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AICN COMICS! ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN! SCROOGE MCDUCK! THE 1ST AICN COMICS NEWS - SHOOT THE MESSENGER! AND MUCH MORE!!!
#9 | 7/13/05 | align=right> #4 |
(Click title to go directly to the review)
ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN THE BOY WONDER #1
NEW THUNDERBOLTS #10
JLA #116
THE LIFE & TIMES OF $CROOGE MCDUCK (TPB)
BATMAN #642
BANANA SUNDAY #1
RANN-THANAGAR WAR #3
Indie Jones presents GENSHIKEN VOLUME 1
CHEAP SHOTS!
SHOOT THE MESSENGER – AICN COMICS NEWS!
ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN THE BOY WONDER # 1
Written by Frank Miller
Art by Jim Lee
Published by DC
Reviewed by All Star Buzz
Frank! Jim! Glad we could have this little sit down.
You two: overpaid, overrated comic book pros. Me: disgusted, occasionally disgusting comic book fan/@$$hole. As a fan, the mainstream media like ENTERTAINMENT WEEKY and WIZARD has been telling me that I'm supposed to go all Monkeemania over this book because you two worked on it.
Before I go on, Frank, I have to tell you how much I liked the SIN CITY movie. A lot of my friends have said that it's the first time they ever liked Mickey Rourke (what, no love for Teddy Lewis the Rock 'n' Roll arsonist or even The Motorcycle Boy or Boogie?) or the first time they liked his work in years. I tell them I've always liked Violent Mick but it's the first time I've liked Frank's work in years. C'mon, Frank, you don't really want to be doing DC or Marvel stuff. That's why there's a SIN CITY / 300 Frank and a Cashing In On Past BATMAN Glory Frank.
About the book itself, I wanna start with Jim. Jim, there is no doubt that you draw beautiful women posing. I wanna help ya, man. Soon, your remaining audience will figure out what the rest of us have: most comic fans are over 18. Despite the stereotypes, we've all been there and back again. We've seen and touched the real thing. We have porn a click away. VICTORIA'S SECRET catalogues are mailed to our homes. We can subscribe to PLAYBOY, PENTHOUSE, HUSTLER and CRACK HO all we want. So we don't need your pencilings of Vicki Vale in her underwear drinking a martini or capering around.
I don't know whose bright idea that was. I don't want to point the finger so one of you 'fess up. Let's look at those pretty scenes with a little logic. Vicki Vale is a newspaper columnist. What do they pay newspaper columnists in Gotham? That apartment of hers with the wall high windows, the retro-mod furnishings, the telecom...Vicki would have to own the entire newspaper chain to afford all that crap. At first, I thought maybe she was being kept by Bruce Wayne, but you go and tell us it's their first date. Does Bruce know she's kept by Lex Luthor? Or is Tony Stark sneaking over from the Marvel Universe for a little, exotic DC action?
And, sorry, fantasy and all, but have ya ever been in a newsroom? Even on TV news, they don't look like the Vickstress here. This would be okay, but everybody says that Frank does the realistic Batman, which is the kind of oxymoron that has fucked up comics since the 1980s.
Vicki's take on Batman was well done, although immediately repeated. And her thrill at being on a date with Bruce Wayne was repeated, too. The kids dig it when the DJ jiggles the record and makes it repeat, don't they, Frank? What I don't get is that you set Vicki up as tough, cynical, and sophisticated, but then she's a groupie?
All of those are really minor issues, guys. It's just that you used the T & A to get everyone's attention so I talked about it first. Let's talk about you portrayal of Batman, Frank. How can put it politely?
It's kind of stupid.
It was fine back in the '80s, but do you really think the ultra-unlikable hardass is anything more than a gimmick? Sure, it appealed to the wannabe tough in me when I was an undergrad, but since then it's been kind of hemmorhoidal. The character never would have lasted this way, in publishing and in his fictional world, Frank.
"On your feet, soldier. You've just been drafted. This is a war."
Maybe I'm too old for this shit. I'm not as old as you guys, but you're getting paid. Isn't this a little pretentious? Along the lines of "Good soldier, good soldier". When Alan Moore spoofed that line with Dark '80s Supreme and the other Supremes (the superheroes, not the girl-group) looked at each other like, "What the fuck?" I had to laugh my ass off and mostly I was laughing at myself for ever thinking things like that were cool.
Robin's parents were just killed and this is how Batman introduces himself? We know that Sub-human Batman has already thought of Robin as a "brat." I'm gonna skip Psycho Batman. When Batman's supposed to sound tough, it just reads as prissy to me.
Yes, guys, I know that you're not trying to appeal to kids. You've got a foul mouthed Vicki Vale and her panties riding up her ass. Yes, Frank, I know that censorship is bad because it's censorship. But you didn't create any of these characters so it's not the same thing, is it?
Comic people fall into two groups. The larger group would genuinely like to bring in new readership and that means getting kids back into reading comics. The other group is this weird contingent of the macho and the artistic types that don't give a shit if kids read comics. Elements like Robin, a kid hero, appeal to little kids, if they get a chance to see the character and the comics. This book is an opportunity, but they gave it to you two guys. Dumb move.
Frank, I know you'll say that kids should be able to read this stuff, that you wouldn't have a problem with your own kids reading it. How old are you kids? 23, 24? I don't trust your judgment.
Ah, here are the Hype-guys! You know Frank and Jim. Hype-guys, I'm about to wrap up but I want to tell you before we go: stop treating comic fans like they're stupid.
NEW THUNDERBOLTS #10
Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Penciller: Tom Grummett
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Reviewed by Humphrey Lee
I love it when a plan comes together.
Since issue one of this THUNDERBOLTS relaunch something has be amiss. Between the rather clandestine way this new line up of the team has come together, and some rather eyebrow-raising erratic behavior from the characters (well, even more than usual from this kind of bunch) there’s just been something that hasn’t felt right. But now we have most of our answers, and I like the end result of this puzzle that has been displayed before us.
What we’re seeing here has been a grand orchestration since issue one. Since then we’ve seen a new team assembled, disassembled, then assembled again, and now they’ve gone back to being at each others’ throats… but now the reasoning behind it is clear and making much more sense. Apparently Zebediah Killgrave, AKA The Purple Man, has been running our team in circles since day one. As this issue progresses, all with an overlying narrative done by our said antagonist that is really quite fun to read, we “listen” as he slowly unfolds his scheme. Since the beginning he was the one who has caused the infighting, and the doubt, and even dissent between our teammates. And now he’s causing all sorts of havoc as he has framed original Thunderbolter Mockingbird for multiple homicides, turning the team against her as she flees with the new Swordsman, with the THUNDERBOLTS on her tail as well as half the city under Killgrave’s control.
All this plus at the end of the book we watch as Killgrave’s plans within the team start to take shape, with much brutality to come, and a cliffhanger that comes out of nowhere to make me smile and somewhat groan all at the same time.
I know that sounds like a lot, but trust me, going back through the previous issues this has all unfolded very well. As we watch the characters bind together you can always feel that there’s something on the horizon, and now we know what it was. As everything comes to a head in this issue you can just feel how well it matches up with Killgrave’s narrative throughout this issue. It really does take on the notion of him being the “writer” all along and gives us a feel of suspense as we still don’t really know who’s a pawn of the Purple Man’s, or hell, if they’re all just pawns. Also, the action and violence kicks it up to 11 here as we watch the team going at it with Killgrave’s pawns, both from within the team and the city’s denizens as they begin to riot at his command. Add to that the ever increasing mystery of just who exactly is this new Swordman and you’ve got yourself a real page turner in this issue.
Between all of the above elements, and some really great art by the always competent Tom Grummett, this series is becoming quite the ride. It all got off to a shaky start, but now we see why. And with it, this book is truly coming into its own and becoming one of Marvel’s best and most riveting titles.
JLA #116
Writers: Geoff Johns/Allan Heinberg
Artists: Chris Batista/Mark Farmer
Publisher: DC Comics
Reviewer: Prof. Challenger
You know, just a couple of weeks back I was sharing my frustration over the bastard-Batman appearing in THE OMAC PROJECT. Now here I am complaining about bastard-Hawkman appearing in JLA. Hawkman, as he's been portrayed ever since IDENTITY CRISIS (which means it's all retroactive characterization making him an s.o.b. in all those fun little past adventures too), is a full-on bloody bastard. By the point that Matter Master was slicing through Hawkman's shoulder with that shield, I was kind of hoping he really would slice Carter's arm off.
Remember 20 years back when the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS hit? One of the story-telling charms that occurred during CRISIS and its various tie-in comics was the opportunity to team up characters from different time periods and alternate Earths for the first, and maybe last, time. Well, that's kind of the overall surface-level feeling I had while reading this month's JLA. The Secret Society of Super-Villains are on the scene -- but not in the VILLAINS UNITED form. Instead, here they are in their grand, glorious, mid-to-late-70s form even down to the lame green-hooded orange costume of the Wizard (though what's with the baggy pirate-shirt sleeves instead of the even more dorky tanktop he actually wore in the 70s?). Chronos is there in his hideously garish old costume. The non-Carol Ferris Star Sapphire's there in all her inexplicable psycho-ness. The Floronic Man is back from his hijack into Vertigo-land so many years ago. Finally, there's Felix Faust in all his towel-headed costume silliness. I don't remember any guy named Matter Master in the SSOSV back then, but whatever.
So, here I am settled into a 70s groove and then my face gets fish-slapped by Catwoman in all her postmodern leather and goggles embarrassment. Somebody get that girl back into that sexy purple-skirted thing she wore back in the 70s. Meow. Later, up pops Zatanna in all her fishnet glory, but, oops what a waste of a great character. To complete the 70s membership, they're carrying around all the broken up parts of the now-expressionless-faced Red Tornado. I don't know what all's up with that. Wasn't there a whole big story point way back when where Reddy wanted a more human-like face and that's what he got? Not sure why he would then feel comfortable going back to the expressionless face. [This review's O.C.D. art quibble: apparently Green Lantern now has the ability to become Giant Green Lantern if you look at the last panel on page 12. Needed a taller panel or a different angle. I know he's supposed to be floating there, but as it sits right now, now matter how you slice it, GL looks like he's about the size of Mighty Joe Young there.]
OK. Now that that's all out of the way, what happened in this comic? Well, that scene on the cover for one. Of course, problem with that is that it was basically a sucker punch. Hawkman wasn't expecting it AND he'd just finished having one of his arms sewn back on. So, when Batman lost control there and busted Carter's face, it came off to me a bit like an out-of-character crybaby tantrum by Batman taking a little bit of advantage of the fact that Carter's not physically up to par right now. So, CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE has substituted Crybaby-Batman for Bastard-Batman. I at least prefer the crybaby version telling everybody to go home cause he doesn't wanna play anymore cause they were mean to him. Especially with that mean playground bully Hawkman getting in his face. If it hadn't been for Coach Lantern, I bet Hawkbully would'a pounded Crybabyman with his mace.
Also, Johns and Heinberg make an attempt to play "Messrs. Fixit" here and fix one of Meltzer's worst storytelling mistakes back in IDENTITY CRISIS -- the character evisceration of Zatanna. Under Meltzer's laptop transmission, Zatanna was retroactively reduced to a weak-willed girl who allowed herself to be bullied into raping the minds of villain's and heroes by super-bastard Hawkman. If nothing else good comes out of this CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE story arc, at least Johns and Heinberg have addressed the Zatanna problem and restored a bit of Zee's strength of character by having her step up and claim the blame for the whole thing. That's good. I just wish all the bottles of bad characterization hadn't been spilled in ID CRISIS in the first place forcing Johns and others to spend this whole last year mopping up and figuring out how to restore proper characterization to these characters while acknowledging and springboarding forward from the events and actions that occurred in that series.
I'm not hating this CRISIS arc in JLA. In fact, I'm appreciating what it is attempting to do with respect to continuity and the work of previous writers. That right there is an admirably professional approach that's disturbingly unique in the modern comics industry. Best of all, just when jaded Prof thought he didn't have it in him anymore, he let loose a giddy fanboy "Yeah!" when he got to the last page and discovered whose glowing red eyes those were in Part One that restored the memories of the SSOSV. Sitting there in all his fin-headed glory. He's the totally logical villain of the piece but still took me completely by surprise.
THE LIFE & TIMES OF $CROOGE MCDUCK (TPB)
Writer/Artist: Don Rosa
Publisher: Gemstone Publishing
Reviewer: Dave Farabee
“Scrooge and his creator Carl Barks belong in the great mainstream of American Folklore.”
-TIME MAGAZINE
This being Ain’t-It-Cool-News and all our readers being hipper-than-hip, I’m betting you’re like me when it comes to Disney ‘toons versus Warner Brothers ‘toons: Warners all the way, baybee! Bugs Bunny versus Mickey Mouse? Please, it’s not even a contest. Warner Brothers is the home of subversiveness, Disney’s the home of sitcom schtick. Warner Brothers is Lenny Bruce, Disney is Bob Hope.
Right?
Imagine my surprise then, when I learned years ago that Disney comics - especially the “Disney Duck” comics…especially the Carl Barks-cartooned stories of the ‘40s and ‘50s…especially the adventures of Donald Duck’s miserly uncle, Scrooge McDuck – were held in highest regard by comic book aficionados! None other than George Lucas himself penned the introduction to an ‘80s reprint of favorite Uncle Scrooge stories (“These comics are one of the few things you can point to and say: like it or not, this is what America is.”), and it’s Uncle Scrooge we’re interested in today.
The question you’re all asking, of course: Just what the hell is the appeal of an aging, adventure-seeking Scottish duck with more money than God?!
Don Rosa’s THE LIFE AND TIMES OF $CROOGE MCDUCK is as good an answer as you’re likely to find. Written and drawn in the early ‘90s, it’s a twelve-part story chronicling the formative years of Scrooge McDuck. It’s an adventure, it’s a comedy, it’s what they used to call a “funny animal” story. Rosa, considered by many a Disney Duck fan to be Barks’ only true successor, approached the project with an obsession for detail to rival Alan Moore’s FROM HELL. His goal was to read every Carl Barks Uncle Scrooge story and incorporate every reference the old coot made to his past adventures (and he made lots of ‘em!) into a sprawling, globe-hopping tale that would also be steeped in real American and world history from the period (late 1800s/early 1900s).
Sound insane? Big time, but it won 1995’s Eisner Award for “Best Serialized Story”, so show some respect!
Or better yet, find out why you should show some respect. At its heart, Uncle Scrooge’s life is a Horatio Alger story by way of Indiana Jones, lensed through an animator’s screwball sensibilities. I got a real kick out of the opening few pages, the omniscient narrator reflecting on Uncle Scrooge swimming around in his famous money vault and posing the question of just how he earned it. Scrooge pauses in his fun, turns to the reader, and growls, “None of your goldurn business!”
Ha!
It’s an appropriately rambunctious keynote, but the narrator coolly responds, “Oh so?”, and Scrooge’s protestations aside, we’re off! It all begins in the moors of Scotland, where a penniless young Scrooge vows to strike it rich through hard work and return prestige to the long-suffering Clan McDuck. Let’s jump ahead, though, to peek in on a more exciting chapter and see what makes these things tick. “Master of the Mississippi” is a particular favorite…
[Sidebar: the reason these stories are set so long ago is that, of course, they need to be to jibe with the Barks stories of ‘40s and ‘50s, which had a then-aged Scrooge talking about prospecting for gold in his younger days, serving as a cowpoke, etc. Rosa’s even drawn up a timeline, with Scrooge’s birth in 1867, and yes, even his death 100 years later.]
Like every chapter in LIFE AND TIMES, “Master of the Mississippi” sets its stage with a map of the relevant countryside in the first panel. The maps, always bounded by Scrooge’s adventuring gear, provide a nice sense of historicity...cartoon ducks notwithstanding! This time out it’s 1880 and Scrooge has made his way to a wonderfully-rendered Louisville, Kentucky. Like all of Rosa’s settings, Louisville’s drawn with dense R. Crumb-meets-Disney detail and hatching, bringing to life the muddy riverbanks, massive riverboats, and roughneck saloons. These detailed backdrops become playscapes for Scrooge, his friends, and his enemies to vault and caper over with animated glee and endearing exasperation. It’s like a stop-motion-animated flick, creating its own kind of dreamlike (but somehow believable) reality for the viewer to lose himself in.
