Missing in Action

Han Solo & Chewbacca #1

Marvel Comics' current Star Wars comic book series (Marvel Comics' volume 3; volume 4 overall if you include Dark Horse Comics' one-time series) takes place following the events of 1980's The Empire Strikes Back.  As we all know, Han Solo was frozen in carbonite at the end of the film and isn't rescued from the carbonite's deep freeze until 1983's The Return of the Jedi.  Therefore, he is MIA in this Star Wars comic series.  Charles Soule is a fantastic writer and has added Lando to the familiar cast, but no one is really a good replacement for the beloved character Han Solo. 

Finally, two years later, Marvel Comics gives us Han Solo and Chewbacca, exploring the adventures of these two best friends.  The comic book series takes place between the events of the 2018's Solo: A Star Wars Story and 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope, the original film.  Unfortunately, it's only a ten-issue limited series.  It's longer than the 5-issue Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda individual comic book series, so maybe they're testing out its popularity and it will come back as a regular series.  

I've been purchasing each issue in the Han Solo and Chewbacca series every month as they're released.  I was waiting until I had all ten issues before I started reading them.  I had just gotten issue #9, so I decided to start reading them, figuring by the time I read through them (in addition to the other comic book series I read), #10 would be released.  I read issue #1 through issue #9 back to back, non-stop.  I was completely absorbed into this backstory written by Marc Guggenheim.  Now I cannot wait until issue #10 is released so I can see how the story ends.  

Han Solo & Chewbacca #2

Along the way, we see such familiar characters as Jabba the Hutt, Bib Fortuna, Greedo, and Maz Kanata.  It gives readers a greater understanding of their background and connections to Han Solo and Chewbacca.  When Han shoots Greedo in Star Wars: A New Hope, we now understand what in their history ticks Han off so much about Greedo.  When an older Han (played by Harrison Ford) runs into Maz in 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, we now know how they know each other from the past.    

I don't want to give away much of the exciting storyline, but I will say that it is currently one of my favorite comic book series, and I will be sad to see it come to an end.  Here's hoping Marvel recognizes its potential and continues giving us more of Han and Chewie's adventures written by Guggenheim.  After all, Darth Vader has his own ongoing series.  Even Doctor Aphra has her own ongoing series, and she's never been in a Star Wars film.  (Sorry, not a fan.)  

Better... Stronger... Faster.

As a child of the 70s, I loved the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman.  While superheroes seemed like fantasy, these two were normal, everyday people who received special abilities.  Like, of course, this could really happen with modern technology.  

I watched both TV shows (and their TV special reunions), and had all of the dolls (Steve Austin, Jaime Sommers, Oscar Goldman, and Bigfoot), and their accompanying playsets.  I never did get that Fembot doll, though -- dammit! -- which, I'm convinced, was the inspiration for Austin Powers' fembots (minus the gun nipples).  

Bionic Man #1

I was excited when Dynamite Comics started to release Kevin Smith's Bionic Man monthly comic book.  I was even more excited that it was released monthly, as scheduled.  Kevin Smith doesn't have the best track record with completing his assignments on time.  Dynamite probably knew that and that's why they took the basic story idea(s) from him and had someone else more reliable actually scribe it.  The series started out really good and then started to get a bit lackluster.  It lost its character edge and everyone seemed so generic and uninteresting in the latter single digit issues.  

Bionic Man #11

With issue #11 (the first one not bearing Kevin Smith's name across the top), character development was at its peak.  Steve's adventure-filled life comes to a slow crawl as he returns to his family's farm.  Here, we meet Steve's dying father, his strong-willed but tender mother, and his doting sister.  They all thought Steve was dead (because that's what the news reported) and are surprised and happy to see that he's still alive.  His secret soon comes out, though, and they realize that he's no longer just a man anymore. But while this story was the best in the series so far with character development, it also felt a bit weak at the same time.  The family doesn't seem truly overjoyed with the news that Steve is alive.  It was as if Steve just told his family that he got a small promotion of work and his mother replying, "That's nice, dear."  

The story does have some tender moments, though, and I'm glad that we, the readers, got to meet Steve's family.  Ironically, it made him more human than previous issues depicted.  

After reading issue #11, I can honestly now say that I'm looking forward to the next installment of the Bionic Man.  Why?  Toward the end of issue #11, we get a glimpse of something watching Steve from the woods.  It's no secret who/what it is, though, because they reveal the secret already in the "next issue" column: it's Bigfoot.  I love the image, too, because not only is it Bigfoot, Steve's nemesis from the old TV show, but Steve's wearing the red track suit (that the Steve Austin doll came with).  Euphoria washed over me seeing that nostalgic image.  

On a related note, like the TV show, Jaime Sommers was so popular in the Bionic Man series that Dynamite gave her her own monthly series in Spring 2012.  After two issues, though, the series was apparently abandoned.  I guess sales weren't as good as they had hoped, but I was really getting into the story...and I always did prefer Jaime Sommers over Steve Austin.  

I hope Dynamite continues producing a great monthly comic and that we one day will see the return of the Bionic Woman. 

Angry Teens

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?

What's the Story, Morning Glories?

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

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

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

Drawing the Line at $4.99

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. 

OH Mighty Is-Is-Isis!

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

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?

The Lion Queen

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.

The Dark Side of the Black Cat

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.

We Will Be...Invincible

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. 

The Catman Scratcheth

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

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

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.

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

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. 

Super, boy!

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

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.

Hard Time = Good Time

I recently came across a series that DC Comics put forth in 2004.  It was called Hard Time and was sold under a new DC Comics imprint called DC Focus.  The idea of DC Focus was to feature super-powered characters who did not follow the traditional format of classic superhero adventures.  It was a precursor to NBC's Heroes TV show premise.

