title, left over from the Dark Reign days, only as an attempt to drive sales.)

I didn't realize I had bought the new Tyger Tiger, Crime Lord of Madripoor series. Each issue that I read of Daken was about crime lord (lordess?) Tyger Tiger, her henchmen, and other various criminals in the fictional country of Madripoor. Did anyone bother to tell the writers that the title character should actually appear in his own comic series? I'm all for supporting characters, but when title character BECOMES the supporting character, that's where I have a problem.

There is so much depth, intrigue, and mystery to Daken, that to push him to supporting role status in his own comic book is equivalent to a slap in the face (and you don't want to be slapping Daken). If I didn't already get to know him from previous comic book tales, I would have no idea who he is or what he is about from reading his new self-titled series. The stories I recently read were of fair to mediocre quality, certainly not worthy of the complex character of Daken. If he took over Wolverine's book for awhile and received his own title as a result of its success, don't you think he's worthy enough to have better stories written for and about him?

Amazing, Spider-Man.

2011-04-12T13:12:00.001-04:00

Amazing Spider-Man #655 was probably THE single best issue of Spidey that I've read since I started reading his adventures again three years ago. To start, the cover was literally...well, amazing. It said so much...in so little. All the white space surrounding a genuflecting, sorrowful Spider-Man was beautiful and really set the tone for the story inside.

The story is set after J. Jonah Jameson's wife Marla dies at the end of issue #654. As I opened the comic, I found page after page of wordless panels. I studied each and every panel, as they all told a story. The message was extremely powerful and well "written." The image of J. Jonah Jameson lying in bed alone with his wife's side undisturbed. Him getting up to turn off the alarm clock that was still on her side of the bed. The wedding ring he still sported. The dual bathroom sinks no longer being used simultaneously. These images were so striking. No words were even necessary. It was a refreshing change of pace to see JJJ humbled, even under these unfortunate circumstances.

I won't reveal anything more about this issue because I think it speaks for itself and should be read in full to really appreciate it. This was the kind of story that Spidey has been missing for a long, long time. Thank you, Dan Slott, for coming in, taking on consistent writing chores for ASM, and providing us with such a memorable story that will surely go down in Spidey history as a classic.

Joking Around With Lex Luthor

2011-04-07T15:05:00.000-04:00

Action Comics #897

I recently read Action Comics #897, where Lex Luthor is headlining until the milestone 900th issue when Superman is supposed to return to the title.

In Luthor's quest for the Black Lantern energy (see: Blackest Night), he has to visit Batman's arch-nemesis, The Joker, in prison. What results brings out the best of Joker. He's comical, yet cunning. He's a smart-ass, yet sedate. He's not the maniacal Joker we're used to seeing in the Bat titles. Paul Cornell writes the Joker as if he has a real sense of humor, a trait sorely lacking in other Joker appearances. He is not only The Joker, he's a joker. After reading this interpretation of the Clown Prince of Crime, I would love to see a mini-series featuring the Joker, with Paul on writing chores.

Teen Titans: Back on Top

2011-04-04T11:42:00.001-04:00

Teen Titans #93

I just finished Teen Titans #93, and I have to say that I'm very pleased that my favorite comic series is back on track, thanks to fantastic writing by J.T. Krul and beautiful art by Nicola Scott. Geoff Johns' Teen Titans is what got me back into reading comics after a 15-year absence (and The New Teen Titans was my favorite comic in the 1980s), so I have a special affinity for the team.

I love the introduction of Solstice to the team. She's a welcome addition; I think she has a lot of potential, and she brings a bit of diversity to the team. I hope she sticks around and doesn't go the route of Terra.

Superboy,
art by Nicola Scott

J.T. Krul has a great handle on the schematics between and personality traits of each team member (unlike some writers whose name I won't mention again). The dialogue is fitting and the stories move along quickly. Nicola Scott draws each of the Teen Titans beautifully. Superboy never looked more handsome with his dark hair and baby blues. I can't help but look at the cover, though, and think that Solstice eerily resembles Mary Kate and/or Ashley Olsen. Speaking of the cover, where was Red Robin? Was he late for the photo shoot?

Kudos to everyone on this issue. I'm looking forward to reading The Teen Titans up through their milestone 100th issue and beyond!

Mastering Time Masters

2011-03-21T12:35:00.000-04:00

Time Masters: Vanishing Point #1

Time Masters: Vanishing Point is the lesser-known companion piece to the concurrently released Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne mini-series. However, unlike the latter, the six-issue Time Masters: Vanishing Point mini-series was much better written and contained a more interesting (and easier to follow) storyline.

In Time Masters, time-traveling Rip Hunter, along with his father Booster Gold, Superman, and Green Lantern Hal Jordan journey back and forth in time in search of Batman who has been lost in time since the events of the Final Crisis/Batman R.I.P. storyline. Dan Jurgens, creator of Booster Gold, wrote and drew Time Masters, and you can see that even after all these years, he hasn't lost his touch. His characterizations of Booster, Rip, and Skeets were fantastic, as usual. There were, however, some off-putting characterizations of Hal Jordan and Superman. Hal criticizes Booster throughout the series, as if he's the self-centered, self-serving narcissist that he was back in the 1980s. And Superman wants to intervene in situations they encounter during their time travels, despite being told that they can't change events in time because it could negatively alter the time continuum. I would think he'd be a bit more rational than that.

Rip Hunter with his sexy scruff

Each issue of Time Masters started with a two-page back story of Rip Hunter's up 'til now unknown past, showing him as a child learning about the timestream from his father, Booster Gold. This was something I looked forward to in every issue. Rip Hunter's past has been very secretive, but now we've been given a few glimpses. The mystery still remains, though: Who is Rip Hunter's mother? We catch a distant peek of the back of her in one scene, but she's dressed and looks like Michelle Carter (aka Goldstar), Booster's sister, and that's just wrong. I sincerely hope that Rip wasn't the result of some Carter inbreeding.

Starfire #1 (1976)

As the heroes travel through time, they encounter some DC Comics characters who haven't made appearances in a long time. There's Claw The Unconquered, whom I remember having a short-lived series back in the 1970s. More interestingly, there's also the appearance of the original Starfire (before Koriand'r made her appearance in the New Teen Titans), who also had a short-lived series back in the 1970s. Booster even makes a joke about Starfire copyrighting her name. I remember her well because I had a copy of her first issue in my earliest comic collection, so I was excited to see someone give her a chance at redemption.