Scrooge finds himself chasing after the salvage rights to the mysterious Drennan Whyte, a famed riverboat that supposedly sank carrying a hundred grand in government gold. The Whyte was a real tall tale of the era, Rosa notes in his meticulous and readable afterward to the chapter, the first of many historical “easter eggs”. The villains of the piece are the ancestors of the Beagle Boys, the dog-faced baddies who’re the recurring black hats in Scrooge’s adventures. This first squaring off with Scrooge is one of the many such “historic” moments in the story, but lest you think it’s all continuity geeking…there’s riverboat racing, sunken towns, and big explosions! The set piece of the story, though, has to be a showdown in the sunken Drennan Whyte, only partially flooded at the river bottom and perfect for creepy exploring.
And that’s just a single chapter of twelve, each self-contained but building on the others. LIFE AND TIMES really is the epitome of the all-ages story. I can’t say the writing is brilliant per se, but it’s got verve and wit, it’s got twists and turns, and it has that indefinable quality of so many great kids’ yarns – it makes you feel good to read it. If that sounds corny, move on, smartass! But know that the story’s not without its moments of pathos, especially in the latter chapters. America’s at the heart Scrooge’s travels, but he does his share of globetrotting and at his lowest ebb in one story, makes a shameful decision while mining diamonds in Africa. Later, as his money begins the pile, he starts abandoning family and friends. Rosa, an avowed classic movie buff, even makes an explicit comparison to CITIZEN KANE in the moving final chapter. Will the once square-deal Scrooge – whom we’ve seen battling claim jumpers, fighting alongside Teddy Roosevelt (no kiddin’), and dodging flash floods in Australia’s deserts – sacrifice his old-fashioned values in a fit of greed and misanthropy?
I say drop the mere seventeen bucks this ultra-packed volume costs and find out your own dang self! You’ll get a kick out of the continuity geek stuff like Scrooge first donning his famous pince-nez or getting his first kick in the pants from nephew, Donald, but more than that, you’ll get one of the most guileless examples of comic book escapism since Marvel’s Silver Age! And it’s a lot of reading, ta boot. Twelve issues, seven or eight panels a page, detailed art dotted with Harvey Kurtzmanesque visual gags, fond interstitial reflections from Rosa (who even cops to it when he fudges a detail here and there), and plenty of bonus material like cover reproductions, family trees, and layouts for unused pages.
If there’s a better comic buy all year, I’ll eat Uncle Scrooge’s top hat.
BATMAN #642
Writer: Andersen Gabrych
Penciller: Chris Marrinan
Publisher: DC Comics
Reviewed by Humphrey Lee
Why? Just why?
Is this really even necessary?
This latest issue of Batman kicks off a month long, four-part mini-crossover with DETECTIVE COMICS called WAR CRIMES, that is supposed to work off of last years lackluster BATMAN crossover WAR GAMES. But why? Even though last years crossover had its own troubles, it wrapped up pretty conclusively. Batman’s newest sidekick, Spoiler, was dead, Black Mask was the newest Crime lord of Gotham, and Oracle’s Watchtower lay in ruins. And now, DC has decided that in the midst of all the INFINITE CRISIS tie-ins, and all the events now going on with Jason Todd in BATMAN, AND in the middle of David Lapham’s 12-part storyline in DETECTIVE, we apparently need to add this to the mix as well. Really, I just don’t see why this story even needs to be told. And it doesn’t help that it’s off to a very uninteresting start.
Here’s the basic gist of the book. Apparently during WAR GAMES, Black Mask has the Mad Hatter implant one of his mind control chips directly into Killer Croc’s brain in order to use him as an unwilling ally. Eventually though Croc becomes aware of something wrong with his head. And in an admittedly humorous bit through the first half of the book, we see him digging at his skull, and even digging into it, to the point where eventually he digs through it and finds the chip in the soft tissue of his brain.
And then the killing begins as Croc spends the rest of the issue wading through foot soldiers trying to get to the Hatter, and Batman is on his trail trying to stop him and save him at the same time, as apparently Croc’s genetic make-up is now unstable due to what Hush did to him in that storyline.
Seriously though, the story itself could be somewhat fun enough if it just wasn’t forced to run through these titles. If DC could just decide what they were doing with LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT, I would say this belongs there. But apparently they’re still holding on to that title as being the “free-roaming, anything goes” BATMAN title, except, y’know, whenever there’s a Crossover to be had. As it stands though we have a book here with a couple minor fun bits, but somewhat erratic pacing and a really mildly boring storyline combined with some decently competent art. Feel my excitement.
BANANA SUNDAY #1 (of 4)
Root Nibot: Writer
Colleen Coover: Artist
Oni Press: Publisher
Vroom Socko: Monkey Brain
This book stars talking monkeys.
What, you need more than that? Talking monkeys, people! Everyone loves talking monkeys, and these ones are hilarious.
Well, strictly speaking there’s only one actual monkey. Called Knobby, he bears a bit of a resemblance to a young Frank Sinatra. In fact, due to his having gained his communication skills from old romance comics, he has a similar effect on the ladies. The two other primates are Chuck, an orangutan who resembles a more erudite version of Unseen University’s Librarian, and Go-Go the baby gorilla. Go-Go is easily the funniest of the three, bellowing out “Two bananas plus two bananas equals oh boy it’s naptime!” then promptly falling asleep. He kinda reminds me of Schleppy, our own AWOL mascot. (The little diaper-wearing freak went to see Fantastic Four and never came back.)
These three primates are in the care of Kirby Steinberg, an accident-prone teenage girl whose father is testing an experimental learning system on our little trio. As a part of the program, these three clowns are now attending school alongside Kirby. Unfortunately, Kirby’s new friend Nickels is quickly becoming obsessed with finding out just how these chimps learned to talk and writing about it in the school paper.
Writer Root Nibot, (aka Paul Tobin,) has a real sense of whimsy at play here. The obvious monkey jokes work, of course, but there’s plenty of funny little touches at work as well, such as Kirby’s groggy “I denounce you” to her alarm clock on Monday morning. The writing is also complimented to perfection by Colleen Coover’s cute as anything artwork, especially the wild physical comedy of Go-Go. Coover is the mind behind SMALL FAVORS, the world’s most adorable lesbian porn comic. Don’t worry, this book is pure PG. In either case, Coover’s style is pure fun on the page, with sweet looking girls and silly little monkeys. A perfect combination, if you ask me.
This book is funny, no question. I’m also rather anxious to see what the “real” source of these intelligent apes might be. But really, that’s all just a bonus. The real joy here is the funny talking monkeys. Buh-Nanners!
RANN-THANAGAR WAR #3 (of 6)
Writer: Dave Gibbons
Artists: Ivan Reis/Mark Campos
Publisher: DC Comics
Reviewer: Prof. Challenger
Wow! This Reis guy's art knocks me out. He's like the love-child of Neal Adams and Carlos Pacheco. None of that "I can't draw so I'll just throw a bunch of lines on everything" nonsense parade begun back when Liefeld entered the field. Dynamic but accurate anatomy. Cinematic angles. Dramatic movement. Unafraid to use shading techniques. I haven't seen his un-inked pencils, but I also attribute some of the great look of the art to the inker, Mark Campos. I don't know if he's inking digitally or not, but he gets in there and works it with what look like old-style inking techniques. There are what look like brushstrokes, penlines, razorblade scratches, spackling, the works. It's work like what these guys are doing that make RANN-THANAGAR WAR the best looking title in the round of post-COUNTDOWN miniseries leading to the INFINITE CRISIS.
Other than the art, let me say, I totally appreciate the scope that Gibbons is working with here. He's pulling in DC characters from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and modern day, and totally making it work. I can't wait for Space Ranger or the Star Rovers to show up. Representing the 50s, we've got Capt. Comet and Adam Strange. Representing the 60s, we've got Hawkman and the Thanagarians. Representing the 70s, we've got Prince Gavyn/Starman (Loved seeing Prince Gavyn again. Thought he was dead.) Representing the 80s, we've got Blackfire, Warlords of Okarra, and the Omega Men. Representing the 90s, we've got L.E.G.I.O.N., the Dominion, and the new Hawkwoman. Representing current day, we've got the new Hawkgirl and Kyle Rayner/Green Lantern. This comic has a lotta characters and a lot happening.
Differently than in a real war, where there's a whole ton of downtime broken up by intensive fighting, this series puts us in the middle of a cosmic war that is mainly action and fighting broken up by an occasional plot-moving slow moment. I'm especially enjoying the interaction between Capt. Comet and Kyle. As I recall, Capt. Comet originally encountered a version of the Guardians of the Universe years before DC introduced Hal Jordan as the Silver Age Green Lantern. Also, Comet has never had a lot of interaction with the widespread DC Universe continuity outside of a largely ignored attempt at making him relevant as the token hero in the SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS comic and, I think, a role in L.E.G.I.O.N. years ago. So, his attitude about all this is different than someone who's been on the daily world-saving diet of your average DC super-hero. Comet is like your basic grizzled old tough guy military man and with telepathic abilities.
Comet and Kyle are on the destroyed surface of Thanagar where they come face to face with Onimar Synn, the Lord of the Undead and his zombie warriors. Not a pretty sight. Really, though, this entire war has not been pretty. I mean, Rann really put themselves out on a limb here and offered their world to the Thanagarians, and they've paid a deadly price. Turns out modern-day interpretation of Thanagarians is that they're like a bunch of bloodthirsty Nazis or something. Maybe that explains why Hawkman's suddenly a retroactive angry bastard. Now that the bastard's dead in his own book, let's see someone just resurrect the Earth-2 Carter Hall withOUT any of this Thanagarian blood tainting him. Sheesh.
I especially love seeing the prominent leadership role that Adam Strange is taking in this comic and I hold hopes that this treatment will continue beyond INFINITE CRISIS. Adam has always been a great but underutilized character with lots of potential. Seems the current crop of writers, including Gibbons here, feel the same way and are treating him right. Best character interaction involves the confrontation between Hawkgirl and Hawkwoman. I've watched the character development of this new Hawkgirl since she was introduced and it is nice to see her so bold and confident. She cuts right through the obfuscating b.s. being thrown around by all sides in this war and deals back straight. She tells them who the "true" enemies are at work in this conflagration and calls for them to unite against the true enemies. So, by the end, shaky agreements have been made between trustworthy and untrustworthy allies which shifts the power balance of both the series and the war.
I look forward to seeing how it ultimately builds to the final battle and climax. I'm also looking forward to the fallout. RANN-THANAGAR WAR is easily the most consistently satisfying of these CRISIS countdown mini-series. Fingers crossed that Gibbons and Reis do not disappoint.
GENSHIKEN VOLUME 1
Writer/Artist: Kio Shimoku
Publisher: Del Rey Manga
Reviewed by superhero
There’s a big problem with some of the translated manga out there.
The thing is, I can’t figure out whether the problem is with the translation of the manga or the actual work itself.
See, with the first volume of a lot of the manga series that I’ve read the opening chapters tend to be a bit jumbled and confusing. It’s hard to figure out who’s who at times, what each character’s motivations are, what the general plot is, or something as simple as who the word balloon is pointing at when someone is speaking. I can’t figure out whether the reason for this is because it’s the first volume of the series and the writer/artist is still finding their way with getting the story together or if the actual translators were lazy with their job and didn’t actually sit down and make sure that all the dialogue made sense once it was worked out. Whatever the problem actually is, it can lead to a slightly frustrating read when you first pick up a new book, which isn’t a good thing. Every once in a while I’ll pick up a manga book and just feel like throwing it out the window because it’s such a pain in the ass to figure out what’s going on. Is it the actual artist/writer? Is it the American manga publishing company’s fault? Or is it my lack of patience and intelligence? I don’t know, but if I pay $10.95 for a manga it better damn well be a satisfying read.
Genshiken suffers from this exact problem.
The basic plot of this series is something that I, as a comic fan, should love. Basically, Genshiken is about manga/comic/anime/videogame fanatics in Japan. It’s something I should identify with, right? But because of the problems in the storytelling it became a bit frustrating to figure out some of the opening chapters of the book. A lot of it is simplistic enough so it’s not too hard to sort it out but my biggest frustration was with the placing of the word bubbles. At times it’d be a great big pain in the ass just trying to figure out what character said what. It wasn’t impossible to figure out (it is a comic after all) but it certainly didn’t help out with the reading experience.
The thing is, while the reading can be confusing at times, as the book progresses the characters tend to grow on you and the semi-familiar situations help you identify with them as the story goes through its paces.
The book follows the exploits of an otaku fan club in Japan. For the uninitiated of you out there otaku is the Japanese word for “fan” or “fanatic” usually in reference to anime or manga collectors. Central to the story are three main characters who are just joining up with the Genshiken fan club, also known as The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture: Kanji Sasahara, Saki Kasukabe, and Makoto Kousaka.
Kanji is the character that most readers of comics will more than likely identify with. He loves comics but is still at the stage where he’s ashamed of his obsession. He spends most of the book trying to hide the fact that he likes manga/anime and continually becomes embarrassed when someone discovers his hobby. He spends a big chunk of the early chapters just trying to decide whether or not he’s going to join the Genshiken club because he doesn’t even know if wants to be associated with comics in the first place. Kanji’s character is endearing and frustrating all at the same time as he can be a big reminder of the time when, and I’m sure most comic fans went through this, a lot of comic lovers were mortified to admit that they actually enjoyed comic books. Kanji, however, is a big reason why the book succeeds because as he finally decides to join up with the club he begins to gain some sort of pride in his hobby. He becomes more comfortable with the fact that, yes, he likes comic books and not only that, he enjoys hanging out with the other geeks that make up the club. He grows as a character and experiences all of the weird stuff that all of us comic fans come to discover. Everything from overcrowded conventions to fans who like to dress up as their favorite characters to porno comics to first discovering the wonder of a female comics fan (whose tastes, in their own way, are as bizarre as his own).
The other two leads add some comedic relief but tend to lack some depth. Makoto is the complete flipside of Kanji. He’s completely open about the fact that he’s an otaku and loves every aspect of his obsession. He’s the comic fan that most of us grow to become in that he’s proud he loves comics while being completely oblivious to the fact that, to most people, comic people are considered a bit outside the mainstream. Unfortunately, this tends to drive Saki crazy because she is completely superficial, has no love for manga or anime, and is all too aware of the fact that others see it as not the hippest lifestyle in the world. The problem is she’s been completely in love with Makoto from since they were kids. She can’t get over him, she’s head over heels. The thing is he just doesn’t fit her view of what her perfect boyfriend should act like so Saki spends most of the book trying to seduce Kanji away from the Genshiken club. It’s a futile effort, though. It seems that Kanji loves comics more than he loves her and that drives Saki up the wall with frustration. This works itself into a cute dynamic throughout the book and climaxes with Saki being so at the end of her rope that she actually ends up joining the Genshiken club.
Personally, I think the whole Saki/Kanji dynamic is fantastic as I’m sure there are plenty of women/girls out there who have to deal with the problem of getting sucked into their significant other’s obsession with comics/movies/videogames/etc. I know my wife has to deal with it. It’s really something that hasn’t been addressed in any comic series that I know of and a humorous spin is put on it so it’s a welcome part of the larger story. The only thing I didn’t buy into was the fact that Kanji would be completely oblivious to Saki’s advances. I mean, a comic fan who has a cute girl following him around and he doesn’t get that she wants to be with him? Um, yeah, not in the real world. In the real world a comic geek would drop to his feet and thank the gods of both Marvel and DC that an attractive girl would want to spend time with him. But, hey, this is a comic and it plays off as amusing so I was willing to let it go for the most part.
All in all Genshiken is a good little book. The art is great and the characters can be endearing especially if you’re a comic fan. The only thing that keeps it from being a flawless coming-of-age tale is, as I said before, the fact that it can be a bit of a pain to read. But in my experience with manga a lot of the translation/storytelling issues tend to be resolved in the volumes that follow the first. If anyone at Del Rey Manga is reading this I hope this is the case because a lot of fans could be turned off by the book’s layout problems. In my case, though, I’m willing to give the second volume of Genshiken a look and I think that any fan of manga or comics in general might want to give it a look. It’s not perfect but it’s got potential and a story that a lot of comic fans may identify with.
Remember, if you have an Indie book you’d like one of the @$$holes to take a look at, click on your favorite reviewer’s link and drop us an email.
Remember, if you have an Indie book you’d like one of the @$$holes to take a look at, click on your favorite reviewer’s link and drop us an email.