Hard Time focuses on 15-year-old Ethan Harrow.  For years,  the jocks bullied Ethan and his friend Brandon. Ethan and Brandon plan a "fake" school shooting as a way of getting back at the jocks. Unfortunately, things went wrong and Brandon goes a bit psychotic and winds up shooting several students and teachers.  As Ethan later tells his lawyer, "it was supposed to be a joke. Brandon told me the guns were loaded with blanks."  Ethan is initially in shock; but when Brandon points his gun at girl that Ethan likes, Ethan tries to stop him. Unsuccessful at first, Ethan's fiery superpower emerges, killing Brandon.  Although Ethan was not directly involved with the murders, he was tried as an adult and given fifty years to life in prison with eligibility for parole in the year 2053.  

This back story and school scene are told fairly quickly and the remainder of the series focuses on Ethan's time behind bars.  I have already read the first ten issues (quickly) and am already feeling a bit gloomy and nostalgic knowing that I only have nine issues left.  I want to savor each and every one.  The storytelling is magnificent.  These are real characters (albeit criminals) with defined personalities.  Steve Gerber (unfortunately now deceased and best known for creating Howard the Duck) was a remarkable writer.  Not only do we get to know Ethan and his family situation more, but we get to learn about the distinct personalities,  mannerisms, and personal philosophies of the criminals that surround him every day in his new "life."  One of my favorites is Cindy, the transgender boy who appears innocent at first, but can't be trusted.  He/she has been incarcerated for awhile now, has taken a protector boyfriend, has many allies, and knows the ropes.  You don't want to mess with shim. 

Ethan's power(s) are slowly revealed throughout the series as he learns to use them to make things happen throughout the prison.  I won't go into too much detail because I appreciate the way Steve Gerber revealed things about Ethan and his supporting characters throughout the series.  I feel that the story should be experienced the same way I experienced it:  by a full reading.  

The final issue is set in the future, when Ethan gets released from prison after fifty years' service.  To correspond with DC Comics' "One Year Later" storyline that ran across all their titles in 2006, Hard Time: Season Two #7 (the final issue) carries a similar logo that reads "49 Years Later."  I'm looking forward to reading that final issue to see how everyone's life turns out.  It's a shame, though, that this series was canceled.  It's truly been one of the best comic book series (or books, for that matter) that I've read in quite some time.  

Check out:  Hard Time: 50 to Life

(se)X-Factor

One of my favorite comic books in the 1980s was Marvel Comics' X-Factor.  It revived the original X-Men team and brought Jean Grey back to life (the first time). 

The team today is very different than the team of yesteryear.  It focuses on X-Factor Investigations, which is a detective agency made up of mutants.  And some of the team consists of characters that I've never had a particular fondness for:  Madrox, Longshot, and Shatterstar.  On the other hand, Wolfsbane (one of the original New Mutants) and Rictor (one of the young mutants the original X-Factor takes under their care) are also team members and I've always liked the two of them.  

I read an article that the powers-that-be were pairing up Rictor and Shatterstar as a gay couple and it intrigued me.  To throw an even bigger twist into the storyline, Wolfsbane shows up seven months pregnant, carrying Rictor's baby, and catches the two of them together.  Whoa.  Talk about drama. 

I gave X-Factor #207 and #208 a try.  I was extremely impressed with writer Peter David's character development, as it gave me a greater appreciation toward characters I've always liked, as well as those that I never particularly cared for.  And the scenes involving Rictor, Shatterstar, and Wolfsbane were fantastic.   A special thank you goes out to Peter David and Marvel Comics for including scenes between Rictor and Shatterstar that were not limited to a hug or pat on the back.  They're shown as a regular romantic couple trying to work out their problems.

Peter focuses more on the interaction of the characters, by giving them their own lives and stories, rather than using the characters to just fight battle after boring battle.  He moves the characters forward with real-life events that will forever change their lives.  Unfortunately, this doesn't happen enough in comic books.  Oh, and I was happy to discover that Longshot no longer sported a mullet and Shatterstar no longer looked like a samurai with a ponytail.  

As long as Peter David stays on as the writer, I'm definitely adding X-Factor to my list of monthly comics.

A Mediocre Joker

In The Joker graphic novel, we meet minor criminal Jonny Frost. He loses his girlfriend and joins Joker's gang, giving us a story from his viewpoint of what it's like to be side-by-side with this madman.  Although not specifically labeled, the graphic novel seems to take place in an "Elseworlds" universe. It doesn't take place in the regular DC Universe.  Regular Batman villains appear as slight variations of themselves: Harley Quinn is a killer stripper, Killer Croc is just a large man with alligator-type skin, and the Riddler is a feeble, crippled man who uses a question mark-shaped cane to walk. The Joker himself resembles Heath Ledger's silver screen version.

I liked the concept of this graphic novel, but the story didn't really draw me in that much, despite spot-on craziness from the Joker himself.  Usually when comic book stories are chosen to be placed in graphic novels rather than in a regular comic book, they're meant to be epic. Take, for example, The Killing Joke.  Unfortunately, that's where The Joker fails.  I guess I was expecting to get inside the mind of the Joker himself.  Some of the recent Joker's Asylum comic book stories have been much better.  They're better written, and have better artwork.

And, speaking of, most of the illustrations in The Joker appear like rough sketches rather than completed artwork. The characters have too many jagged edges for my taste. Ironically, some of the panels are a lot more detailed and beautifully illustrated. It seems as though the artist couldn't be bothered to do the rest of the graphic novel in a similar style. When I'm paying over $10 for a single story/issue in a hardcover format, I guess I expect a bit more effort put into it. Again, see Brian Bolland's flawless art in The Killing Joke. 

Skip The Joker graphic novel and head straight for the Joker's Asylum stories. You'll get much more value for your dollar.