Time Masters' connection to Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne is somewhat questionable and probably only mentionable for the purpose of driving sales. Even Superman comments on what readers are probably thinking: "I think we're supposed to be working to find Batman, yet all we've done is chase our own tails!" So if you're buying this mini-series for Batman, forget it. However, if you're buying it because you're interested in Booster Gold, Rip Hunter, and events leading up to Flashpoint (or even the return of Starfire!), then you're on the right track.

The final issue of Time Master: Vanishing Point was released three months after the five first monthly released issues. The ending cleverly leads into Booster Gold #44 and Flashpoint #1, both of which aren't scheduled for release for another couple of months. The final scene leaves you with Rip Hunter's mysterious chalkboard which, as always, gives readers clues to upcoming events in the DC Universe:

Before I end this posting, can I just shout, "Hooray for Amethyst!!" I'm looking forward to seeing the Princess of Gemworld again, but I hope she's back as her original Alice-in-Wonderland-type self and not the [yawn] mystical Lord of Order.

OH Mighty Is-Is-Isis!

2011-03-18T16:48:00.001-04:00

I looked forward to the new 2008 Titans series when it was released because it brought together the heroes from my favorite 1980s comic: The New Teen Titans. Unfortunately, the stories were pretty weak up until the "final" issues when each character had their own spotlight issue. With issue #24, Titans changed its format and became Titans: Villains for Hire (without the "Villains for Hire" in the title). I'm still not sure why DC chose to revise the entire format of the Titans series and continue the numbering rather than starting anew like they did with Green Arrow, Birds of Prey, Red Robin, etc. I don't feel that Titans is an appropriate title for this Villains for Hire book. It's quite the tarnish to the Teen Titans name and doesn't accurately reflect the storylines or the characters. Confusion aside, I enjoy seeing a regular monthly comic featuring some of my favorite characters: Arsenal/Red Arrow, Cheshire, Deathstroke, and Osiris, Isis' brother.

JoAnna Cameron as Isis

I can't thank DC Comics enough for bringing Isis back to life in recent Titans issues. She's one of my favorite characters. I have such fond memories of watching the live-action Shazam! and Secrets of Isis TV shows on Saturday mornings back in the 1970s. So when Isis first appeared in the year-long series 52 in 2006, I nearly wet myself with excitement. DC did a fantastic job of bringing her into the Shazam/Captain Marvel family (how apropos) by making her Black Adam's love interest. See: my Black Adam mini-series review. However, like with Conner Kent/Superboy, though, I was sad when she was killed off, but relieved now that DC is finally bringing her back to life in the current Titans series. I hope this time it's for good and she and Black Adam can finally have a life together. Someone needs to calm that boy down. In their own monthly series, of course.

As a side note, not only has Isis come back to life, but she's also been granted Double D-sized breasts. Seriously, what's up with that? Can we get those babies in check before they slip out of the gauze that's holding them up?

They're so big, in fact, that she's top-heavy now and can't even stand up. (See below) Poor Isis. How the Mighty have fallen.

Someone Needs Their Ass Kicked

2011-03-18T15:34:00.001-04:00

Because of the success of the first Kick-Ass comic book limited series from 2008 (and the 2010 movie of the same name), a sequel, Kick Ass 2, was proposed. The first issue of the second series was released on October 20, 2010. It was extremely successful and sold out within a week.

It's now the middle of March (that's five months later for those of you without a calendar or calculator handy) and we've yet to see issue #2. Did someone give this assignment to Kevin Smith or Grant Morrison? I wish I had a job where I could turn in my assignments five months late. Can anyone even remember what happened in issue #1? At this point, does anyone care?

Meet: the Venisher

2011-03-18T09:29:00.000-04:00

Dear Marvel Comics,

Seriously? The new Venom? A cross between Venom and the Punisher? The Venisher? I think I'll pass.

Regards,

Former Fan of Venom

The Lion Queen

2011-03-16T11:24:00.010-04:00

Justice League of America #258

In the 1980s, when DC Comics changed the line-up for the Justice League of America to include fledglings Vixen, Gypsy, Commander Steel, and Vibe, I was not impressed. These newcomers were JLA material? A girl (Gypsy) running around in bare feet? Methinks not. In trying to add a bit of diversity to the DC Universe, it felt as though DC Comics was giving up on one of their most successful team titles. They even assigned Luke McDonnell to the art chores, whose characters were all stiff-looking and unattractive. Not surprisingly, this led to "The End of the Justice League of America" storyline which ran in issues Justice League of America #258-261. I think everyone was thankful to see these new hated characters picked off, one by one.

Present-day Gypsy

Cut to: Today. I have a very different opinion of the two newest members that have survived over the years. Gypsy has (thankfully) donned shoes and a costume that's strikingly similar to Wonder Woman's new (and much talked about and reviled) costume. She's also got some pretty formidable powers that make her one of the most underrated superheroes in the DC Universe. In this regard, she reminds me of Marvel Comics' Invisible Woman. Once Marvel recognized the extent to which the Invisible Woman's powers worked, she became the most powerful member of the Fantastic Four. Same goes for Gypsy. Of the four, she's probably the strongest member.

Vixen, however, has become the best of the bunch. She's sexy and tough and deserves more recognition than she's currently given. She was thankfully given her own mini-series titled Vixen: Return of the Lion in 2008, but we haven't seen her since. The strength of this mini-series is in the solo adventures of Vixen as she returns to her homeland; the weakness is the inclusion of the Justice League. Vixen can do just fine on her own. She doesn't need other superheroes to help her carry a storyline, especially in her first solo self-titled mini-series. Vixen: Return of the Lion was quality storytelling, and I recommend it to anyone who loves good writing (G. Willow Wilson) and exceptional artwork (Cafu). Let's hope that one day Vixen gets her due. She deserves a solo comic more than Static or Marvel Comics' new female Black Panther.

Wide Load Coming Through

2011-03-15T11:42:00.001-04:00

Batman: The Widening Gyre #4

I haven't posted anything lately. I guess I really haven't read anything really noteworthy to discuss. I did read Kevin Smith's Batman: The Widening Gyre mini-series in its "entirety" about a month ago, though, so I'll write about that. (You'll see why I put "entirety" in quotes later.)

First, I'll start with the title. The title is taken from a poem called "The Second Coming" by William Butler Yeats. The poem was written in 1919 in the aftermath of the WWI. While the various manuscript revisions of the poem refer to the Renaissance, French Revolutions, the Irish rebellion, and those of Germany and of Russia, others suggest the text refers to the Russian Revolution of 1917. The poem uses Christian imagery regarding the Apocalypse and second coming as allegory to describe the atmosphere in post-war Europe.