AMAZING FANTASY #10
This book’s two week’s old, but I’m still gonna take a moment of your valuable time to say that Scorpion’s story continues to impress. Remember Brian Vaughan’s spy-babe take on Mystique a year or two back? Fun enough stuff, but Mystique – essentially a terrorist and assassin - probably wasn’t the best vehicle for lighter spy adventure. The new Scorpion? Much better fit. The highlight this time out is a new look at techno-terrorists A.I.M., outfitted with a new pitch line for helping third world nations through technology. It’s still pretty lightweight, but Scorpion’s adventures continue to make the case that Marvel’s newer heroes – Young Avengers, Runaways, Livewires – are currently more interesting than its venerable legends. - Dave
DESOLATION JONES #2
What I think we have here is the beginning of a successful heir to the legacy of TRANSMETROPOLITAN. We’ve got a lead character that is as big a mixed bag as Spider Jerusalem ever was. He’s a tragic figure, he’s hateful and resentful, but he’s also kind and gentle as well. He’s got a mission but he’s really not sure why he’s bothering with it. We’re starting to see a nice cast of secondary characters develop too, with some more exposure to Jones’ own “Filthy Assistant” and the introduction of Emily, a girl who through experimentation gives off pheromones that make it impossible for almost all people to around her due the feelings of fear and revulsion it stirs in them. She’s a terribly gloomy and tragic character that I can’t wait to see more of. Plus we have hands down some of the top art on the market from J.H. Williams III and a mystery involving Hitler porn too boot. Those things right there are enough to make this one of the best reads on the stands. - Humphrey
FABLES #39
Who knew this book could survive without Bigby Wolf in the lead? But not only has it done that, it’s thrived, still as brilliant and darkly humorous as ever. A new alpha-male takes the stage this issue – Mowgli of Kipling’s JUNGLE BOOK – and the Beast and Mayor Charming have plans to put him to use striking back at The Adversary. I’m dying to see what Boy Blue’s up to back in the Homelands, but this is the kind of “meanwhile” issue you can get used to, highlighted by Mowgli’s interactions with old pals Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear. - Dave
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR # 21
Ok, I admit it, I was duped. When the last issue of this title came out I made a little sarcastic remark about “Next issue we get exactly what I expected but never wanted from these Ultimate titles, a Crossover with the regular Marvel Universe.” And that’s exactly where Mark Millar wanted me. I should have known something was up when Marvel was actually seemingly playing this event out without their usual bit of over-the-top hype, but then again I’ve been trying to avoid said hype for months now and really just tuned it out. And then I get this and I’m pleasantly surprised. What we have here is an issue that starts out like a FF book should--the team is out handling some baddies, but definitely in a more adventurous and science fictionish way. The team acts like they should, with good bits of joking and bickering back and forth between them. And then, as it builds to the end and you’re waiting for the inevitable… BAM! Millar kicks you in the bollocks and laughs at you for falling for such an obvious ploy. - Humphrey
SEVEN SOLDIERS: GUARDIAN #3 (of 4)
Grant “Morrisons-out” a bit in this issue, but I do love the premise: newspaper-sponsored hero Guardian duking it out with international robots in the bizarre setting of “Century Hollow”. It’s an international theme park ala Disney’s Epcot, meant to encapsulate earth’s population of six billion with 100 representative robots. So for example, only 30 robots are white, 70 non-white. Six of them control most of the wealth, and all of them live in America. 80 in substandard housing. Only one owns a computer. You get the idea - Morrison takes a fun statistics experiment and turns it into WESTWORLD! Where it derails slightly is with Morrison’s dialogue veering into that almost non-sequitur territory he enjoys, while some of the background soap operatics between our hero and his girl felt oddly traditional. Concept trumps specifics, making it all quite readable, but it’s still GUARDIAN’s weakest outing. - Dave
NEW AVENGERS #7
Simply put, Brian Michael Bendis is getting better. Or at least he is on NEW AVENGERS. While this comic is still an over-hyped monster ill-able to match the ballyhoo heaped upon it by Joey Q and the writer himself, I’ve enjoyed Bendis’ take on the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. As much as he gets some of his characters wrong (i.e. Cap’s lack of a spine when he caved to Iron Man’s inane rationale that Wolverine belongs on the team in the last issue), he gets a whole lot of things right in this issue. In this one, Bendis writes *gasp* a fight scene. And not the type of fight scene where all of the action is over in seconds because the mandate at Marvel seems to be that every villain is a walking joke these days. In this issue, we get an honest to goodness, extended slugfest between the Wrecker and Cage, Spider-Woman, Wolverine, and Spider-Man. One that is well written and doesn’t castrate the villain to make one wonder why he was ever thought of as a threat in the first place. AND it carries over into the next issue, none-the-fuckin-less! Alright Bendis! This was a fun issue with a big fight, a nice meeting of the minds involving the big brains and brawn of the Marvel U (although this is a bit like a lazy VILLAINS UNITED riff, if you ask me), a big mystery involving the Sentry, and an even bigger revelation/cliffhanger in the end. Thinking about the ramifications of the revelation/cliffhanger makes my brain hurt, but I am interested in seeing where Bendis is going with this. - Ambush Bug
ZOMBIE KING #0
Zombie cow-rape, get’cher zombie cow-rape! Yes, friends, Frank Cho brings his high-brow humor to the horror genre, and I’ll say this: it’s at least more entertaining than his softcore work on SHANNA. About half the issue is an almost-amusing sequence of a yokel farmer and his kid trying to stop a zombie from copulating with their cows, the rest is by-the-numbers government cover-up stuff about how the zombies came to be and why they want to fuck everything. Cho’s art, generally considered his strong suit, doesn’t do much for me. He’s got the anatomy stuff down, good visual balance, solid timing, but where are the backgrounds? Nowhere, it seems. And why does every character either have no shading or the same faux-dramatic swatch of shadow running down their face? It seems to be taken for granted the guy’s an artistic genius, but he’s not even in the ballpark of his inspirations like Wally Wood and Al Williamson. Consider this one a big ol’ “pass” for me, but fans of the twisted might be interested. I did laugh when the zombie tripped over his own spilled intestines, so that’s something. - Dave
PUNISHER #23
This issue is mid-arc, but since we haven’t covered the first few issues of this one, I felt the need to give it a shout out. Although Garth Ennis has had the annoying tendency to focus on supporting characters more than Frank Castle in the past, his entire run with the MAX line has proven to have some great Punisher character moments peppered in here and there. Ennis is more selective with said pepper in this arc, focusing on a wannabe street tough who wants to rule the underworld and tries to do so by pissing on the corpses of the Punisher’s family. Of course Frank is pissed. More pissed than ever before. The death toll is upped and the carnage flies furiously in this arc. Frank tries to deal with his rage and may be gaining a new partner in crime. This arc is moving slower than previous ones, devoting entire issues to supporting players, but Ennis takes the time to toss us into the mind of the Punisher more than in his previous series and we find out that it is a dark place indeed. - Bug
NEW WARRIORS #2 (of 6)
Me? Not so big on the wonky superhero stuff like FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE, but somehow this book’s ha-ha’s actually make me laugh. Is it the fact that I don’t have any particular attachment to the New Warriors, so they’re okay to throw in a lighthearted book? Maybe, but I’ve always been a Nova fan, so…hmm…I think the book might just be legitimately funny. This second issue brings the young reality-show heroes to a zoo in Kansas that just might be the staging ground for an animal uprising. It’s a great venue for artist Skottie Young, who’s clearly taken Disney’s TARZAN to heart, and his rendering of some of my favorite Marvel U. apes might just be definitive. Wells keeps the laughs coming as the team struggles to be effective under the supervision of a shrewish PETA-style spokesperson, but what impressed me most was that under all the silliness, the heroes themselves weren’t spoofed and the story was actually pretty keen. It also had one of those endings that I thought only Dan Slott could pull off, where you hit that last panel and you just have to grin. Highly recommended.- Dave
Howdy folks, Dave Farabee here introducing an all-new feature for the column where I ninja-loot news from other websites! I'm talking comic-centric places like Newsarama, The Pulse, Comic Book Resources, and all those gossip-packed message boards out there.
Want detailed info? Hit those sources. What we're here to give you is the highlight reel, the talking points, the info snacks, the bite-sized nuggets of knowledgy goodness! And it’s still a whopper of a feature this week as we continue to ride in the wake of the massive info-dump that is the San Diego Comic-Con. Check out this concise overview of the week’s news and be sure to click on the links for images and such. Let not my coding be in vain!
* Upcoming box-set CD by punk band The Ramones to include a 52-page graphic novel featuring art by luminaries such as Sergio Aragones, Jim Woodring, William Stout, and Bill Griffith.
* Bill “FABLES” Willingham has renewed his exclusive contract with DC Comics for two years.
* Warren Ellis provides commentary on DESOLATION JONES #1.
* New SOLAR, MAN OF THE ATOM to debut in September from Dynamic Forces.
* Reginald “BLACK PANTHER” Hudlin has signed on as President of Entertainment for the network BET.
* Dan Slott will write a new ongoing series starring The Thing in November. Andrea “STORMBREAKER” Di Vito draws.
* Microsoft has signed an exclusive to publish Marvel massively multiplayer online games for the Xbox.
* Trailer for the BONE video game.
* Jeph Loeb writes, Darwyn “NEW FRONTIER” Cooke draws a BATMAN/SPIRIT one-shot in December. Cooke launches a new SPIRIT ongoing in 2006.
* New Line Cinema has acquired the film rights to Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris’s EX MACHINA.
* Cloak & Dagger make a return appearance in RUNAWAYS issues 9-12.
* Bill “FABLES” Willingham apparently has a story idea for a meeting between Batman and FABLES’ own Bigby Wolf. No immediate plans to put it into action, though.
* Greg “GOTHAM CENTRAL” Rucka indicated the possibility of a new CHECKMATE ongoing in the wake of OMAC PROJECT.
* Spinning off of the miniseries MADROX and HOUSE OF M, Peter David has an ongoing X-FACTOR series in the works. Debuts in November, drawn by Ryan Sook.
* Peter David won’t be staying on INCREDIBLE HULK indefinitely. He leaves an issue after the HOUSE OF M tie-in arc ends.
* Thor returns in 2006. No details as yet.
* Kid superhero team Power Pack will crossover with the X-Men in October.
* Vertigo launches a monthly series called TESTAMENT in November. Series to focus on Biblical stories recurring in a modern context.
* Disney will be producing comics through Slave Labor Graphics. The opening salvo includes HAUNTED MANSION (October 2005), TRON (January 2006), and GARGOYLES and WONDERLAND debuting at unspecified dates.
* Paul Jenkins will be writing the series MYTHOS for Marvel, retelling the origins of major Marvel characters.
* Tokyopop will be producing manga based on various Jim Henson properties: LABYRINTH, THE DARK CRYSTAL, and the Neil Gaiman/Dave McKean feature film, MIRRORMASK (opens on September 30th). The LABYRINTH manga will be a sequel, while the DARK CRYSTAL and MIRRORMASK manga are prequels.
* A new Captain Atom miniseries - CAPTAIN ATOM: ARMAGEDDON - debuts in October. Writing by Will Pfeifer, art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Sandra Hope, and covers by Jim Lee and Alex Ross. Will see Captain Atom bounced to the WildStorm universe with potentially major consequences for that setting.
* Brian “DEMO” Wood will write DMZ for DC’s Vertigo line, collaborating with Italian artist Ricardo Burchielli. The series follows a photojournalist who finds himself in the midst of a new civil war in America.
* February 2006 sees a new MOON KNIGHT miniseries written by Charlie Huston (a prose crime novelist) and drawn by David "NEW AVENGERS" Finch.
* Zeb "NEW WARRIORS" Wells will write the four-issue mini FANTASTIC FOUR/IRON MAN: BIG IN JAPAN in October. Seth "GREEN LANTERN: WILLWORLD" Fisher draws.
* MARVEL TEAM-UP #14 will star Robert Kirkman's creator-owned superhero, Invincible, who appears in the Image comic of the same name. More intercompany crossovers may follow if it's successful.
* J. Michael Straczynski will write THE BOOK OF LOST SOULS for Marvel. Art by Colleen Doran.
* POWER MAN & IRON FIST supporting players Colleen Wing and Misty Knight will appear in a new series, DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON, written by Jimmy "THE MONOLITH" Palmiotti. Promo image.
* SHE-HULK returns with Dan Slott writing in October. The series will return to the numbering begun with the John Byrne series, thus putting issue 100 within sight. Explains Dan Slott: "We are such whores."
* Frank Cho will draw several issues of NEW AVENGERS following Steve McNiven's arc. Spider-Woman to be spotlighted.
* Marvel will announce a new X-STATIX project in the near future.
* Joe Casey will write FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST FAMILY, a six-issue miniseries debuting in January. Focus will be on the team's early years, ala Casey's AVENGERS: EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES.
* Joss Whedon and John Cassaday will remain on ASTONISHING X-MEN at least through issue #25.
* Warren Ellis has an unnamed team book coming up from Marvel. Announcements within a month.
* Sean McKeever will produce a new MARY JANE miniseries in October or November.
* Marvel’s big tease of the San Diego Comic-Con was this poster. It was shown at the end of Joe Quesada’s panel with Quesada dropping hints that the image related to a writer he’s always wanted to have at Marvel.
* Mark Waid has signed a two year exclusive with DC Comics. He'll continue on LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, write a new BRAVE AND THE BOLD miniseries, and also have some editorial consulting responsibilities ala Geoff Johns and Grant Morrison. Waid described BRAVE AND THE BOLD as being along the lines of JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED in its hero mixing. Waid's contract allows him to continue on his creator-owned Top Cow project, HUNTER-KILLER.
* Paul "100%" Pope will write and draw a four issue Batman prestige project titled BATMAN: YEAR 100. It imagines a Batman created in the year 2039 instead of 1939. Sample page 1. Sample page 2. Sample page 3. Sample page 4. Sample page 5.
* The creator and head writer of HBO's OZ, Tom Fontana, will write an original graphic novel titled BATMAN: HOPELESSNESS & FAITH. Cliff "HUMAN TARGET" Chiang draws.
* Matt "MAGE" Wagner writes and draws BATMAN AND THE MONSTER MEN in December, pitting Batman against a legion of creatures created by Hugo Strange and based on a story from the Golden Age.
* Free Comic Book Day for 2006 will occur on May 6th. No particular ties to a summer movie this outing.
* Antony Johnston, who recently became the first writer to fill in for Greg Rucka on QUEEN & COUNTRY, will write a post-apocalyptic-themed miniseries for Oni in Spring 2006. Title is WASTELAND.
* Craig “X-23” Yost takes over NEW X-MEN from Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir after HOUSE OF M. The new team includes: X-23, Surge, Hellion, Rockslide, Mercury, Elixir, and Dust.
* Sean McKeever returns with a new SENTINEL miniseries for Marvel in November. Udon to draw.
* Vertigo’s FABLES will get a hardcover anthology in the tradition of SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS. Titled FABLES: 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL, it will be written by Bill Willingham, feature art by Charles Vess, James Jean and others, and fill in the histories of the series’ major characters.
* FABLES will also have a spin-off called JACK OF FABLES following the further adventures of Jack after his flop as a movie mogul. Bill Willingham co-writes along with Matt Sturgis (new guy). Art is by Tony “HELLBLAZER: PAPA MIDNITE” Akins.
* Gilbert “LOVE & ROCKETS” Hernandez writes and draws the 128-page graphic novel SLOTH for Vertigo. Says Gilbert: “It's about a guy who decides he doesn't want to go to school one day and wills himself into a coma. When the boy returns to awareness a year later, he finds the world changed--assuming of course that he's actually really awake.”
* Steven “IT’S A BIRD” Seagle writes the new Vertigo series AMERICAN VIRGIN with Becky “DEMO” Cloonan on art. Vertigo editor Karen Berger calls it “controversial even for Vertigo” and Seagle says of the project: “It's a book about two of my most favorite pastimes today: sex and terrorism.”
* Howard Chaykin and David Tischman will be back with a new BITE CLUB miniseries, BITE CLUB: VAMPIRE CRIMES UNIT.
* Crime novelist Denise Mina becomes the first woman to write HELLBLAZER when Mike Carey’s run concludes later this year.
* Painter Kent Williams will adapt Darren “REQUIEM FOR A DREAM” Aronofsky’s screenplay for his pending movie, THE FOUNTAIN.
* Vertigo’s THE LOSERS will conclude early 2006.
* Richard and Wendy Pini will produce a new, underwater-themed Elfquest project titled ELFQUEST: DISCOVERY.
