Superman: An Alien Among Us

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

Let's start with Action with the preface that I'm 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

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

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

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

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.