The poem begins:

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.

If you're interested, you can find the rest of the poem here.

With that imagery in mind, "the widening gyre" in Batman's case is the appearance of many of his villains all at once. He's bombarded with different villains in each issue. Meanwhile, there are subplots of Bruce Wayne/Batman's romance with Silver St. Cloud (that comes with a lot of jealousy from a famous feline lady), as well as the appearance of a new vigilante in town sporting a goat mask by the name of Baphomet. (You can read about the origins of that name here.)

"The Widening Gyre" was supposed to be released monthly. However, like Kevin Smith's Spider-Man and the Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do, there were delays. The six issues were released in October 2009, November 2009, December 2009 (so far so good), and then February 2010, April 2010, and lastly, September 2010. Ouch. Nearly a year for a six-issue mini-series. (Note to Kevin: if you're not going to write them in timely manner, please don't take or ask for the assignments; there are many, MANY other comic writers out there who would LOVE to have the opportunity to write a mini-series. Note to DC and Marvel Comics: don't start printing/releasing Kevin's comics until he's completed all issues of a mini-series.)

Bruce and Silver frolic in the water.

Luckily, I didn't start reading the issues until I had them all, so it was fairly cohesive for me. I enjoyed Batman facing off against his most popular foes, one after the other. It reminded me somewhat of "The Gauntlet" storyline that just ran through The Amazing Spider-Man series last year. Best of all, though, was the romance developments between Bruce Wayne/Batman and Silver St. Cloud. She's the only non-superhero who could handle being partnered with Bruce Wayne, knowing what he does in his spare time. She's mature, yet fun. Attached, yet not clingy. And she certainly doesn't need the Wayne fortune. It left me wondering, though, if this series was a dream, took place in the distant past, was an Elseworlds story, was a "what if?" type scenario, etc., because this could seriously change Bruce/Batman emotionally, not to mention his relationship with Catwoman.

Kevin Smith

As I finished reading the sixth/final issue, it ended with a cliffhanger (I won't reveal what) and said to look for Volume Two. WTF? When? 2026? This was supposed to be a six-issue mini-series and now there's more? I want to know what happens, but I don't want to know on Kevin Smith's time schedule. Imagine if Dallas had decided to take a three-year break to reveal Who Shot J.R.? I enjoy Kevin Smith's writing and the stories he comes up with for such superheroes as Batman, Green Arrow, and Spider-Man, but I'm more than a bit frustrated with his lack of dedication, as well as DC and Marvel's acceptance of his flagrant disregard for deadlines. He's not exactly winning over fans. Perhaps the "widening gyre" refers to the gap in time between comic releases?

Batman's Girls

2011-02-18T15:10:00.000-05:00

In reading the various Batman books recently, I've begun to notice a trend. There seems to be an increase in the number of theme-costumed females making their first appearances. Mind you, I'm not complaining. I think it's fantastic. It feels like a throwback to Batman villains of yesteryear, when Batman was a bit campy and fun, and the villains all had a particular, unique theme to their costumes, their mannerisms, and their methods. The ones I've noticed (and liked) lately in the Batman books include: Catgirl, Enigma, Peacock, and the Absence.

Enigma

Catgirl

Catgirl and Enigma are like the Teen Titans: they're young proteges to older established characters. In this case, Catwoman and the Riddler, respectively. I like that Catgirl is a more feminine version of Catwoman. She's dressed like the pet that a socialite like Paris Hilton would carry around in a satchel, sporting a diamond encrusted collar and bright pink clothing. Over the years, the Riddler has toned down his brightly clad costume, but not his daughter, Enigma. She puts it out there, sporting a large, prominent question mark on her chest and bold striped pants.

Peacock

In addition to these two new teenagers to the Batman Family, two theme-costumed women have made their first appearances in the Batman books as well. Like Bruce Wayne, Sasha Lo is a wealthy woman who also happens to have a different kind of nightlife. She dons an Oracle-like mask, a vibrant costume, and goes by the name of Peacock. Although we still don't know much about her, I'm looking forward to seeing her again from time to time.

The Absence

Last but not least, there's one of my new favorite villainesses: The Absence. The woman has been shot in the head, leaving a gaping hole. You know she's gotta be pissed. Yet she's still a fully functioning (but short-tempered and unbalanced) person, now with heightened mental capacities.

Goldie Hawn in
"Death Becomes Her"

She's extra pissed off because, as socialite Una Nemo, she used to date Bruce Wayne and she feels like she's been used and tossed aside. (By the way, what's up with that name? Una Nemo?) She reminds me of Goldie Hawn's character from the classic 1990s movie Death Becomes Her.

Kudos to the Batman writers for the introduction of these fun, new additions to the Batman Family. I hope to see them around for many years to come, and I hope the tradition of introducing unique, themed characters continues.

And now, a parting glance from Batman.

Hysterical.

Axing the Age of X

2011-02-17T10:22:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading Marvel Comics' Age of X: Alpha one-shot that leads into the "next big event" for Marvel Comics' mutants and all I have to say is, "Huh?" It's like another Ultimates or M2 title where Marvel Comics characters are the same or similar but living different lives in a parallel universe. They're in some war-torn, end of the world-like existence. I was so unimpressed, bored, and confused that I can't even pull together the words to express how unimpressed, bored, and confused I was. Perhaps Marvel Comics says it best:

"Our goal with the six monthly chapters of Age of X...has been to throw the reader right in at the deep end; to present an incredible and inexplicable situation without really explaining it, and then to make the unraveling of that explanation proceed alongside the events of the series. No exposition up front: you just have to roll with it while the extraordinary events that created the Age of X are graduated unveiled."

Um...no, thanks. I'll pass. This swimmer is getting out of the deep end and going to the the beach. Thanks for saving me money, though, Marvel.

Rise and Fall of the New Mutants

2011-02-17T10:07:00.000-05:00


First appearance of the New Mutants: Marvel Graphic Novel #4 (1982)

When Marvel Comics' New Mutants debuted in 1982, I was elated. These were young X-Men dealing with their mutant powers, but they were also prone to making mistakes and having problems that normal youth have. They were Marvel's answer to DC Comics' 1980s mega-successful New Teen Titans. The original team of Cannonball, Karma, Sunspot, Mirage, and Wolfsbane were fantastic. Each character was distinct, came from a different background, and had individual challenges with which to work out. They were the United Nations of young mutants. With the addition of Magma (one of my all-time favorite New Mutants) in issue #8 and Cypher in #13, I was enjoying their adventures more and more.