* McFarlane Productions has a
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Damn. Maybe I'll just buy Wizard to get the pinups.
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I'm confused about the Joe Quesada announcement/image/king thing. Should I know who this is?
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Aparo, in my mind at least, gave Batman his definitive look during his runs on BRAVE AND THE BOLD, BATMAN and BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS. I first experienced the coolness of Jim Aparo in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #121, which featured a killer cover image of Batman strapped to the front of a locomotive engine while the Metal Men jump off, clueless to his whereabouts. Aparo's work in ADVENTURE COMICS and AQUAMAN was another particular highlight and it would be great to see those issues collected.
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...is a hype masta boombasta. EIC at Marvel and editor of "Joe's Whatever," the weekly column that runs in every Marvel issue where he hypes big things on the horizon, usually making them sound like they're better than they are. He's also a damn good artist. ******** I take a perverse pleasure in the last line of that "Ultimate Fantastic Four" issue because of its double entendre ("...ever get the feeling you've been had?"). Here I was, getting ready for a lame crossover between the Marvel U and the Ultimate U, but no. Millar had to go and surprise me. Who does he think he is? I grooved to Warren Ellis' run on UFF, but hopefully Millar and Land's will be good too. I'm interested to see where he goes with this story.
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All good now.
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doc, I had no idea what you wuz talking about. Now I do. Yeah, that poster is mystifying to me as well.
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I am surprised more people aren't talking about Wildguard! They kick ass!
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Just imagine when Don King joins their merry band.
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We discussed it to death last week, but the more I think about the Miller/Lee crapfest, the more I think it sucks REALLY BAD. Just really plain, boring storytelling that takes the time to show Vicki's T&A, but nothing of true consequence. This issue felt like a film trailer or a preview issue for the upcoming issue. So disappointing that it's the real deal. As for New Avengers, I still say that it's a pretty rockin' issue, and I think I'm starting to like the twist at the end. Newsarama has a piece on it, worth checking out.
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You'll provoke the moviemack.
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It was a damn fine issue, setting things up nicely for the next two and leading into the movie. PS, if you're interested, the international trailer is up and it's better than the first: http://www.cantstopthesignal.co.uk/trailer/
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I was actually thinking that as I was writing, that my complaints with this book are similar to moviemack's with Batman Begins. We shouldn't necessarily compare the two (though BB is clearly stronger)--I just really wish that the single issue we were given here was told as a six-issue arc that'd more fully explore the characters and themes before rushing to trip over itself. It needed room to breathe, and you can't breathe in Vicki Vale's ass.
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It's fairly obvious that Bruce Wayne had Grayson's parents killed in order to flush out the lower echilon of a criminal order... and so he can get his hands on some sweet, sweet Dick ass. Heh. I said "Dick Ass".
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it's a great read. perfect for a lazy summer afternoon.
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Jul 20, 2005 2:15:22 PM CDT
First Time Checking Out The Comic Book Reviews Here....
by www.valiens.com
I really appreciate the job you've done. Nice work!
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Allstar Batman is still better than any first issue written by Bendis since he went over to marvel bitches. You don't like Batman knocking the shit out of Hawkman? Well let see someone take away your memories and see how feel.
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You do know that last line is a quote, right? In fact, it's a Johnny Rotten quote he uttered while on stage during a particularly dismal live performance with the Sex Pistols during their notoriously short (and only) U.S. tour. He was talking to the audience, and he actually meant the audience had been had by the Sex Pistols--it wasn't some grand social commentary. It just meant they had screwed their fans over and he knew it. Got a good chuckle out of Millar throwing a Rotten quote in there. Check out "The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle" to see the actual footage.
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I'll challenge you on that point and say that Bendis' early work on Ultimate Spider-Man was easily some of the best of his career. I think the first issue of that was head and shoulders above All Stat B&R. I know it's somewhat unfair to compare the two because they have different aims, but Bendis took the time in USM to make the reader care about Peter Parker, well before he becomes Spider-Man. We really don't know Dick Grayon yet (I'm referring to this issue on its own), and he's certainly about to become Robin by issue #3. Bendis might be too slow for some folks, but at least he sets himself a foundation. Miller, on the other hand, takes quite a bit for granted. (PS, that's not to say I don't like Miller as a writer--quite the contrary. He just botched this one.)
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Jim Aparo was the artist for most of the Knightfall saga (my favorite of all batman stories), and I still remember how haunting the story was because of how it was drawn. Batman hasn't been drawn so great since. Thanks for the memories Jim. You brought the story to life
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Jul 20, 2005 2:39:08 PM CDT
COPY-PASTE SHAME: the very best Batman related news ever: Paul P
by gus nukem
from Comicon.com/pulse *** http://tinyurl.com/7kukf *** . Just read it guys. This guy is a genius.
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I'm going to end up dropping like $100 bucks tonight. Crap.
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For someone that was so worried about Batman acting like a "crybaby", you spent almost all of your review being...a crybaby. No hating here, just commenting, is all.
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I've spoken my mind quite frequently on this site and never had an issue, as, I'm sure, has been the case for most others. You seem to be making a few allegations that The Man here at AICN has been keeping you down. What exactly were you banned for before? Do you have a link to your last post? And Doc, would you care to respond to the charges soon to be leveled against you?
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STEPHEN??????????????????????????
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hadn't thought of that... interesting!
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...if it was done like those old Buzz Maverick Weekly Updates he used to do.
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I like the new news recap a lot. Very, very cool. I'm looking forward to the Matt Wagner Batman/Hugo Strange book. His Legends of the Dark Knight 'Faces' storyline was awesome all the way around.
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in *chronological* order. 1.)for his Supreme run 2.) for his Miracleman run. Complete checklists, please. Thanks a million. Also, there have been 6 issues of 1963 released, right? Any plans for this series to be completed?
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Even after correcting the first "i" with an "e", you still can't get it right? Oy. Angels and ministers of grace defend us...
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Got it now. Apologies.
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Every time you post, I get this flash of a Christopher Lloyd as Doc from Back to the Future-type sitting at his computer and pounding away with flourish. Off topic, but I thought worth noting.
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I think the first issue of "All-Star Batman" seems to echo some of his general outlook toward women...as reflected in stuff like "Sin City" and (further back) Electra. Miller seems to view women characters as either soft-core vixens on a sugar-daddy safari or ice-cold, ball-crushing executioners. I don't recall seeing many of his female characters veering too far from that rather simplistic, misogynistic formula. True to form, Miller's Vicky Vale is...SURPRISE!....a prancing, soft-core vixen brandishing her sexuality like a weapon as she "hunts" for Bruce Wayne. Millar's view of women as calculating, almost *predadory* creatures comes through loud and clear in this latest outing. The guy's got some issues.
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Could Miller make Bruce look anymore like a child molester? Jesus.
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birraromark- I totally agree. After Sin City and this I found myself asking why Miller hates women so much... if he's married, God help his wife!
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Part 1 starts next month with Detective #809. Rectify your mistake Humphry Lee!
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Miller is married to one of the most talented colorists in the business, Lynn Varley, with whom who he's worked for over twenty years. If he "hates" women, why not come up with some knee-jerk psuedo-psychological diagnosis for her, too? You should consider that it's possible for a guy to write women in a way that you don't like and, at the same time, NOT "hate" women. It's such a simplistic aaccusation. But I promise not to make any sweeping, melodramatic descriptions of your personalities based on it.
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From Eshu: "After Sin City and this I found myself asking why Miller hates women so much."___I *do* believe Miller's got some personal psychological junk he's working through.....but at the same time, Miller is also a canny, calculating storyteller who knows his core audience very, very well. I would submit last week's AICN review of porn comics as a barometer for the pervasive, twisted view of women and sexuality that flood the comics biz.
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Jul 20, 2005 4:51:26 PM CDT
The "Dark Knight Returns" Robin was neither a soft-core vixen no
by rev_skarekroe
That is all.
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...Moore's SUPREME was excellent. The best move Rob Liefeld ever made was hiring Moore to write his characters. I don't hate Liefeld like EVERYONE else does, but I'll bet even he didn't know what doppelgangers his characters were. Moore did, though, and in a ballsy move, sorta spoofed everything his boss had ever done. 1963 is my favorite Alan Moore work. I know he's done more important and serious stuff, but his "Affable Al" and the "Ol' '63 Sweatshop" was a brilliant satire of the Marvel icons, Stan Lee and the Marvel Bullpen, without mocking them or being cruel. I have read many times that the conclusion of 1963 will never happen. One of Moore's dead projects.
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Rev said: "The "Dark Knight Returns" Robin was neither a soft-core vixen nor a ball-crushing executioner."____Yeah, 'cuz she was a GIRL...not a grown woman. Frank's grown women usually conform to the two extremes I outlined.
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...WTF? Even IF this All-Star stuff sucks (and I doubt it will), he did DKR...all else is forgiven.
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Jul 20, 2005 5:07:59 PM CDT
ASB&R was wretched not just for wasting 23% of the issue on empt
by sleazyg.
...but because the characterization was so far off and because it was such a pointlessly dull, grim waste of time full of shitty, shitty dialogue. When the ALL-STAR books were announced, the intent was to have a few series where people who didn't regularly read comics could pick up stuff with the most iconic characters of the century and jump right in. Instead we've got another half-assed retelling of an origin done in such a foul-mouthed, mopey, violent fashion that it cannot *possibly* appeal to anyone who isn't already a comics (and Batman) reader. Why bother with this launch at all if it was going to be directed at such a small niche audience? This should have been a gloriously dazzling, fun, accessible title instead of a bunch of gray, muddy dreck punctuated by unnecessarily overly sexualized pinup girl images. Then again, I've found that revisiting the original DARK KNIGHT stuff from the 80's is pretty frikkin' painful if you're no longer 15, so this issue was actually exactly what I expected.
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Am I the only one who finds it strange that Miller insisted on doing a Dick Grayson Robin origin story? He left him out of Dark Knight Returns altogether and then made him a villain in the Dark Knight Strikes Back. The DKSB portrayal of Dick Grayson is so disprespectful but now here we are getting Miller doing his origin. How very odd.... Still, tell me that the last page is not a kick when we get to see our first look at Batman and it is the Dark Knight. That last page even looks like it was drawn by Miller.
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Nice guy, true professional. I met him at a Chicago-con back when the FIRST Batman movie came out. He made the 80's and 90's Batman runs great! Some of his finest work includes Death in the Family, and the Ten nights of the KGBEAST.****Not only that, he was the guy who did great horror work...including a revival of The Specter during the 70's that has never been match.******As far as I can tell, Frank Miller last two Batman projects, has been nothing more than Sin City with capes. I'll give it a few more issues...to see where its heading. As for BATMAN in JLA...He wasn't a crybaby. He's been burned by the very people he once trusted. They took his mind from him, which is Batmans greatest asset. Nice guy, true professional. I met him at a Chicago-con back when the FIRST Batman movie came out. He made the 80's and 90's Batman runs great! Some of his finest work includes Death in the Family, and the Ten nights of the KGBEAST.****Not only that, he was the guy who did great horror work...including a revival of The Specter during the 70's that has never been match.******As far as I can tell, Frank Miller last two Batman projects, has been nothing more than Sin City with capes. I'll give it a few more issues...to see where its heading. As for BATMAN in JLA...He wasn't a crybaby. He's been burned by the very people he once trusted. They took his mind from him, which is Batmans greatest asset.
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1.) Your review of AS Batman and Robin (which I will now call ASS Batman and Robin) was spot on. 2.) JLA review not so much. I didn't notice a lot of the things you nitpicked, and Batman punching out birdboy was out of character period, regardless of previous injury. That was the point. For years batman has been an asshole without any obvious reason and a loner for no obvious reason. This (retroactively) gives him a reason for both. Although, how long he's known is a mystery. 3.) The 7 Soldiers books are only getting better, and I'm amazed at how much morrison can fit in one issue. 4.) I loved the new News section, and I think you're almost to the point where the column could go bi-weekly, one with primary reviews, the other with news, quick hits. Something along those lines. One announcement I didn't see you guys post is the new western comic written by Azzarello. That gets me pretty excited, as does a Tom Fontana Batman. As does the premise for Batman: Gotham Country Line.
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Bi-weekly should have been twice-weekly. Oh, and as much as we all hate it, Joe Q's recent contract with marvel is a major announcement.
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Jul 20, 2005 6:10:58 PM CDT
Oh, I made the miatake of thinking Batman was a comic-book chara
by mr. anderson
I'm glad Buzz was able to set me straight. I'm also glad to know that even though Jim Lee can draw impossibly hot women, he should refrain from doing so simply because his audience is old enough to get laid and buy porn. When I was reading the issue, I was thinking how perfect a pairing Jim and Frank are. Frank can write hot women, and Jim can draw them. And I was also thinking how funny it was to see an incredibly sexy woman who exudes the confidence that comes with knowing she can have any man she wants turning into a fifteen year old at the thought of going out with Bruce Wayne. Frank's Batman is the absolute alpha-male, so shouldn't some of that spill over into Bruce Wayne? I thought this was a cool first issue with great writing and great art, but thanks to the review here, now I know that it sucked.
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Untimate fantastic Four surprises me wvery month by being of a consistently high quality. The ending of this months episode was an absolute hoot - I loved the 30-Days-of-Night stylings of the final page. Johnny Rotten quote - brilliant. Between this and the last few eps of the mainstream FF, we're really being spoiled for FF goodness. I guess that's what the movie was for - balance to the...um...force. All Star Batman - DCs answer to the Ultimate line. Anyone surprised this was lame? I really dislike Frank Miller's work, so I'm biased. On the subject of Batman - I read pretty much all the batman books( Detective comice, Batman, Legends, Gotham Knights)but I have to confess - I always feel afterwards the way I feel after a night on the sauce. I remember most of it but don't really understand why any of it happened. Is it just my inability to cope in general or are there too many Bat books running too many conflicting stories? I would drop one or two if I could remember which ones it is I don't like. I'm usually halfway through before I remember what the particular story is. Don't even suggest I read in the store - I hate those bastards. Every Thursday I hit Forbidden Planet in Glasgow and every week there's some fat bastard with a backpack standing reading a comic right in my fucking way. Just buy the fucker you peasant! It's only 2 quid. And by the way - if anyone from that particular store is reading - stop stacking the goddamn toys in front of the new releases. Fucking unable-to-lay-your-shop-out bastards.
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However, now's the time to buy comics on ebay as the comics market is in the shitter. I see collections worth over 500 dollars going for 125.00 and less all the time. Unfortunately, dvd's and video gaming has killed the comic book market.
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Jul 20, 2005 6:38:10 PM CDT
If Harry Had A Brain In His Head, He'd Dump You AND This Com
by the beast
Dude, just shut up and get to the point. Why can't you just read the books, put up what they're about, and tell us why you did or didn't like it? These obnoxious rants are annoying and useless. I stop reading your reviews after the first sentence, and not because I got the info I wanted, or maybe I did... that you're an idiot. You're basic assumption of everything is, DON'T BUY COMICS BECAUSE THEY ALL SUCK. You'r a loser, and if Harry knew what was good for his site, he'd ditch you and your lame-ass critiques.
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There just wasn't much there. A third of the book was devoted to Vicki Vale, a minor character at best. The whole story could have been told in five pages. Love Miller's writing and Lee's art, but Miller seems to be suffering from Chuck Dixon disease. Bang out any old story and collect the check. And "write" lots of splash pages with eight words to save even more time...and waste readers' dollars. Bendis gets a lot of flak
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At least it is for those of us who couldn't care less about how much they might be worth years from now. I don't buy EX MACHINA or DOC FRANKENSTEIN or ASTONISHING X-MEN or 100 BULLETS or Y: THE LAST MAN or ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN or THE PUNISHER or SUPREME POWER because I think they're a good investment financially. I buy them because they're written by people who really know how to tell good stories with interesting characters. I don't really give two shits about low print runs or variant covers or whatever it is that makes a comic valuable. To me, what makes a comic valuable is whether or not I'll want to go back and read it again sometime, or whether my kids will.
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Jul 20, 2005 6:53:02 PM CDT
Guess there are some pretty hardcore Frank Miller/Batman fans in
by ribbons
I usually don't see the "don't review stuff you don't like" bullshit outside of comic book movie or Spielberg movie TalkBacks.
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...if you're not gonna like the review, don't fucking read it. Or does that logic only work when you want it to? Dillweeds.
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I know most of the comic book geeks here are more fixated on the latest Batman offering and don't care, but Uncle Scrooge was one of the finest comic books ever made, when Carl Barks was at the helm. It's not surprising Lucas' name popped up--he pretty much swiped the opening sequence of "Raiders" from a Scrooge comic. Barks' Scrooge was alternately hilarious and thrilling, with wonderfully clear and focused storytelling and great running gags. And the cast of characters was wonderful, especially the villains. "Only a Poor Old Man" is possibly the most understatedly poignant comic book story ever told. I'm not quite as enamoured of Don Rosa, but he's definitely had his moments. I nearly picked this up in San D., maybe I will now.
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Jul 20, 2005 7:09:05 PM CDT
We Do A Really Weird Thing With Our Reviews Here. When We Like
by buzz maverik
If I give something a negative review, it's because I love comics, good comics, and I want to do my part to help weed out the bad. There's even such a thing as *gasp* a mixed review! For example, I don't feel that I've given Mr. Bendis a single completely negative review here, not like I did ASB&R. They've all been mixed to positive, but when you have fans as loyal as Mr. B, that's considered negative. Different people have different tastes, can you dig it, suckas? No, you can't. I'm glad some people liked ASB&R and that they're talking about it here. Finally, I'll bend my never explain policy: I don't give run downs of the plot. It's boring and I'd hate to give away a story whether I liked it or not, because someone will like it and they deserve to discover it for themselves. As to telling whether I liked it or not, I usally do that. If there's a negative rant, that's what the comic made me think about. And if I'm thinking that newspaper columnists don't look like Vicki Vale or have her level of affluence, then the writer and artist messed up because I shouldn't be thinking about that, right? Why make it boring just because it's a review? We all had to suffer through other kids book reports in school. Besides, I get to do this as long as I want because my Dad owns the Internet.
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I'm havin' a party at his house this weekend. You guys are all invited. We'll trash the place!
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...but through reprints of his SPECTRE material, odds and ends '80s Batman stories I bought, and the acquisition of a beat up copy of that BRAVE & THE BOLD where Bats teams with Sgt. Rock and Aparo himself appears on the cover being told at gunpoint to draw Batman dying...I've come to see that this was a guy who could draw like a sumbitch! I almost think of him as DC's answer to John Buscema - never quite a superstar in the sense of a Frank Miller of John Byrne, but a consummate storyteller and a major part of the bedrock for DC's finest art of the '70s. I enjoyed some of his stuff in the '80s - A DEATH IN THE FAMILY and Byrne's "Many Deaths of the Batman" - but I have to say it's his earlier stuff that really rocked the house and that I'd like to see more of. I think it'd be aces of DC to put out the equivalent of one of Marvel's "Visionaries" books tributing the guy's best stories. Over at Newsarama and The Pulse, the tribute threads are filled with scanned images and they're just gorgeous. Here's the BRAVE & THE BOLD cover I mentioned: http://tinyurl.com/bgonz Some grisliness from his famed SPECTRE stint: http://tinyurl.com/dgd6c Aparo drawing the iconic Batman of the 70s (pretty much the definitive look, far as I'm concerned): http://tinyurl.com/76gm9 Some kick-ass sci-fi imagery from an issue of AQUAMAN: http://tinyurl.com/96553 I know his AQUAMAN run is one of his best-known runs, and I'd love to see it reprinted in one of those new black-and-white books DC is doing in response to Marvel's ESSENTIALS line. Aparo's art looks like it'd read well in black-and-white, same as John Buscema's. RIP, my man.
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Great call, Doc Falken!
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Stlfilmwire, I'm going to try to cover the first two issues of the new series for next week. I really enjoyed the first mini (here's one of my reviews: http://tinyurl.com/88k4k) and the one-shot follow-up, but FOOL'S GOLD #1 felt like a weak outing to me. Planning to give 'er a re-read along with the second issue, though, and we'll see how that goes. Of course I'm still disappointed Astro Girl didn't make the cut...
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every single week that i go into comic quest in redlands california some mouth breathing moron with horrible BO is planted right in the middle of the stand i want to look at reading a comic.and its true about the backpacks too!its gotten to where i try to go to the comic store as little as possible or at times i know it will be empty because at certain times it smells like a godamn armpit in there!and forget going on saturdays when they have the magic and heroclix games. even the guy that runs the store looks like he want to shoot himself in that mess.i love comics but sometimes i fucking hate the culture!
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Jul 20, 2005 8:09:39 PM CDT
Why is the Catwoman's leather and goggles look "postmodern"?
by sideshowbob
Am I missing something?
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yeah its basically just previews of issue 1 and pages from some of the other issues. its not really too interesting which is probably why i havent picked up the series.
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I got a laugh out of the Vickie Vale spread though. Took me back to the old Betty & Veronica days, except porny. Jim could use some help with the feet, too.***My main gripe was, I thought this line was supposed to be fun to offset the newer, darker DCU. But no - Batman's still a dick, and kind of a creepy one at that. Miller's bat-schtick is tired. Also, did anyone else think the preview of cover #2 is extremely disturbing, or is it just me? http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Oct05/AllStarBatman_Robin.jpg Ay, yi, yi, Jimbo.
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I bemoaned the fact that the Ultimate & regular Marvel unis were gonna cross-over, but decided to give it a chance because I figured Millar would at least make it interesting. Then I got to the last page. I have never been happier to be suckered. I agree with Kuryakin; Ultimate FF has consistently been a good read......Desolation Jones is pretty damn good too. If you haven't yet, you could probably still get the first 2 issues. I suggest giving it a try....Fables continues to deliver. It helps that there's such a deep well of interesting characters to draw from, and that Willingham seems to always have interesting takes on them.....I think I said pretty much every word I'll waste on All-star Batman & Robin last week. No, wait..it sucked. There. That does it.
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Man, I'd love nothing more than a return of Buzz's weekly updates, but his mind works in a way that mine can't - something to do with ideaspace and tequila - so I'm sticking with a "just the facts" approach on SHOOT THE MESSENGER for the immediate future. Consider it a temporary refuge from snark in the column.
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Speilberg has claimed credit for the opening sequence of Raiders, so don't blame Lucas for stealing it from Barks. AND Sorta on the same subject ... In a recent Mythbusters episode, they gave credit to Scrooge and his nephews for originating the method they used to raise a sunken boat.
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You give Herc his own distinctive column for tv news, I'd like to see a seperate and distinctive area for comic news. It should not be mixed in with the movie news.
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Y'all followed the link, right? Well ya damn well better have! http://tinyurl.com/bp7f2 Thoughts? I like the look, but some of the voices put me on edge a bit (excepting the Dragon - they nailed him). And the weird thing is, I can't quite say what I'd have preferred - I just know that the voices don't match the ones I was hearing in my head when I read the comic.
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It makes me laugh. I demand a repeat appearance by the Chupacabra from last issue.
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Bone could have been a bit higher pitched, but it ain't bad. Of course, it seems I read the comics a while ago.
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http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0507/20/bddc.htm Maybe it's just a Longbow Hunters homage? Sheesh.
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Quick thoughts on this week's stuff:
* Every comic i was interested in was covered in cheap shots...except for All Star. Not really the @$$holes' fault but hey, i can complain and i will.
* "You can't breathe in Vicki Vale's ass" is a brilliant line.
* When i was a kid i used to read a LOT of Scrooge comics, there was this particular one i loved because the story was so cool. I can't really remember what it was but i was blown away by the story. And i was like 4. Good sign.
* Let's all hate Frank Miller now, it's so chic! Guy's a great writer and a kickass artist. His 80s Batman stuff is in my opinion brilliant and he made Daredevil something special. But now he may very well be the next Chris Claremont. Oh and his Joker was gay? Where?
* I read a preview for Millar and Land's first UFF book and it was so cool. The thing against a t rex...sigh.
* "Dvds and video gaming has killed the comic book market". Not really. And even if it were i don't think it'd be that bad. I mean, with some exceptions, video games are stupid. Fun, yes, but depthless and moronic. Comics tho', they can be pretty intelligent stuff, pretty cool stuff, pretty subversive stuff (in a way that GTA can never hope to be) and many times downright impressive...but everyone wants stupid kids who can't tell their dicks from their controllers reading the damn things. Kids are dumb! If you really care about giving kids what they want you have to scoot down to their level and deliver moronic thrills, and then it all goes to hell. Sitting in the theater and watching Spidey sing around Manhattan in those cool as hell shots made me realize comics really can't compete with that. The reason Stan and Jack made you all doozy with their imaginative and crazy shit is because movies couldn't do that, the technology wasn't there. Now it is, and everyone's complaining it's giving comics a run for their money, which it also is. So what then? The medium has to grow up and expand to give readers everything they can't get from movies! How does that happen? I don't know, you figure it out!
* The Beast's comment was so retarded it made me cry. Stupid fuck
* Buzz, if your dad really owns the internet he must be pretty pissed at Bendis for breaking it.
* Darwin Cooke's new Catwoman costume design isn't embarrasing, it's fucking brilliant.
* Long live last week's talkback, all 4 of you who stuck with it, i heart you. -
Excerpted from Wikipedia for ease of cut-and-paste:
"In
architecture, art, music and literature, postmodernism ... Postmodern style is often characterized by eclecticism, digression, collage, pastiche, and irony. Some artistic movements commonly called postmodern are pop art, architectural deconstructivism, magical realism in literature, maximalism, and neo-romanticism . Postmodern theorists see postmodern art as a conflation or reversal of well-established modernist systems, such as the roles of artist versus kitsch versus high cultureaudience, seriousness versus play, or...
In context, my reference to Catwoman's leather and goggles outfit is as a contrast to my preferred costume--her skirted purple outfit from the 70s. The 70s costume was designed and implemented during a time period in which functionality of costume design was rarely, if ever, taken into account. A costume was designed strictly for the aesthetic value it had on the printed page.
In the post-modern era we are in now, there has been a strong movement AWAY from purely aesthetic costume design and, instead, an emphasis on the utilitarian aspect of a super-hero/villain costume.
The black leather X-MEN costumes in the movies, or the red leather of Daredevil in the movie, for example, are good examples of the digressive and ironic approach that is emblematic of a post-modern approach to mainstream super-heroes. Catwoman's current leather and goggles costume is also emblematic of this approach.
What makes such approaches doubly ironic in their attempt at hyper-realism is that in their attempt to forego the classic costumes because of an unrealistic functionality, they set up a standard of reality that even they cannot meet. For example, the postmodern realism of leather and goggles outfit of Catwoman is simply illusory because it ignores the fact that her goggles would steam up, after just a little while flinging herself around the rooftops of Gotham, she'd be a disgustingly sweaty, smelly, mess, and worst of all, the annoying squeaking as her leather outfit crunches and scrapes would make her a very NOISY "Cat-Burglar."
So, basically, it is post-modern because it ignores her past, classic costumes, and instead embraces a false modernity in an attempt to be eclectic and even ironic.
--Prof
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Reality time: it's a comic book character. Her name is Catwoman. She jumps hundreds of feet on rooftops that would shatter the ankles of any human like glass. She's been to other planets and teleports into satellites. She lives in a world where people fly. If creators try to ground her in a more "realistic" costume, it's because so much belief is already suspended that they try to add just a dash of realism. I believe every spandex-clad character would be a "sweaty, smelly, mess" underneath their togs. The bottom line is, they chose the new costume because it looks GOOD. And it does. There are far bigger problems in the world and in comics. Focus your research on those.
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it's painfully obvious that you *COPIED* and pasted the above abstract. Don't try to mock us. Darth Kal-El: Thanks; now I feel a whole lot better and the guys at my comics store barely escaped receiving a new windpipe in the wrong place. Do yourself a favour and track the first 4 issues. I guarantee you 'll stay for the other 2.
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Sorry if I'm not reading along very well. Which title are you talking about for the first 4 issues?
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and will probably be met with a(possibly deserved) deluge of mockery, but I'll say it anyway. I was going through some boxes of comics the other day I haven't been through in a while (often asking myself what the hell I was thinking) when I came across old issues of Star Brand. You remember, one of the New Universe books Marvel put out in the 80s, and, in my opinion, one of the strongest of those pretty weak books. Then it hit me. Wouldn't it be sorta cool if Marvel fired that up again, only with good writers? Imagine: J.M. Sraczynski on Star Brand. Warren Ellis on D.P.7. Garth Ennis on Merc. Mark Millar on Justice. Neil Gaiman on Nightmask. Brian K Vaughn on PSIForce. You could just forget Kickers Inc. For all the cheesiness, there were some cool ideas and characters in there. A world of paranormals created by a single event, an event triggered by the power now possessed by one totally unqualified man. Just give these (or other talented writers) this little universe and turn 'em loose. Am I alone here? Who's with me?.......hello?
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Jul 20, 2005 10:37:19 PM CDT
Follow up on why I characterize the current Catwoman costume as
by prof c
To Top Jack:
Apparently, the pedantic tone of my earlier post was not enough of a "flag" to you. The post was purposely verbose and senseless as that was what I felt Sideshow Bob's remark deserved. - - -
Bottom line as to how her costume is Post-Modern? - - - Cause I don't like it.
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No worries. But the $5 words on the aint-it-cool talkback is a bit over the top. Oh, and your taste in Catwoman costumes suck.
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"Comic people fall into two groups. The larger group would genuinely like to bring in new readership and that means getting kids back into reading comics. The other group is this weird contingent of the macho and the artistic types that don't give a shit if kids read comics. "
Testify! You speak the gospel truth, All Star Buzz. I was hoping the All Star line would be all ages,something in between the current DCU and DC Kids titles. When my nieces and nephew graduate from Archie, Uncle Scrooge and the DC Kids titles, I don't see much for them by way of superhero books until they are in their mid teens. By then they may be into Manga or something else entirely.
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I do believe this is Miller's best work.
Totally fuck ASS Batman and Robin. Its illogical bull crap. And what continuity is it in?
Disagree on ULT. Fan Four. I prefered the team that lead into these issues. Those were by far the best of the series. This was weak and hyped beacuse we all grovel at Millar's ass cheeks. -
The new Catwoman costume is...wait for it...pretty cool. Please be quiet.
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Well not really "Kickers Inc." I remember when that came out though I was so excited, almost as excited as the toy commercials for the evil Horde on He Man. Never that innocent again I suppose. I wanted to say about Miller that the scene from DKR where Carrie almost falls and he holds her close and says "Good soldier" is incredibly touching.
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was dead on. Miller's lost it.
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And I like the talent you picked for each book. I think it would work. I like a great deal of the Ultimate line, but I prefer the type of Marvel regime that actually had the chutzpah to go outside the proven and create a new universe. It failed but I don't care; I wouldn't have gotten the $$ if it'd succeeded. While I'm happier with Marvel since Jemas got fired, everything "new" they do is really the same old superheroes. A return to the New Universe would be a bold step. Or they could create a new New Universe of Vertigo style stuff.
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I heard it was coming back in some form actually. I don't know where but it was from a reliable source. Maybe more details at WW Chicago? In an upcoming "shoot the messenger"? Stay tuned, true believers!
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And I asked the question, so there. Hey, if you're calling yourself "Professor Challenger" you *better* dig out the $10 words! It's funny, I tend to think of postmodernism as an over-the-top pastiche of modern & past stuff that flies in the face of what's modern, and in fact parodies it and renders such labels useless. My idea of a post-modern comic these days is actually something like what Dan Slott does with, say, She-Hulk. It flies in the face of modern trends in a large part because it incorporates the ideals of comics past (ie, having fun in the medium, wearing goofy costumes, big silly ideas, humor), while still winking at modern trends, and having a healthy dose of self-awareness. *** Well, because Catwoman's costume is right in line with modern trends, I'd say it is "modern" not "postmodern".
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You said: "The 70s costume was designed and implemented during a time period in which functionality of costume design was rarely, if ever, taken into account. A costume was designed strictly for the aesthetic value it had on the printed page.". *** But then you go on to explain how the modern costume is not functional at all! And Hell, the new look *does* look cool on the page. (As did the purple, I should add). *** Anyway, the new costume looks best when Darwyn Cooke draws it (he designed it, no?). And his style is such that the reader throws reality out the window right off the bat. So, in a way, the costume is more "acceptable" when it comes from his pen. *** I'm talking out my ass now. But thanks for the articulate response to my question, Prof.