New Mutants #20, featuring cover art
by Bill Sienkiewicz

Then came issue #18. The New Mutants stories took a turn toward the dark, mystical, and weird side. Their adventures became something reminiscent of Grant Morrison's wacky Doom Patrol. During this time period, Warlock appeared (issue #18), as did Legion (#25), and Magik/Darkchylde/Lightchylde (Illyana Rasputin) sent the team to Limbo, leaving its readers there, too. Issue after issue of this "new" New Mutants series, I thought, "Huh?" Simultaneously, Bill Sienkiewicz took over drawing the series, and it was literally the worst comic book "art" I have ever seen. To this day, I think Warlock looks like he looks only because Sienkiewicz is such an awful artist and that's the only way he could draw him. Subsequent artists just thought that's how he was supposed to look. Needless to say, I discontinued reading New Mutants because they weren't as much fun anymore, I wasn't crazy about the newest characters and weird storylines, and don't even get me started again on the art. Since when did mutants become responsible for taking on demons and creatures from the netherworld in every issue? Blah!

New Mutants #1 (2009)

Cut to 2009. Marvel Comics comes out with a new New Mutants title (volume 3) featuring the original cast of characters. Yea! Imagine my excitement? Naturally, I added the series to my pull list. I was disappointed to find Magik on the team, but I was happy to see the rest of the original team there (minus Wolfsbane because she's in the brilliantly written by Peter David X-Factor title).

The new stories were so-so, but I wasn't giving up on them just yet. Then came the "Fall of the New Mutants" and "Rise of the New Mutants" back-to-back storylines. Here we go into Limbo again and I find myself saying "Huh?" after every issue. Seriously--can we just remove Magik and her cast of demons from this team book? That goes double for any character created during Sienkiewicz' run on the original title.

Can we just have some quality stories with the original team (plus Magma and Cypher)? Wasn't that the whole point of the revival of this series? What happened to the so-called dawning of Marvel's "Heroic Age?" I'll give New Mutants a little longer to redeem itself, but if it doesn't shape up soon, it's being pulled from my pull list.

The Dark Side of the Black Cat

2011-02-03T09:39:00.001-05:00

Amazing Spider-Man #194:
the Black Cat's first appearance (1979)

I've always felt that Spider-Man's Black Cat was a rip-off of Batman's Catwoman. Arguably, Spider-Man and Batman are Marvel's and DC Comics' most popular superheroes, respectively, and sell the most comics for an individual character. That's why there are nineteen Batman titles and The Amazing Spider-Man is published sixteen times per month. I exaggerate, but you get my point. Anywho, it only felt natural that Marvel give Spidey a flirtatious good girl/bad girl character, too. Hence, the Black Cat. While I didn't mind the Black Cat, I never thought of her as anything but a two-dimensional Catwoman clone.

I read the latest Black Cat mini-series and thought it was pretty crappy (see my review). In doing a little background work for my review, that's when I discovered that Black Cat had another mini-series back in 2002/2005*, written by writer/director/actor Kevin Smith. The official title of the six-issue limited series is Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do, but it's primarily a story about Black Cat with Spider-Man's name thrown in there for sales purposes.

*Apparently, Mr. Smith couldn't finish the story in 2002. Issues 1-3 were published in 2002 and issues 4-6 were published in 2005. Lame? Yes. Luckily, I didn't purchase the series in 2002 and then again in 2005 because I would have been totally lost. I recently bought the COMPLETE set off eBay and got to read it in its entirety in one sitting.

Despite Smith's apparent lack of dedication to the story, I was undoubtedly impressed by the final product's gritty and mature subject matter: drugs, rape, and incest. Both were treated very well and were vital to the overall story. Smith balanced these heavy subjects by injecting humor, pop culture references, and flirtations between the Black Cat and the then-married Spider-Man.

The series gave me a new appreciation for Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat. Smith created a three-dimensional version of her, something I had never seen before. He offered a lot of background to her life, showing us why she is who she is today. The background stories were as interesting, moving, and sobering as the unfortunately canceled Emma Frost series.

Reading "The Evil That Men Do" makes me want a monthly Black Cat series. If only it was done right and she was treated as a three-dimensional character, and not like she appeared in the recent poorly written and poorly illustrated 2010 Black Cat limited series, or even the lame wannabe Sex and the City 2009 Marvel Divas limited series. It also makes me think that now that Peter Parker is single again (thanks to the stupid time-altering Spider-Man "Brand New Day" and "One More Day" storylines), perhaps he and Felicia should explore a serious relationship together.

Fantastic Three

2011-01-25T11:18:00.006-05:00

Marvel Comics announced today (on the day of the release of issue #587, the finale to the story "Three") which member of the Fantastic Four gets bumped off. Even USA Today ran an article on the story.

SPOILER ALERT! It's Johnny Storm, the Human Torch.

Now, I'm all for killing off a character if it makes a good story and makes sense in the long run, but you know it's not the last we've seen of Johnny Storm. He'll come back -- eventually -- from the Negative Zone, where he "died."

I haven't read the final chapter in the story, but I'm a bit disappointed to learn that it was Johnny Storm that bites the dust. I was kind of hoping it was going to be Reed Richards, as he seems to be the dullest character of the bunch. Plus, it would give the writers an opportunity to explore additional romantic relationships for Susan Storm/Richards. She married an older man when she was very young. She hasn't had the opportunity to explore "what could have been."

I used to read the Fantastic Four in the 1980s with an avid interest. In addition to The New Teen Titans, it was the comic I most looked forward to reading every month, mostly due to John Byrne's creativity and the ability to make the characters real people. Each one had their own distinctive personality, their own highs and lows. I also liked that the team was pretty much confined to their own book. Their stories were self-contained; you could read them monthly without having to get all these other crossover books in order to fully understand their adventures (unlike certain titles that begin with the letter "X" which shall remain nameless).

Since picking up the Fantastic Four again a couple of years ago (after a 15+ year absence), all of the issues I've read have been pretty unremarkable. I can't even recall a single storyline that stands out as memorable. Furthermore, the characters have all been portrayed pretty two-dimensional. Gone are the days of John Byrne's Fantastic Four. Even the current "Three" storyline has been pretty uneventful and -- dare I say -- dull for me. Maybe the alleged death of the Human Torch will liven up the team...but I doubt it.