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Jul 20, 2005 11:44:52 PM CDT
Follow up on why I characterize the current Catwoman costume as
by prof c
Modernism includes certain aspects that are similar to Post-Modernism. Specifically to this discussion would be the rejection of common tradition. Where I think Post-Modern becomes a shorthand way of insulting something you or I may not "like" is that a Post-Modern sensibility is grounded in a cynicism and self-conscious attempt at irony. In other words, it's the puffed up arrogance motivating the thought or action that generates the Post-Modern label.
And the fact that I think her costume looks stupid and I want her back in that skin-tight purple thing with the high-cut long skirt and high-heeled boots.
mrow -
That's my POINT! :) In an "attempt" to be relevant to current readers and attempting to forego the traditional, the post-modernist veers into ironic self-parody himself.
In this case, the designer of Catwoman's costume. And I WILL concede that the designer of her costume makes it "work" much better in context simply because his art is much more old-style traditional and this gives all of his costume depictions a certain "classic" feel. In the current JLA, the depiction's much more grounded in the hyper-real look and it makes her costume come off kind of ridiculous -- especially when paired up on the pages with those garish goofy old-style 70s outfits of the SSOSV. -
Does the best rendition of Catwoman i've seen. Cooke's great too, but Stewart...wow.
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Jul 21, 2005 12:19:16 AM CDT
Nice to see New Avengers getting some love. This issue was damn
by heywood jablowme
All Star B&R was WAAYYY overhyped. And it's for all the reasons listed in Buzz's review and some of the opinions dotting last week's talkback (shout-out to the guy who said Miller is becoming a parody of himself, sorry I don't remember/too lazy to look). I'm in for 2 more issues and then I'm waiting for the trade if this is the best that Miller & Lee have to offer (and I know it's not) Totally glad I hung in for New Avengers. Guess what? I saw Daredevil in this week's Daredevil! And, (you won't believe this) he was fighting a bad guy. Crazy. What's up with the thesis papers over Catwoman's costume? Some bastards will pick a fight over anything around here. Except for 2 things: 1-Chuck Austen is a bastard and 2-Cheese tastes good.
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Heywood you're my new best friend
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It's too damn post-modern.
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queso blanco--yummy...i'm digging this desolation jones cat...anyone else get the suped up invincible release or am i alone...like a uwe boll fan...he lives in uwe boll's house...has the same name too...the guys biggest fan.
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I am so tired about the bullshit perpertrated by WIzard Magazine. I don't know when it happened, probably around 2002, but Wizard has been constantly and wilfully been taking apart in the hype machine that pushes comics. And that is so wrong! A publication like WIzard has a responsibility to stand back from that crap and report about it in a consistent and more or less unbiased way. Not actively take part. I remember a letter from a reader that appeared in wizard, where the reader asked why wizard didn't actively review comics anymore. ANd the answer was, that they have a limited amount of pages in their mag and it would be more conducive to all if they presented positive reviews. NOw the question is: Why then, if you claim to be the on the Pulse of the comic book industry, in the U.S.,the absolute authority of the funny pages, do you not write about the comic book industry. Last time I checked, Joey Q and Dan Didio weren't the only two people in the world shelling out shekels to buy the (now) crap ass Wizard Magazine.
THe last their conviction and as a result these morons are going to loose their right to say anything, ANYTHING about comics.
What they should do is have dedicated columnists, like our fine Assholes here, to review books and give the real shit on a comic book.
That way they insulate themselves against their benefactors (read Marvel and DC).
And if they continue on there current path, well my shekels are going somewhere else. OR, Can we sue there asses for being a bunch of sellouts??
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I can't remember ever going and getting a Wizard to really determine what titles I wanted to buy. Usually I get it because of the great photos and layout, and for the interviews with the artists. Man, the @$$holes need to get some interviews. May I suggest a man-god named John Byrne?
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I've got some questions that would give the guy an opportunity for a very three-dimensional portrayal, but...I don't know that he'd have us. Investigating.
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Post Modernism is one of many ways of interpreting the world around us. It argues against the irriduceable truth of earlier philosophical theories. Post Modernism is all about seeking new/multiple meanings in the objects and structures that surround us. It is a thought process and not an object. Catwomans costume is not post anything. It is just an object. All objects intrinsicly carry mulitple meanings. These meanings are created by the viewers interrogation of the object. The viewers opinions of an object are based on their personal interpreation. There are an infinite variety of ways to interperet the world around us. Profs comments are just his personal application of his own aesthetic values to the costume. He wants tits and ass. Personally I want Darwyn Cooke back.
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Jul 21, 2005 7:16:58 AM CDT
Vroom, glad you reviewed BANANA SUNDAY! It was, without a doubt,
by dave_f
Okay, so it's not the kind of book that'll change the world, but it did get into my head. I went in wary of the thing, 'cause honestly, the whole "monkey = good!" in-joke in comics is getting old to me. Sure, sure, it's a laugh-and-a-half that Julie Schwartz used monkeys all over the place in DC's Silver Age, but I think the industry's self-awareness of that phenonomenon has run its course as a source of humor. That said...I swear, I had the dopiest, happiest grin on my face after reading the monkey-laden BANANA SUNDAY. It's unabashedly cute, and coupled with Colleen Coover's beautiful cartooning and the Looney Tunes timing of the humor, that ain't a bad thing at all. Best of all: it made me laugh out loud. If a book can do that once, it's doing good, but this book busted me up three or four times *easy*. Seek this one out, my homies. It's the cure for what ails ya.
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when scrooge gets some play on this site or any for that matter...nice review dave f.
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Um. Same thing.
Gus Nukem don't read too well. -
Jul 21, 2005 8:00:14 AM CDT
Thanks, Blackthought (and the other Scrooge McDuck fans out ther
by dave_f
Reading the LIFE & TIMES stuff was a blast for me, a transition to a style of storytelling so inherently innocent that it can't help but strike a chord. Specifically, it reminded me of the emphasis on work ethics (especially for young people) that pervade Hayao Miyazaki's animated films. Certainly the Scrooge stuff doesn't dabble in the sophistication of Miyazaki's material - it's more precisely targetted at younger readers - but the same sincerity comes through. And, y'know, that's cool. Apparently Scrooge material still sells gangbusters in Europe - in the high hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions - so it's nice to know at least some kids are still reading comics in the world, and comics with values no less. The ironic thing is that the Scrooge stuff is so quintessentially American. Naturally, it doesn't sell here...
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Bunch of people all get powers because of one event? Go read "Rising Stars"...
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I think he was in a church basement somewhere puking up a demon baby. PUKING UP A GOD DAMN DEMON BABY. WHAT THE FUCK??????
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Just had to get that off my chest. You know... demon baby.
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I don't read DC much, but damn, is this story gonna end? And people say Bendis drags his stories out? It's been the same characters re-iterating the same points over and over and over again for over a year now. What, Hawkman is a hardass and was for the mind-wiping, and Flash wasn't there but he's against it, and Green Arrow is more pragmatic and regrets it? We get it! We got it the first 50 times you've hammered these points home. It's like the presidential elections last year, with the same people saying the same things over and over for a year. *** Anyway, in the last year I've been going from thinking Geoff Johns is a good writer, to thinking he is merely a writer I don't *get*, to thinking he's just overrated, to thinking he's a hack. As Geoff goes, so goes DC. (7 Soldiers exempted)
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Would make a pimp-ass movie, and is the best book on the shelves rights now.
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1. Superheroes never smell under their costumes. The fabric is designed to wick any moisture AWAY from the skin. This goes double for any costume made of unstable molecules. Sue Storm smells like cotton candy, God damn it. Although I do agree that in that leather get-up, Catwoman smells like a drowned cat. Consider this a vote against her current duds, because I swear she's an oxygen tank and flippers away from being Scuba Steve.
2. All Star Batman and Robin didn't suck. There wasn't anything really bad there. There also wasn't anything good or original or even mildly interesting there. This is one of the blandest comics I've read in a long time. It just felt...unnecessary. If DC wants an Ultimate-style universe that allows new readers to jump on easily, they need to just suck it up and do it. Marvel, despite the way most of their cross-over events revolve around the concept, does not have a copyright on alternate universes (shit, DC originated the concept and has been abusing the hell out of it in Superman/Batman. Two alternate universe story-arcs butting up against each other, with naught separating them but a Supergirl issue. I don't understand why comic writers so often feel the need to utilize the conceit of the alternate universe. Comics by definition ARE an alternate universe. Anything you want to do, you can do in the regular DC and Marvel universes. If you can't then you're not that good of a writer).
3. Sorry, I just hate goddamn alternate universes so much.
4. More on Batman: I'm having mixed feelings about this whole "Crisis of Conscience" story-arc. There's plenty to like there, but in the end I just don't agree with all of the heroes who are pissed that Hawkman, Zatanna, etc. mind-fucked a bunch of bad guys. I don't feel like they did anything wrong, except for what they did to Batman. That wasn't terribly cool, but it was terribly necessary. I don't get how some writers write Batman as someone who claims he will get the job done by any means necessary (see Jeph Loeb on the above-mentioned Superman/Batman), but then he gets squeamish about erasing the memories of a bunch of douchebags who'd love to eat Alfred for dinner. The bottom line is, those villains deserved much worse than what they got. I almost cheered out loud when Hawkman said, "I should have just killed Dr. Light and been done with it." Let me clarify: I'm not necessarily one of those people that thinks comics should be all "grim and gritty." I enjoy the hell out of stuff like The New Warriors (waaaay funnier than anything Giffen and DeMatteis have done lately) and the beautifully traditional but still innovative JSA. But the problem is, when you tell a "grim and gritty" story about a hero's wife being raped, the fanciful "let's punch the villain in the face and then leave him for the proper authorities" approach comes off as complete bullshit. Killing isn't and shouldn't be a solution to every problem, but I'm definitely disappointed Dr. Light didn't just get a mace through the head. I feel like he got off easy just being reduced to a slobbering moron and the heroes who put him in that state shouldn't be catching all the shit they are.
5. If anyone is still reading, I apologize for prattling on so much. I just feel like if a book is going to present heroes with very realistic problems, then those heroes should have the stones to realistically solve those problems. If they're just stopping Bad Guy X from using his crystal/death ray/gigantic rubber ball to destroy the world, I have no problem with them taking the moral high road and treating Bad Guy X like a human being. I only bitch because I care.
And on a positive note...
6. Yesterday was the first time I've bought nothing but Marvel books during a trip to the comic shop, but I managed to have some phenomenal reading experiences by avoiding any House of M tie-in like the plague. Ultimates was great (although not quite as inspired as last issue, which is one of the most brilliant things I've read in recent memory), and Millar's Wolverine is whupping ass and making me feel like I'm twelve years old again. Reginald Hudlin's Spiderman run is also pretty entertaining, and Astonishing X-Men was fairly good, although I can't shake a nagging feeling that there's something off about the whole series. There have been plenty of very cool moments in the book, and this issue wasn't an exception. -
I've always had a soft spot for Scrooge and may pick this up Dave, but you may have to eat these words"If there
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I'm so with you on the disparity between superhero books that go "grim 'n' gritty" but handicap the heroes with Silver Age morality. And I like Silver Age morality - I pretty much want that as the norm for the icons - but for fuck's suck, if you're gonna have Black Mask torturing and murdering teenage girls, Dr. Light raping women, and the Joker's last 20 years of killing and maiming Bat-pals, stop restraining the heroes. It neuters them. It renders them impotent. It's the antitheseis of what they were created for! So, yeah, when I see Hawkman and Batman sparring over morality, I don't think, "Wow, so dramatic!" I think, "Isn't Hawkman supposed to be all 'Conan' these days? He would've fucking caved Light's skull in when he caught him attacking Sue!" It's terminally weak. DC's superheroes have never looked more ineffective, though I'll admit that that very quality seems to've tapped into some kind of reader zeitgeist. Is that the spirit of the times, then? A feeling that we're all stuck in a no-win, paranoid scenario where we can't trust our friends? All victims of forces beyond our powers? Maybe so. Fucking 9/11.
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If there are really two kinds, I'm in the group that could care less if little kids read comics. I still hated ASS Batman & Robin. Can I answer a question from last week? After this week, one of the most underrated comics right now is Cable and Deadpool. We can talk about it and Ultimates next week, but the biggest problem with Ultimates is CAPTAIN AMERICA IS NOT AN 80 YEAR OLD MAN. He didn't start wearing dentures while frozen. He's a young guy. I ignored the stupidity for a few issues but now that its becoming a major plot element its unaviodable.
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So despite all the other misgivings about the book, I believe Darth Kal-El was the only person to acknowledge that this actually happened when I brought it up in the week long talkback. I'm surprised people aren't at least saying more about this because a whole shit load of people complained when Batman "let" Ra's die in Batman Begins. Nobody cares when he KILLS four people on purpose? Any thoughts? Or should I just complain about Vicki Vale?
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Just to keep things in context, my "best buy of the year" remark was very much a bang-for-buck comment. The $CROOGE book is a mere 17 bucks for 12 issues, all featuring commentary and other bonus material, and all dense with story-rich panels and nary a lick of decompression in sight. So while I might like WATCHMEN more as a story (kind of hard to compare, but...), that WATCHMEN collection is retailing for $75! Now I own - okay, received as a *gift* - a slipcase edition of DARK KNIGHT that went for $100 a few years ago, so I won't disparage ultra-pricey fancy-pants editions at all, but I will say that they're NOT great buys. $CROOGE is. Tons and tons of material, lovely production values, good price, and for most of us, it's even material we haven't read before. I'll definitely stand by it as the buy of the year. If it's got a challenger, it's the BONE: ONE VOLUME edition, which is just a ridiculously good deal even if the pages are a little on the thin side. Did that come out this year or was that last year?
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Lee's art is pretty unclear in showcasing the crash, and I wouldn't even be surprised to learn that the cops weren't meant to have died in Miller's mind. You ever read a SIN CITY book? Characters get bounced off cars like it was going out of style, and they always stagger to their feet. It's how Frank's mind works. He loves exaggeration and hyperbolic action. The other reason folks might not care about the dead cops (if dead they are)? Because the book didn't really inspire readers to care about *anything* in its pages.
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I don't thinnk they are going to print any more copies after this summer either. I have not yet picked that up, but I need to. And yeah, you got me on the prices of those I mentioned.
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I don't thinnk they are going to print any more copies after this summer either. I have not yet picked that up, but I need to. And yeah, you got me on the prices of those I mentioned.
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Yeah I've read my fair share of Miller and I know dead isn't always dead, especially with Miller and especially in comics in general, but I think these guy's are toast. I reread the issue looking for any positives I could find and the cops say "Get back in the car" when the bats are attacking them. They get in the car. Next page Batman says he's wating for the right time, kills his sonics, and then he rams the hell out of the cop car literally ripping it in half in flame. I didn't hate this issue as many others did, but I didn't really like it either, but if next issue there is one panel showing the cops crawling off I will be really pissed.
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I think they should be shown inexplicably parachuting to safety in the next issue.
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he's actually far worse than you can imagine! : )
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Hey, glad you're with me on this one. Very well-stated argument, by the way. You definitely got the point across much more succinctly than I did.
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he's actually far worse than you can imagine! : )
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Girls was a really funny read. I read right through it so quickly and I mean that in a good way. It flowed real nice and was one of the funniest comics I've read in a while. The Luna Brothers have done well with this series so far in my book.
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Those who throw up demon babies, and those who don't. Okay I'm done. (saving it for next week) AS B&R: By the time I got to the last two pages, and saw Batman kill the shit out of 4 cops with his poorly drawn car crash, I was already PAST the point of "fuck it" and deeply into "when does the pain end??". So yeah, the reason nobody's bringing it up, as Dave pointed out, is cause nobody gave 2 craps at that point.
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Girls was a really funny read. I read right through it so quickly and I mean that in a good way. It flowed real nice and was one of the funniest comics I've read in a while. The Luna Brothers have done well with this series so far in my book.
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Tsk, tsk, tsk. All this talk about a possible return to the New Universe, and you forget the unforgettable Spitfire and the Troubleshooters? And didn't Pittsburgh get pseudo-nuked by Starbrand there? That's enough to warrant a return right there! Oh, and I believe that Quasar ended up in the NU eventually, where he snagged the Starbrand. Yeah, that's right, I bought 'em all in those days.
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I haven't read any other JSA books as of yet, but I was interested i the origin story of Power Girls so I gave this a shot. I liked it, but the art is not my style. It felt too cartoony or adolescent. Especially with Power Girl being a babe with huge breasts and knowing that she is. The scene when she saved the kid and all he can do is stare at her chest was funny, but the art felt wrong. Maybe Jim Lee would be more suited doing this instead of All Star Batman?
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More interviews would be great since i've enjoyed the ones they've done already. There really are no honest interviews out there, it's all lick-anus and reckless promotion. I loved it when generic @$$hole interviewer asked BKV why he padded Spidey-Ock and he went all Hulk smash. You really don't get that anywhere else. You guys should interview Morrison. Oh oh and Quitely! And Azzarello too, maybe ask him what he thinks about his Superman run sucking balls. It doesn't always have to be the big names either, a Phil Hester interview should be cool. Oh and what does that actually mean, getting your panties in a bunch?
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It's when the panties bunch up in the crack of the ass to put it literal (like Vicki Vales did in All Star). Figuritively it could mean getting upset over something. For example, "moviemack's got his panties in a bunch over something related to Batman again." Hope that helps.
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i agree with dave and shigeru heathen.i only noticed the cops dying because i went back and looked for it but the first time through i was still processing vicky vale(like ohmigod bruce wayne!) and the creepy way batman came across as a child molester(sure is something yummy about that brat).but wow that was great to keep the tb going even if it was four of us i heart u guys too! sue storm smells like cotton candy godamnit! classic! i love that line! that and the thesis paper thing made me laugh out loud.not really a big fan of monkeys at all.if its an inside joke i guess i dont get it.ive always thought monkeys were stupid.loved the news bits that was cool. also the as batman review even tho it was covered ad naseum in last weeks talkbacks i really liked the way buzz reviewed it! good work buzz and since your dad owns the internet can i get hooked up with a mail order columbian maid that looks like j-lo?
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any idea if theres a trade out?
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After The Dark Knight Strikes Back, I realized that Frank Miller is very uneven with his writing. Most of the Sin City stories are weak as well, although a couple are brilliant. I wasn't expecting much from this series and I'll just download it from Z-Cult FM in a few months.
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Jul 21, 2005 3:43:23 PM CDT
I tried purging the "how cool is that" stuff. It didn't work
by the heathen
When I reread it, it just stuck out worse than 5 "the hells?" in one issue. I don't want to believe Bruce is a perv. Bruce is not a perv, Bruce is not a perv, Bruce is not a perv, Bruce is not a perv
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Thanks Heathen, i had heard about the upset thing, but i didn't know what it meant literally. Hey Darth didn't you ever see that clip with the monkey that sticks his finger up his ass and smells it...and then passes out, falling off the branch he's standing on? That's why monkeys rule.
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don't know. 6 issues were supposed to come out. The first 4 came out on a periodical basis, but I've been waiting months for the 5th. No release date has been announced.
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That's a great clip Vale. Send over some J-Lo's if Vicki's your wife.
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i wanted to stop thinking about the entire story and how crappy it was.im definately going to wait for the trade on this one...and then im not going to buy it!i know he was scouting a sidekick or whatever but the fact that hes on a date with a hot reporter chick and hes scoping young acrobat ass makes me a bit uncomfortable.especially with the "theres definately something about the brat thing" wow total pervo!u know what now that it was brought up in the column every time i see a "the hell?" it takes me right out of the story while i pause to add it to my count for the issue. if we see the cops parachuting to safety or not being dead ill be bugged too but since i wont be reading the comic the only way ill find out is if i read it here. so if u have to break the bad news to me please be gentle. vale ive seen the clip and its funny but i still dont get it. ive never thought monkeys were cool or funny or anything.movies with monkeys in them annoy me and monkey humor in general just makes me go a big rubbery one.on a side note but kind of similar i just finished reading a book called the list of seven by mark frost and let me tell you this shit is good! i think fans of historical adventures a la LXG would love this. great novel check it out!hey just so i know,is this tb going to be continued till next weeks?i only ask so i can free up my weekend
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ill see if they have them at my store.it sounds cool and i realized while reading through some back issues that i miss having an ennis comic on my pull list.
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Now let's see if we can gather up some more geeks to stick with it. It's not that hard, you go about your day and maybe once or twice or whatever you click on the talkback and add your nonsense and randomness. AS Batman was practically covered in last week's talkback! BTW kudos to Buzz for still making his review fresh. Anyway do you think Bendis can get away with having Iron Man say "Da fug?" in New Avengers? Da fug isn't really anything
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Jul 21, 2005 4:31:27 PM CDT
To Be Fair To Mr. Miller, Even His Good Comics Were Never Realis
by buzz maverik
Even back to his big breakout with DAREDEVIL, people would say to me, "Frank Miller's doing a realistic version of Daredevil." I'd say, "Well, it's a cool version of Daredevil, but why is Daredevil jumping off skyscrapers. He's not even using a rope any more." They'd say, "Well, it's fantasy." "But I thought it was realistic." Even in the first SIN CITY, I was jarred by Marv scaling skyscrapers and jumping off into the night. I've come to enjoy Miller's abrupt shifts in tone, but they are a big part of what has made the grim and gritty stuff so hard not to laugh at...BTW, I'll bet that filthy monkey is our own Schleppy, perhaps the most degenerate primate to ever draw a breath on this planet.
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That dirty little primate has to have something to say about FF. **** I'll keep this going all week. Let's do it again. Kal, Vale, Gus, and anyone else.
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theres a great shot of albas pooper in the back of a playboy.i think it was 2 months ago maybe? its the section where celebriteis get caught flashing or having "wardrobe malfunctions" and she is on a beach tanning and they have a shot of her getting up which is basically her in doggy style position wearing a swumsuit bottom. yeah i masturbated a lot on that one.
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That guy's so funny he really sounds made up. This week it's "Provoke me? You can't provoke me idiots! In fact, *2 hour rant about Batman Begins*!!!"
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Share the joy, where can i find that picture? And is she a brunette in it like god meant? John Byrne was right
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I mean
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i looked for a link but i couldnt fint it. when i get home for work ill try to get it scanned and send it to you guys.yes a brunette como las hiso dios. i bet jessica alba as sue storm smells like cotton candy and tastes like raspberries
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I won't hold it against you cause you're prolly out of touch Darth, but it's "hizo". Heh, i'm a prick. And i'll bet Jessica Alba's pooper doesn't really smell like cotton candy...but a guy can dream.
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Jul 21, 2005 5:50:39 PM CDT
it does smell like cotton candy vale!it does damn u! way to burs
by darth kal-el
i am a bit out of touch good! thanks for the heads up
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sorry im at work
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It'll be the 4 of us all over again. I say the @$$holes should participate, give us a hand you know? Plus, since it's only 4 of us they can talk shit about other talkbackers and they wouldn't even know it
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Jul 21, 2005 6:50:43 PM CDT
it probably will be me and vale and gus and blackthought
by darth kal-el
the reality is that i work customer service out of a call center so in between calls i have nothing to do except shoot the shit about comics with you guys.i agree some asshole participation would be nice! asshole participation! sounds like a porn i rented
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from my New Universe list. They could hand that one to whoever their manga import of the month is. And hell, put Chuck Austen on Kickers Inc. He couldn't make it any worse.
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Yes he could
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Jul 21, 2005 7:37:15 PM CDT
@$$hole Participation, you say. I got your @$$Hole participatio
by ambush bug
I for one would love to see a return of the New Universe. I am the proud owner of each and every issue of the New Universe line. From STARBRAND #1 to THE PITT to THE WAR to THE END. I bought all of it. I know there were some troubled series (KICKERS INC. still makes me giggle though). But I really dug the hell out of STARBRAND, DP7, and PSI FORCE.
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good to hear from u! i actually meant some participation when me,vale ,gus, and blackthought kept last weeks talkback alive untill the new one this week. were going to try to keep it alive again this week and were cordially inviting the @$$holes to chime in.topics stray from comics to colombian maids and the weather but we always found our way back to comics. i used to love the covers of the new universe books and they looked tight but my parents wouldnt let me buy them cuz they looked too grown up for me.i was like 8 i think. where they cool?i remember i used to think spitfire and the troubleshooters was the coolest name ever! i used to call myself that when me and my friends played pretend soldiers even though ive never read the book.please tell me it wasnt gay or my childhood shenanigans will retroactively look gay and they werent they were fuckin cool
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I might me too young for that one. What was the premise behind it? And does anyone have a problem with me downloading as many comics as i currently am?
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Hey, I helped too! I can't chime in past 6pm or so usually (don't have my home hooked up!) but I work late sometimes at my own office (like right now). I'm down for the cause guy's. Thanks for the @$$hole participation Bug. I admit to knowing next to nothing of this New Universe either, accept that it existed. Mmmm, cotton candy & raspberries. I'll have some sweet dreams.
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yeah he helped too!
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That's what I'd say about ASS Batman. It wasn't hateable but it was...not much of anything. And I feel like even story arcs I enjoy (Crisis, Flash, Supreme Power)are dragging out soooo looong, as mentioned above. As far as bringing new readers, House of M isn't doing it for people I know. I have a lot of comics lying around and my friends will occasionally pick them up. Out of the triple-figure monthly quota of comics I buy, and mostly enjoy even though they're mostly good not great, my non-geek people like Simpsons, Fables, Y and Runaways. Granted, these people are adults but I think Runaways is a rare superhero comic that can bring in new people. Mostly, superheroes are for the faithful.
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So these people you educate into comics...let's call them mundys...what do they say about HoM?
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What a sleazy crew of deodorant-deprived a-holes:
http://tinyurl.com/75o7h
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Many of the monthly Batman comics I read when I was buying regularly have Jim Aparo art.Nice pic.
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1) Who would you like the @$$holes to interview? and 2) Does anyone here know their password by heart? I always have to open my wordpad file to copy and paste it.
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answering zee questions from my fellow colombian...1) i'd like to see an interview ambush interview bendis just because the tention would be good entertainment....2) my secutary keeps my password for me...i can't be bothered to recall such stuff.
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I saw someone mention Phil Hester, and he's definitely near the top of the list. I think that dude's on the cusp of greatness, and for the record, the latest issue of THE ATHEIST rocked. ***** Morrison would be great, but I'd be terrified of him. ***** Hmm, maybe Kyle Baker? I read a recent interview with him that was really candid and memorable. Funny as hell, too. ***** Darwyn Cooke? He's one I've though of often. He's taken that "animated series" style of Timm's and (god help me for saying this)...taken it to the next level. Plus he's a writer. Plus he's very outspoken on industry issues, maybe being the only prominant professional to rip Frank Miller a new one publicly in the wake of DK2. ***** Kurt Busiek might be fun. He's gone to some dark places with his writing lately, and he's always stunningly articulate. ***** Dan Slott? Aw, yeah.
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It wasn't Ambush who did it, but you know that we DID interview Bendis a year or two back, right? Massive interview conducted by Vroom Socko, and Bendis acquitted himself pretty admirably given that we'd already been pretty critical of him at that point. Let me know if you missed it and I'll dig up the links. Giant four-part interview and he called one of my reviews a "dick review" if memory serves. Good times!
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Jul 22, 2005 12:43:16 AM CDT
OT?Wizard's Bad Colon-Sympathies to Hero Con shafted by the
by southfield
DocFalken mentioned how he didn't read wizard for the reviews. Well good on you, but that doesn't stop the average comic book reader,whose collections is under 10 titles a month (and at the very least have a girlfriend.) Oh and John Who?
Wizard promotes themselves like they are THE authority on comics.
Okay, you could argue about how it's just PR, but man if you are going to insinuate something like that at the very least have the stones to prove it. Instead of wasting time with DC and Marvel PUFF PIECES.
And what the f--- is happening with the cons?? It's just business, thats all it is Wizard now, a business.And they got the shitty tactics to show anyone they mean business:
You present a better offer hyped product(read=convention) to the public, saturate the market and push it head to head with any smaller product(read=convention), then you squeeze until the small folks get popped(read=go out of business). Same tactics that the white settlers used when they colonised the U.S. Same tactics was used when the railway shtuped small hold owners as they moved the railway west, back in the day. (read=1860-19??) Capitalism at its fucking best.
God, someone start a free (free-ish) and fair comic book newspaper and give WIzard a run for their money. PLEASE!!!!
(MCLAUGHLIN LIVES, MOTHERFUCKERS!!) -
You're allowed a negative review obviously, but calling Jim Lee and Frank Miller overrated smacks of childish internet ranting. Frank Miller, the guy who almost single-handedly brought creator recognition and the auteur theory to comics? Whose questioning of what superhero comics were supposed to be like, in Dardevil and Batman, led to the work of people like Busiek, Morrison, and Bendis? And you know, Neal Adams migt have drawn the most elegant Batman and Aparo the most 'classic,' but with all due respect to Aparo, Jim Lee was able to capture the most iconic version of Batman within a couple issues if Hush. You can't say his Batman doesn't scream that. So please be a little more considerate.
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I loves me some superheroes, but I also recognize that the dominance of the superhero genre stateside coupled with the direct market closing off doors to a next generation of readers means the industry as a whole is pretty incestuous and, yes, mired in juvenile trappings. WIZARD caters to that, and caters to it brilliantly. I think only a sea change in the readership could dethrone WIZARD at this point. For instance, if the move to 7-11's brought back the kiddie audience, we might get that kind of change (very wishful thinking). Or if the industry went to a graphic novel model over serialization, establishning a little Euro sophistication (also very unlikely). Or if manga takes over and suddenly we've got an industry with real female readership and many more genres as the norm (getting warmer). But as long as the Big Two dominate, as long as a relatively small number of comic shops are the only major outlet for comics...WIZARD will maintain its sweaty stranglehold. It's just a reflection of the audience. When you look into the abyss...
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COULD you guys get an interview out of Morrison? Cause god, if you can, you definitelly should! Even if you're scared of him. Darwin Cooke would be nice...how'd he rip Miller a new one? Could you paraphrase? Sounds interesting. Dan Slott would be nice as well but as far as i can tell you guys love the dude and haven't had anything bad to say about him so it could turn out to be...not so interesting. But then again you could prove me wrong. The Bendis interview was great, i loved it. I would like to see another one, the kind Newsarama isn't giving...here's my point: As far as i can tell (having read a lot on the subject) pretty much no one liked Dissassembled. No one. Not even Tom Breevort or whatever his last name is. I'd like to see what Bendis thinks of that, aside from "My mom loved it, so it was a hit". Something honest.
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i did read that interview when you posted it originally, i read everything on this sight for years and years so it's been read. i just wanted to know who'd survive between ambush and bendis. i'd like to see an interview with tennapel, i really love the guy's work and his art always makes me smile. oh perhaps eric powell because the goon is wonderful. darwyn cooke would be great, his art is wonderful to say the least, i'd like an interview with a writer/artist is always appreciated...i'm always appreciative when one can do both so well...hester would be good. kirkman, slott...might as well throw em all in a roundtable and just shoot on the industry as a whole and any other little tangents too.
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I didn't get into his GLA at all, and I've at least posted some Cheap Shot reviews of SHE-HULK issues I thought were weaker than others. Even SPIDEY/TORCH, for all its peaks of greatness, had some lesser issues. Plus the guy's name is "Slott". FUH-nee! ***** Doug Tennapel? Interesting thought. I love his cartooning, but his writing his a mixed bag for me - sometimes too "Tim Burton", sometimes too saccharine, sometimes just weird in its spirituality. For all those reasons, he'd probably make a pretty good interview. ***** As for Darwyn Cooke hatin' on Frank Miller? Man, truth is stranger than fiction on this one. Check out this link: http://tinyurl.com/dxvgx It's from the gossip column "All the Rage" and give a pretty good overview of the situation. Just skim about a third of the way down the page to get to the story.
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I'd like to thank our TalkBackers for bumping us to #1 on the Top TalkBack chart AICN is running these days. I feel like we should all get a medal or a sweaty hug from Harry or something. Good show!
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We all know who keeps these babies rolling. I got a GREAT proposition for an interview: Pope. That's right, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger would be great!
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We all know who keeps these babies rolling. I got a GREAT proposition for an interview: Pope. That's right, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger would be great!
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The old adage applies: Find a niche and fill it. The comic biz, is an industry that Wizard has managed to corner since 92. Kudo's to them!!
The problem is that they were the only publication to focus solely on the biz, and this gave them the buy in power (or if my ghetto lingo serves me 'the props') for the continuous existence.
The problem is I don't believe WIzard is just reflection audience trends ,I believe they are dictating it. I will site the introduction of the SENTRY as example. Wizard willfully and purposefully publishes a false story about a 'old character' only recently found and that will be published. THey flat out lied to us, the comic buying public about this comic and they also colluded with a publisher (marvel) to do so.