Sadly, the best representation of the Fantastic Four that I've read recently wasn't in their own series. It was in Daken #4. They were real people, expressing real emotions. There was a bond/connection/friendship between Johnny Storm and Daken. It was even bordering on a possible romance.

Fantastic Four #588 will be the "final" issue of the series as the team supposedly goes forth in a new direction with FF #1. In the days of both DC and Marvel renumbering its comic books (e.g., Wonder Woman and Iron Man) to establish longevity, It's ironic that Marvel has chosen to end the Fantastic Four series and begin anew with new numbering so close to what would be issue #600 and the team's 50th anniversary.

I hope the new FF series is more interesting than the Fantastic Four has been in quite some time, but with the same creative team working on it, I doubt it. Jonathan Hickman's stories have been mediocre at best, and Steve Epting draws the characters with little attractiveness, aging them dramatically. You question why any woman (or man) would be attracted to the "ladykiller" Johnny Storm with his wrinkles, bad haircut, and receding hairline.

I'll continue to read FF for the time being, with the hopes that a new creative team will soon come onboard that can -- pun intended -- breathe some life back into the team.

The W in Wonder Woman stands for WTF

2011-01-24T15:14:00.001-05:00

It's not Wonder Woman's fault her comic has never been as popular as Batman...or even Superman. She's the victim of low standards.

Wonder Woman #9 (1987)

I've always tried to support the Wonder Woman comic book series so it doesn't face extinction. I read all 44 issues of the 2006 series reboot, even though I thought all the stories were pretty lame and didn't even come close to the quality of George Perez' reboot in 1987. Perez utilized a great balance of Diana's past and present lives. Her innocence and naivety in "man's world" was her charm. Her character had depth; she was more "human" in her emotions than the humans with whom she came into contact. Her supporting cast each had distinctive, interesting

In the 2006 series, Wonder Woman was pretty two-dimensional. She had no substance or personality. When she wasn't acting as secret agent Diana Prince, her adventures were too steeped in boring mythology. She had a supporting cast of hundreds, all with unpronounceable and unmemorable names. Basically, she was/is DC Comics' Thor.

When I heard about Wonder Woman's latest reboot, I thought, "Hooray!" I love Gail Simone's writing in the Secret Six and Birds of Prey series, but I didn't feel she (or the writers prior to her) ever did Wonder Woman justice. I was even looking forward to the much-despised and talked about new costume if it meant that she was finally going to become a first class act.

Unfortunately, what we -- the readers -- instead received was a confusing tale of some unfamiliar Wonder Woman. Her origin is different. Her costume is different. Her personality is different. And the stupid white apes she was living with (seriously?) have been replaced by a talking black cat, a la Sabrina the Teenage Witch. I'm guessing this is leading up to being a Wonder Woman in some parallel universe storyline that will lead into the new Flashpoint event (with a return of her old costume to appease fans), but it's been a lame ride so far. And, frankly, I'm quite disappointed. No wonder studios don't want to greenlight a movie -- or even a new TV show -- about our star-spangled heroine. If DC can't achieve quality in her comic book, who's to say a movie or TV show would do any better?

Wonder Woman #604 (2011)

After every issue of Wonder Woman, I'm can't help but wonder, "WTF?"

It's about time someone stepped up to the plate and gave our Amazon Princess her due.

We Will Be...Invincible

2011-01-18T13:47:00.000-05:00

When Iron Man 2 came out in theaters last spring, I decided to flip through the Iron Man comic(s) currently published to see what was going on in the world of Iron Man. I've never been a huge fan of the character, so I never read Iron Man regularly. However, I did appreciate the fact that he was "real" and had personal problems such as alcohol abuse. The closest I ever got to reading Iron Man regularly was when I was reading the Avengers and West Coast Avengers back in the 1980s.

When I picked up the most current issue of Invincible Iron Man, I immediately noticed the impressive art. It was incredibly lifelike. I had never before heard of the artist, Salvador Larroca, but I was amazed at the realism on the pages. Never had Tony Stark looked so three-dimensional to me. He didn't have that creepy, mustached, middle-aged man look to him anymore. He was younger, handsome, and sporting a goatee. Even his blue eyes stood out against his dark hair.

Invincible Iron Man #30

I bought issue #25 and brought it home to read. Not only was the artwork something to behold, but the story (written by Matt Fraction) was fantastic, too. It involved human interaction and personality clashes. Fraction seems to be all about character development -- traits, flaws, strengths -- which is why I've stuck around for the past year now. There's very little superheroing and a lot of character interaction. In issue #30, Tony and Sasha Hammer play a game of cat and mouse with all kinds of sexual innuendos. I've learned more about Tony Stark and his supporting cast in the past year than I would have if I had read Iron Man throughout the entire 1980s.

As long as Fraction and Larroca are onboard for The Invincible Iron Man, so am I.

Let's Get Animated

2011-01-14T12:51:00.000-05:00

Although this blog is about comic books, I'd like to take some time to comment on some of the animated series that have spawned from comic books.

Teen Titans animated series

The New Teen Titans was my favorite comic book series back in the 80s. So when the Teen Titans cartoon was announced, I was so excited for its 2003 debut. Then I watched the first episode. These weren't the teens I knew and loved. This show was geared toward the Teletubbies market. It was literally one of the worst shows I've ever watched, and I was personally insulted by its lack of substance. How could they do this to such beloved characters? I never watched another episode.

Young Justice comic book series

Cut to: 2007. I start reading comic books again after 15 years of being comic book-free, thanks to Geoff Johns' work on the new Teen Titans series. I pick up all the back issues. This also prompts me to check out the Young Justice series from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. I buy and read a few issues. I discover it's just as bad as the Teen Titans animated TV show. I stick to the Teen Titans comic and forget about any of their history that I missed.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold
animated series

Batman: The Brave and the Bold debuted in 2008 on the Cartoon Network. At first, I was disappointed in the format, hoping for something more along the lines of Batman: The Animated Series or Justice League Unlimited. Now, though, I've really grown to appreciate the campiness of the series, reminiscent of the 1960s Batman show and 1970s Saturday morning cartoons. I also love seeing appearances by lesser known DC Comics characters in each episode.

Avengers animated series

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes cartoon debuted this past fall on Disney XD. It's been okay, but nothing spectacular, story-wise. I guess that's to be expected since the many new Avengers comic book series that were started or re-started in the fall have been mediocre themselves. I continue to half-watch it while doing other things around the house, though.

Young Justice animated series

So when I hear about the new Young Justice animated series on the Cartoon Network, I'm a bit hesitant. I'm quickly reminded of the Teen Titans animated series and the Young Justice comic book, both of which were too juvenile for even teenagers. After watching the first episode, though, I know it's going to be one of my favorite shows on TV. It's mature enough for adults to watch, yet not too complicated for kids to understand. And while the series doesn't resemble the current Teen Titans comic book, it doesn't resemble the Young Justice comic book either. And that's a good thing. Young Justice is about the sidekicks of members of the Justice League of America being inducted into the JLA. To their surprise, though, it's not as full-fledged members. They're still viewed as just sidekicks. This prompts them to prove their worth.

Young Justice animated series

I'm excited about the show's prospects and the promise of additional ~~Teen Titans~~ Young Justice members to come. Awww...yeah!

Gone Too Soon

2011-01-14T11:40:00.000-05:00

Lately, Marvel Comics seems to be canceling its new ongoing series without any notice. Kinda like showing up at work one day and being given a pink slip (does anybody really have these "pink slips" anymore?). Case in point: Young Allies. Canceled abruptly after six issues. Hawkeye & Mockingbird. Canceled abruptly after six issues. And now Black Widow. Canceled abruptly after eight issues. You can breathe normally, though, X-Men fans. Your sixteen different series about the same X-Men team members in sixteen different simultaneously occurring situations still survive...and I'm sure there are more to come.

There is the new four-issue limited series called Widowmaker that stars Hawkeye, Mockingbird, and Black Widow, but so far (having only read issue #1) it's as lame as the Hawkeye & Mockingbird series was. I guess Marvel was trying to combine readers from the two series to see if they had a market and could increase their sales numbers?

The Black Widow series was started back in the spring, around the same time that Iron Man 2 was released in the theaters. I guess Marvel wanted to capitalize on her appearance in the film and was hoping that would translate to book sales. Apparently, it did not. And that's a shame. Black Widow was one of the best character-driven series to come along in quite some time. The stories weren't really superhero-ish; they were more James Bond-ish or Alias-ish. The issues focused on the stories and characters, not any special powers. The first five issues featured a storyline about someone trying to frame Black Widow for their crimes. It also dug up parts of Black Widow's secret past (SPOILER: dead baby) that she'd rather keep hidden. The last three issues' storyline felt like an international/political thriller. All eight issues were great. The finale tries to segue the reader into the new Widowmaker limited series.

Naturally, I bought Widowmaker because I love all three main characters. I loved Hawkeye and Mockingbird back in their West Coast Avengers days (unfortunately, their new canceled ongoing series didn't capture the magic they used to have) and I've always been a fan of Black Widow, despite her seemingly lack of good stories. So it only seemed like a given that I'd like a series with all three. Wrong. Widowmaker has all the flair that Hawkeye & Mockingbird did, that is to say: not much. Black Widow does better on her own without the superhero influence.

RIP, Black Widow. I hardly knew ye. At least there's still Scarlet.

The Catman Scratcheth

2011-01-13T15:53:00.000-05:00

Being that this blog is named after him, it's only fitting that I plug his appearance in an upcoming comic/storyline. Catman will be appearing in Birds of Prey #11, as he and Huntress attempt to go out on their first date.

See? That's what's been missing from the ongoing Secret Six series: Catman's sexual prowess. After all, he bedded the deadly Cheshire and she bore a son from that union. (Although she also did the same with Speedy/Red Arrow/Arsenal and they had a daughter, so maybe she's just a slut.) And then later, he hooked up with Huntress. Now let's hope this becomes an ongoing relationship/fling/no strings attached affair. Comic book characters need to have personal lives, too, you know...

Happy Valentine's Day, Catman and Huntress. I hope you survive the experience.

Truth, Justice, and the Straczynski Way

2011-01-13T13:04:00.000-05:00

I was getting a bit tired of all the Kryptonians that were overloading the Superman comic books, so I was glad when that storyline came to an end. Since Superman's monumental issue #700, I've enjoyed the "slow" approach that each issue has taken with the "Grounded" storyline. Each issue has had Superman dealing with a regular, everyday human (i.e., not other worldly) situation, like domestic violence. As promised, Superman truly is reconnecting with the everyday people he is committed to protecting, including his readers. Superman has reconnected with me, and it's actually one of the best series/storylines out there right now, in my (and Superman's) humble opinion. I'm kind of confused, though, as to why DC Comics would make a BIG deal about J. Michael Straczynski joining as Superman's new writer and then suddenly have a "Grounded Interlude" story written by someone else, featuring Editor Perry White and random other Daily Planet employees. Then to find that J. Michael Straczynski is no longer the writer on the series and someone else taking over the "Grounded" storyline, but I'm sure it's all political and some behind-the-scenes problems that we, as readers, don't need to know about. Or maybe it's because the Superman: Earth One graphic novel took off (also written by Straczynski) and they figured they'd better cash in on sequels while they still can.

So far, I think Superman's stop in Chicago has been my favorite visit in the long-running "Grounded" storyline. In the issue, Superman defends an abused wife and child from their husband/father. It was one of the most "real" stories I've read in comics in awhile, and it was a welcome change of pace --despite the subject matter -- from superhero battles.

Now, speaking of Superman: Earth One, I was psyched about reading it, having read so much hype from newspaper outlets and other news sources that don't normally cover comic book news. They referred to this new, alternate tale of Superman's origin as a modern version of the classic story. Superman, wearing a leather jacket, was supposed to be "edgy" and hipper, like the characters from Twilight. Unfortunately, like the characters from Twilight, this Superman was just so-so. All of these characters come off as two-dimensional. After finishing the Superman: Earth One graphic novel, I didn't see what the big deal was. There are so many other great stories told in other comic books, why did media outlets choose to focus on promoting this mediocre one?

I'll continue to read Superman's monthly series and hope it continues to offer such genuine storytelling. However, I probably won't jump on the Earth One bandwagon, just like I've ignored Marvel Comics' Ultimate comics. It's hard enough following one Earth's superheroes and keeping track of them, let alone multiple ones.

Painting the Town Scarlet

2011-01-13T09:39:00.000-05:00

I just read the first three issues of Brian Michael Bendis' creator-owned Scarlet back-to-back and, I have to admit, it is fantastic. Scarlet is a vigilante formed after the killing of her boyfriend by a corrupt cop. She's out for vengeance. But not just anybody. She's out for vengeance against the whole corrupt system within the police department. For now, she's focusing on her own city, Portland, Oregon, but I can see her branching out eventually in her attempt to right the wrongs in the world. To quote her, "If this world has to burn to the ground before all the fuckers learn to stop being fuckers, then that's what its going to do." Love it.

Bendis writes Scarlet like John Byrne used to write The Sensational She-Hulk: the main character talks to the reader. She tells the reader a story...her story. That's one of the best aspects about this comic. When it's done right. And Bendis does it right with Scarlet.

I never found myself bored with any of the story. Bendis kept it moving along. We, the readers, feel like we're right there along with Scarlet. We feel her pain. We understand why she's upset and why she becomes what she's been forced to become.

Alex Maleev is the artist on Scarlet. He also worked with Bendis on the short-lived 2009-2010 Spider-Woman series. His style of art is different. It's dark with rough edges/lines, which suits Scarlet perfectly since it's a dark-themed story. There are bright spots (or highlights), though, in all the darkness, such as Scarlet's red hair. It stands out, much like the red that stood out in Sin City. Or Batwoman.

My only disappointment? I'm paying $3.95 for $2.95 of story. Like the new Avengers comics (that I've dropped for pricing and poor story reasons), the rest of Scarlet is just words on a page. The "filler" contains interview questions and answers from Bendis, as well as letters from readers and the responses to them. Not just one page, but pages and pages and pages. I was literally surprised in issue #3 when the story stopped about halfway through the comic I was holding.

I'm looking forward to reading Scarlet for many years to come, continuing down the same intriguing path. I only hope they can cut down on all the "chatter."

In Space, No One Can Hear You Poop.

2011-01-05T13:58:00.000-05:00

I've always liked Green Lantern as a superhero and character. Unfortunately, I've never been able to really get into reading about his adventures on a regular basis. I think I attribute it to his storylines always being too "out of this world." He's not grounded enough. We never get to see him as Hal Jordan except in origin stories. He's always just Green Lantern. It's almost like he's not human, and that's a shame. I really like Hal Jordan. I do. We just never get to see him.

I decided to give the monthly Green Lantern series a try again when I began reading comics again and discovered (and loved) Geoff Johns' previous writing on Teen Titans and Justice Society of America. I thought that here was someone who could do Hal Jordan justice. Then with Green Lantern being a central focus of the Blackest Night event, picking up Green Lantern was a no-brainer.

I started with the Secret Origin storyline that ran through issues #29-35. I was happy to see Hal Jordan, the person. However, as I stated before, this was an origin story; the only time we ever get to see the "real" Hal Jordan. As the series jumped forward to present-day, it was the same old, same old. The Hal Jordan persona is lost to all things Green Lantern.

Another disappointment I have with the monthly Green Lantern series is the title. It's Green Lantern, not Green Lanterns. So why does it feel that this series is nothing more than an extension of the Green Lantern Corps series? We're not just seeing a storyline involving Hal Jordan Green Lantern. Every issue involves at least a handful of Green/Orange/Blue/Red/Indigo/Yellow Lanterns. That's why I don't pick up Green Lantern Corps. There are just too many characters that I don't care about. With such a large cast, do we ever really get to know them individually? Is it too much to ask that we get to learn about Hal Jordan as a person? Does he have any sort of personal/private life? When does he eat? Shower? Does he have friends or family that don't wear colorful rings on their fingers? Does he date? Does he have sex?

Lastly, am I the only one who considers Larfleeze to be the Jar Jar Binks of the Green Lantern world? Does anyone besides the creators really like him? (And, just for the record, he does not resemble the Muppet Gonzo as he's consistently referred to in the comics; he resembles the Muppet Uncle Deadly.)

Sadly, after continuously reading 30 issues of the current Green Lantern series, I've been underwhelmed, for many of the same reasons I couldn't get into his series back in the 1980s. It's time for me to move on...

Spidey's Black Cat Brings Bad Luck

2010-12-15T13:22:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading the Black Cat four-issue mini-series published by Marvel Comics. I wish I had read issue #1 before I bought the rest of the series. I might have saved myself an additional $12.

The Black Cat is Marvel Comics' answer to DC Comics' Catwoman. Like Catwoman, the Black Cat is -- what else? -- a cat burglar, but she's not a villain. She also flirts and has random sexual hook-ups with Spider-Man, much like Catwoman and Batman. It's probably no surprise that they're similar since Spider-Man was probably conceived as Marvel's answer to DC's Batman. Spidey and Batman are also -- arguably -- the two comic giants' individual heaviest hitters (and most profitable).

All that aside, the 2010 mini-series featuring a solo Black Cat follows her on a race to steal expensive artifacts in order to rescue her kidnapped mother from the Kravinoff family (i.e., Spider-Man's foe, Kraven). Unfortunately, the story, characters, and art all lacked luster. The supporting characters were interchangeable with no real personalities, so I often got confused as to who was who, and this was reading each issue back-to-back, not once a month. Or maybe I just didn't care because the simple premise of the story was dragged out for four issues and none of the characters -- not even the Black Cat herself -- were well-written.

The art was on par with current issues of The Amazing Spider-Man, which is to say that it wasn't good. Gone are the days of Todd McFarlane and Erik Larsen when the web-slinger and his supporting ladies were beautifully drawn. Welcome back, 1960s Spider-Man with jagged edges, disproportionate body parts, and no depth to appearances, background, or details.

To add insult to injury, all four issues were priced at $3.99 each. However, readers were given about 25 cents of quality. Save your money and look for Catwoman stories instead. Like Spider-Man, The Black Cat falls flat on her fur-lined ass.

Batman Inc. doesn't stink.

2010-11-23T14:58:00.000-05:00

If you've read my previous postings, you'd know that I am not a fan of Grant Morrison's writing. I usually suffer through the nonsense, trying to understand what's happening so I can keep up with the goings-on of Batman, holding onto that slim hope that DC Comics will pass the writing reigns of this fantastic character on to someone else. I picked up the first issue of the new comic series Batman, Inc. (written by none other than Grant Morrison) with the intention of not reading past this initial comic. To my surprise, I found it engaging, fun, and it provided me with a flash of nostalgia to the old 1960's Batman TV series.

The issue features the reunion between Batman and Catwoman after his return from the "dead." It's a highspeed romp, not unlike a James Bond movie. Batman needs Catwoman's thievery skills and she...well, she needs her Batman. She's very frisky with Batman throughout the comic, and he certainly doesn't resist her advances. It re-establishes their relationship as playful and sexual.

At the end, there's a cliffhanger, much like the cliffhangers on the Batman TV series. Questions are posed to the reader: "Will Batman survive?" "Will Catwoman?" Followed by: "Find out next month in...Batman, Inc.!" That part was cleverly done and I do applaud Morrison for this flashback.

I'm not a fan of the whole idea of Batman going international with a different Batman in every country, but this was definitely an issue that was well written, easy to follow, and entertaining.

Batman (yawn) Returns

2010-11-22T15:01:00.001-05:00

I picked up Batman: The Return this week. It was a $4.99 rip-off. Er, one-shot. Fortunately, I expected nothing less (or better) than I received.

I imagined the return of Bruce Wayne/Batman to be this dramatic event in the DC Universe. However, it was a discombobulated mess and, as I've mentioned in previous postings, anti-climatic. The Time Masters: Vanishing Point mini-series, in which a small group of DC heroes were searching for Batman throughout time, hadn't yet ended. Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne mini-series hadn't ended yet either. Both mini-series still had Bruce Wayne floating through time toward the present. Even the Batman and Robin monthly series written by Grant Morrison himself couldn't keep up with the schedule of Batman's return. Suddenly, DC Comics releases Bruce Wayne: The Road Home one-shots and he's back, everyone knows he's back, and there isn't much said or seen reunion-wise. Scheduled weeks later? Batman: The Return. So now he's back and we're supposed to be...what? Surprised? Excited? Emotional? No. More like confused. And disappointed. I feel like I, too, traveled back and forth in time reading these mismatched stories and series out of sequence, to no fault of my own.

Batman: The Return contained a regular-sized comic story written by Grant Morrison which was pretty uninteresting, and didn't really contribute to much of the Batman universe other than being a marketing piece toward the end for the upcoming Batman, Inc. series wherein Batman loses the "loner" status he's always held near and dear, opting for commercialization instead (here, I'm reminded of the classic Charlie Brown Christmas animated special). The rest of the Batman: The Return issue featured artwork and various logos considered for Batman, Inc. It was then bound by harder stock matte finish cover. All for the "bargain" price of $4.99. Seriously, it was a waste of time and money, but I'm the fool in this game, because I knew it would be awful going in. I keep hoping for the best for Batman and I see nothing but commercialization and overexposure.

Because of the many new Bat-titles forthcoming, I'll probably reduce the amount of Bat-books I buy. Not just for quality purposes but because trying to keep up and keep things in order will just get too complicated.

Super, boy!

2010-11-05T10:31:00.004-04:00

Let me start by saying that I did NOT the arrogant kid who would one day become Superboy (aka Conner Kent) when he first appeared following "The Death of Superman" storyline back in the early 90s. He sported the then-popular surfer's cut on his head, an earring in one ear, and major attitude.

However, since then, he has transformed into -- let's face it -- a major hunk (think Abercrombie & Fitch) who sports a T-shirt and jeans as his costume. I got back into reading comics with Geoff Johns' stint on the Teen Titans. After reading those issues, Superboy quickly became one of my favorite DC Comics characters.

I was sad when he "died" and excited when he finally returned from the dead a couple of years later. He was recently given a spotlight story in the revived Adventure Comics and, as of this week, has his own monthly series again, beginning with Superboy #1.

The first issue of this new series was...well, super. The writing by Jeff Lemire was fantastic, as was the art by Pier Gallo. Both were simple, yet beautiful. By simple, I mean that the story took its time. It showed the "human" side of Conner Kent and not just fighting sequences. The art was gorgeously drawn and colorfully inked. The bright colors were very welcoming and created a simplicity to the story, characters, and background.

In this issue, Conner wrestles with going to high school, tries to avoid Lori Luthor (Lex's niece), helps Ma Kent out on the farm, pals around with Krypto (who I hope is a regular!), and runs into the Parasite attacking Smallville looking for Superman.

I look forward to reading about Conner's adventures month after month and hope that this balance between his personal life and "professional" life continues.

Amazing Spider-Man, Not-So-Amazing Price

2010-11-05T09:43:00.000-04:00

So, as you may have heard, Marvel Comics decided to move Amazing Spider-Man's thrice monthly printing to a bi-monthly printing. I'm assuming it was because of reader dissatisfaction with multiple writers and having to pay $2.99 and sometimes $3.99 three times a month for below average stories and art. I know I've considered dropping it because it's too costly for too little in return. So I was excited to learn that ASM was moving to a bi-monthly schedule. Still not as great as once per month, but acceptable if the quality increases.

I picked up Amazing Spider-Man #647 yesterday. $4.99. Yes, you heard me. Four dollars and ninety-nine freakin' cents. It's not a "special" issue or a landmark issue like #650 will be. Now Marvel is going to try to recoup its thrice monthly sales by charging more for the two issues per month it publishes?

How amazing is that? NOT so amazing. I'm outta here.

Tiny Titans...Awww, Yeah!

2010-10-20T10:45:00.000-04:00

Confession: I love Tiny Titans. And I'm not talking about Mexican midget wrestling.

Tiny Titans is a DC Comic featuring toddler versions of your favorite Teen Titans, mostly from the wildly popular and well-written 1980s New Teen Titans series. Think Muppet Babies. Or A Pup Named Scooby Doo. Or even the Flintstone Kids. The stories for Tiny Titans are set in a kid-friendly, elementary school environment. They're simple, silly, cute, and usually contain some sort of moral from which kids can learn. They're also fun for adults. Although I have a hard time justifying the $2.99 price tag for a comic I can read in one-third the time of a regular comic, sometimes I just can't resist. My justification is that this Titans book is better written (thanks to Art Balthazar and Franco Aureliani) than the current Teen Titans comic, written by the awful Felicia Henderson.

I just read the first issue of the three-issue mini-series Tiny Titans/Little Archie, featuring toddler versions of the Archie Comics characters paired up with the Tiny Titans. Again, cute. Robin's and Archie's clothes get mixed up at the drycleaners. Archie's mom and Alfred, the butler, pick up the wrong clothing and bring it to the kids. Since they both have an "r" on their shirt ("r" for Robin and "r" for Riverdale, Archie's hometown), the adults believe they have picked up the right clothing. Archie freaks when he starts to put on the clothes and sees Robin's green underwear and booties. The identity mix-up continues with their respective friends. Fun and lighthearted.

Tiny Titans is a great way to introduce your youngest kids to the DC Comics characters. The stories are wholesome, non-violent, and moral-teaching. They're also great entertainment for adults.