That whole Sentry thing gave me the fucing creeps. I reckon it was downhill from then on. A supposedly independent media colluding with a publication to bump sales for a mediocre super hero series, well you could get arressted for pulling shit like that in the stock market.
The bottom line is WIZARD's influence is such that they can manipulate the market the report on. The can't be objective (fair even) cos they doing pr and ads for publishers (dc and marvel). Check this: WIzard in the last 2-5 years have insulted image more (in their snide little comments) than dc or marvel. And it's not like I care if someone roasts Rob Liefeld, but the tone of their reporting on Image and Image earlier works leaves a very bad taste. The impression is: The big 2 comes first and them and everyone else second. This is probably cos the 2 gave THE WIZ such a hard time for making their reputation reporting image in 92.
I could be drinking monkey juice and talking out my blow whole but I think there's something up.
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And let's not forget that it was a Big Deal recently when WIZARD talked up ALL-STAR BATMAN & ROBIN, the magazine having snubbed Frank Miller stories since he shredded their magazine figuratively *and* literally some years back at a comic convention. That a personal issue with a creator would actually affect their coverage of stories shows how abyssmal their journalistic standards are, but (and this will reveal my jaundiced few of fandom)...I don't think many of their readers really care. In my gloomier ruminations on the North American industry, I see a fan base which has greedily co-opted what was once the all-ages genre of superheroes, and feels no particular shame for this. It's not surprising in an era of casual music and movie piracy, but just the same, it reflects a general disinterest in anything but instant gratification. And WIZARD provides on that level. They deliver all the glitz of superheroes while spoofing them enough that adult readers aren't too embarassed to still be obsessed with them. They deliver tits and ass. They deliver snark on the level of VH-1's BEST WEEK EVER, and that's the prevailing humor style of our era. If they dictate trends and have shoddy journalism and collude with publishers as an extension of their PR...do you think fans really care? Maybe if Wizard started really pushing Drawn & Quarterly out of nowhere, but as long as their choices are safe and sexy? I'm afraid not. But I'd love to see a magazine that would legitimately challenge them, even if it only galvanized my lowly view of fandom when the magazine tanked. I can't imagine what content could possibly rival WIZARD's for fan interest, though. Longer articles and more in-depth reporting aren't exactly a draw. More art? Maaaybe, but WIZARD's visuals are pretty enticing on a pop level. Creator exclusives? I don't see a new entry beating WIZARD on that front. Marvel and DC are gonna want Jeph Loeb and Brian Bendis and Mark Millar - the big-shots, basically - to promote themselves through the source that gives them the most exposure. Seriously, what could a new periodical possibily offer that would challenge WIZARD's foothold? All I can think of is the addition of original comic book content by big-name creators - a serialized Neil Gaiman story or somesuch.
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For the first time, all in one sitting...it was so amazing i can't even think straight. I'm going to bed now.
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Thanks for the response Dave. I had sincerely hoped that a publication that says its the best chronicler of a specific media, would at the very least hold itself up to higher standard. Guess I am sorely deluded.
Instant gratification is the name of the game, and it's a trend that I had hoped was something that wouldn't affect comics and by extension WIZARD. I guess the only thing Wizard is truly guilty of (besides bad journalism) is moving with the times.
I also hope that there could be a rival to Wizard, in the foreseeable future. Perhaps the Brits could come up with something. They do good comics perhaps the can do good comic book mags too.
A good comic book mag would be (sadly ) WIzard, so do it like WIzard then do 'more' as oppose their less. Picture this: a magazine, with a look and feel exactly like wizard (it a winning formula, so why knock it) but have the things they don't have. A good opinion. Real story. No publisher PR. No bullshit. Hey that could be a slogan. 'JUst like Wizard, but no Bullshit!' Hell even do the same articles, the same reviews but then apply some journalism ethic and write the motherfucker out of it.
At the very least as you go down under a barrage of WIzard Entertainment lawyers is that fans will see the contrast between the two and evetually smell the bullshit.
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A baby gorilla?
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I used to be a huge fan of Wizard, but now I only pick it up because it's the only game in town. Aside from their constant promotion of DC and Marvel, the main thing that bugs me about the mag is that a lot of their articles are just straight up crap. For example, the "Pimp My Ride" feature in last month's issue. Moronic and not funny. Also, I buy Wizard to read about COMICS, so it irritates me when half the magazine is devoted to movies. I know comic book movies are a huge business, and I'm sure plenty of people want to read about them, but there are magazines for that sort of thing. Anybody remember back when Wizard devoted one small section to movies? Granted, back then there wasn't much to speak of in the way of comic movies, but still.
Also, a lot of the writing in the magazine isn't that good. I still remember reading an article about "Grey Area" that contained this, God I don't even want to call it a pun, this pun-like monstrosity that was probably the worst thing I've ever read in the English language.
I'd love to see somebody start publishing another magazine that will not necessarily give Wizard a "run for it's money," (because that's not very realistic) but give people like me another option. A magazine wouldn't have to have Wizard-level sales in order to stay in the black, as long as they didn't have a Wizard-sized staff. What I'd like to see: a focus on comics, not toys, movies, etc.; no price guide, because to me that's just a waste of space; actual reviews written by actual reviewers, that aren't afraid to grind any of the industry's sacred cows into tasty hamburger (kind of like the reviews here, actually); no wasted space on stuff like the above-mentioned "Pimp My Ride" article or a gallery of Greg Land art (while I do like his art, if I want to see pages upon pages of it I'll buy one of his books. Like several other people in the talkback said, if I want pin-ups of hot chicks there are plenty of magazines, websites, and DVDs out there that will cater to my needs); news that doesn't fall into the category of "check out Marvel's new summer event!"; a vastly expanded focus on independent comics, including the stuff Image is putting out; original comic content, like Dave_F's Gaiman serial idea; and just interesting, unique articles in general, from reviews with creators, discussion of major past events in comics, ideas for the future of comics and characters, etc. I feel like if somebody came up with a magazine that just had a refreshing perspective and some irreverent writing, it could be at the very least successful enough to survive. -
Jul 22, 2005 9:35:43 AM CDT
I remember when Wizard had the role call for an X-Men movie ten
by the heathen
They picked Patrick Stewart right (duh), but does anybody remember who they picked for Gambit? None other than Jean-Claude Van Damme!
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1) I'd like to see the @$$holes interview Byrne, R. Liefeld, Kirkman, Whedon, and Miller & Lee together. Ooh, and Joey Q. 2) I have it memorized (it's also on a post it on my monitor in case I forget).
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"they change with the times" You said it. Remember in the 90's they could do nothing but suck Image and Liefeld's cock, but the second that fell out of favor, it was back to whatever was popular...only recently have they started throwing out half-hearted jabs towards the now-embarassing trends of yesterday. Useless articles, like the Pimp My Ride one, and remember that one on House of M that like showed Wolverine's "power level"??? Seriously now...they aren't even trying. There are nugets of gold, like the George Reeves piece, but they are few and far between. And here's what I meant to write from the start: MOVIE NEWS-- Wizard needs to cut back on this, because quite frankly, by the time the mag lands on the shelves, 90% (I am assuming here) of readers have already seen that shot of Routh in the Supes outfit, so that is wasted friggin space. We get better and faster coverage of comic movies from sites like AICN than Wizard has space for, so why bother... anyways...one could go on and on, but the fact remains...I have a subscription, and I don't plan on cancelling it any time soon...sigh...
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Andy Runton. Talk about potential. Oh and also Tom Brevoort just so you can ask him #1 why his name is retarded, and #2 how to say said retarded name.
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Jul 22, 2005 9:58:31 AM CDT
I agree Shigeru, I get news on this site a full month before I s
by the heathen
I'd love to see more reviews, and just more comic related stuff (not toys, movies, etc.) I bet they probably announced that Ratner was directing X3 this month :( I just saw the teaser poster at my local theater and it depressed the hell out of me. The magazine is confusingly organized too. I'd be all for a new comic news magazine.
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Just read that over @ Newsarama. I only read the first 15 or so issues of the first series (I can't really remember any of those) and I know that Moore and Joe Casey worked on a 2nd and a 3rd (?) series. Is it worth finding out what happened with the team? Maybe it is if Grant Morrison is writing and Lee is returning too?
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Jul 22, 2005 10:32:05 AM CDT
How Jim Lee ruins whatever good writer he's working with, pa
by shigeru
Jeph Loeb--great with Tim Sale, crap with Lee. Azarello--great with Risso, crap with Lee. Frank Miller--spotty but moments of genius with himself, crap with Lee. And now he's gonna defile Grant Morrison??! Don't do it, Grant!
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El Vale--I don't educate anyone, I am just sloppy and read and re-read a lot of comics. So people hanging around pick them up and sometimes read them. But no one had any interest at all in HoM. With IC, they had some initial interest but didn't go past the second issue. With HoM, I think only "fans" with a good base knowledge of the Marvel Universe have interest. I'd say Vaughan has the best abilitiy to attract non-fans, because people I know have gotten into both Y and Runaways, both his books. My friends used to love Preacher and Hellblazer, but ever since Carey took over Hellblazer, we all lost interest. And I agree about Miller and Lee being over rated. I used to love them both. I also used to love George Romero. Yet this summer, all of them have put out crap. So there you go.
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Nice logic, Shigeru. So I guess Lee called up Azzarello and demanded that he script the slowest Superman storyline ever, because Lee loves drawing talking heads. And I guess Jim Lee also wanted Loeb to write the poorest mystery he could. Was it Jim Lee's idea to bring back Jason Todd or have Batman fall in love with Catwoman? I don't even think Lee causes the writers to 'play' to his style all that much, because Azz was still writing like overly-witty Azz, Loeb like internal-monologue Loeb, and Miller like macho Miller. I think it's the reverse, Lee does the best he can to turn mediocrity into an entertaining read. I'll say his run on the first issues of Claremont's adjectiveless X-Men and WildCATS are good indications of that. If Lee's culpable of 'ruining' writers, the only case that works is that he cajoled Azzarello to take a spin in superhero comics when it was apparent he didn't enjoy them.
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Yeah, I doubt Lee convinces Miller, Loeb, Azzarello, or anyone else that is a big writer in comics to intentionally play to his style. Miller has said that he knows Lee likes babes so he'll give him babes. That's Miller though, he likes babes just as much as Lee. Miller might be conforming a "little" more to Lee's style, but that's his choice, or maybe it's his excuse?
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Okay first of all I wasn't being entirely serious, Cheapskate, maybe I should have made that more apparent. I know that there is not some mystical Jim Lee aura that hexes any respectable writer that ends up working with him. The reason I didn't like any of the arcs I mentioned above lie both with the writer and artist. I just think it's kinda funny, is all. Azzarello wrote a (in my opinion) great little run on Batman post-Hush, so it's not entirely fair to say that he doesn't enjoy writing heroes. Who knows, maybe when a writer gets paired with Lee these days, they feel such enourmous pressure to produce blockbuster mainstream splash page (what Lee is known for) scripts that they end up sabotaging themselves. One thing I AM sure of is that the writers do cater to Lee's talent at drawing women (albeit the same hot woman over and over). You can bet your ass that AS Batman & Robin wouldn't have had 4 consecutive pages of Vicki Vale T&A if, say, Jim Mafood was pencilling it.
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Yeah the writers write bad scripts, but it's only cause Jim Lee threw up a demon baby and made it sit on their shoulder and tell them to. (yeah I'm really not gonna get over this)
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I read the first issue and thought it was real good (the review was very swell too btw) I haven't found the second issue yet though.
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even tho i see the points in the above posts about wizard's bias and unchallenged presence in the industry i think a lot of it also is we have never know otherwise. we have never seen a magazine(as far as i can remember) that wasnt a pop hype machine for whatever the latest trend in comics is.Ive heard the comic buyers guide is good but i tried to find a copy at my local retailer and the answer i got was basically good luck finding one. i agree that we as consumers dictate to a point the level of content were given.if no one bought house of m or secret war or indentitiy crisis then wizard would have to readjust its focus but since those books are making money thats what wizard will continue to produce. it makes sense from a business standpoint.i also feel that a completely unbiased would be great and refreshing but would probably go down in flames within a year of launch,UNLESS we as consumers decide to say enough is enough. and im speaking to myself as well because i read wizard and ill probably buy the whole run of house of m just to see where it goes but im trying ringo,im trying to be the sheperd.im trying to broaden my horizons and it may sound like ass kissing but this column has helped a long way toward me picking up book i might have never tried before and loved.(fables,gotham central,deep sleeper,walking dead)what does the group think we as consumers can do to address this issue?
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yeah but were said moments spotty? ha.
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and we could not buy stuff that is pushed on us. As consumers I guess that's all we can do. The only thing besides the sales of books is the power of our opinions, suggestions, praises, and rants. Unfortunately, the sales make about 95% of the ultimate decision.
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He must've grown up, like me, as a fan of G.I. JOE! Behold: http://tinyurl.com/d8vv9 And let's not forget that Scott Morse came from that generation too: http://tinyurl.com/7dlsn No retro-G.I. JOE reference is cooler than the team of Snake-Eyes and Eskimo mercenary Kwinn.
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I don't think this is really Lee's fault, but both Loeb and Miller gushed (in Wizard, no less) about how Jim draws "hot wimmens" and so they were writing their stories to put a lot of "hot wimmens" in them. I also think Loeb, at least, admitted to writing "Hush" more as a vehicle to squeeze in "Jim Lee" versions of as many characters as possible than as a legitimate mystery. So, yeah, Jim "ruins" writers even if its only because the writers themselves make poor story choices in the service of his admittedly good artwork.
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For all the artistic change-ups on Morrison's NEW X-MEN, at least they were all brilliant...up until Marc Silvestri near *ruined* the visuals on that last story arc. Horrible, horrible stuff, and Lee would be just as bad. These guys do pretty fluff. Morrison needs artists who can draw melting clocks, DNA matrices, cutaway views of the universe, and other things that aren't big-titted chicks. Not that I ever liked WILDCATS anyway (although Casey's WILDCATS 3.0 was at least different enough to earn some interest), but I will say that I'll never buy anything Jim Lee draws. Alan Moore could be writing it; I wouldn't be buying it.
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It's *B.B.* King that's comin' to Marvel, not Don King, Stephen King, or Martin Luthor King! B.B.'s gonna be writing about a team of mutant bluesmen. Book's titled X-The-Thrill-Is-Gone, which is weird, but I think it'll be good.
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meant larry king, i'm sure he could write a chuck austenesque sight.
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He's not THE best, but he ain't no slouch either. You know you would read something if Moore, Morrison, etc. wrote and Lee penciled. And if you didn't, don't you think that's a little narrow? Have you seen the art in JSA Classified? That's the stuff I don't like and I understand you hate Jim Lee, but sometimes you just have to go with it ya know? I could think of a lot worse than Lee
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It's
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although it is pretty much just pinup art.i understand the complaint that all his characters look the same and i agree to a point. i think with me its a lot of just nostalgia i guess u could call it. i have very fond memories of adjiteveless x-men and wildcats.and even tho now i know better(hell i used to love x-force)its still nice to see his pencils. AS batman looked great to me. the story however was ass.
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yes spotty as all great moments of genius should be
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Seriously, I'd never buy anything he did, and I don't consider that close-minded - I just hate his style and the fact that it always screams of artifice to me. I wasn't kidding when I posted the other week that his art style is incapable of inspiring emotion in me because of its superificiality, and even the hackiest of old-school Marvel hacks could do that (your Herb Trimpe, your Sal Buscemas). If a guy's art can't at least make me feel something beyond a juvenile "cool", I got no use for it. S'why I never got into RISING STARS. Heard good stuff about it, and could see the quality of the writing in the early issues I sampled, but as visualized by a Top Cow artist? Not a chance. I tend to follow writers, but in a visual medium like comics, blah art is a perfectly good reason to pass on a project. In some ways, I even think Lee's art is more insidious than Liefeld's. Liefeld's stuff, even to the untrained eye, will often inspire a "Jesus H., what the crap is THAT?!" Lee's dangerous, though. His art represents many of the same superficialities as Liefeld's, but he does have a much higher level of basic craft and a much wider array of glitzy tricks. It's seductive, but the end product's still almost as weightless as Liefeld's work to my mind. And yet even Frank Miller is singing its praises, and Frank's about as genius a cartoonist as the industry's produced. Like I said, it's seductive. But I'd rather have Herb Trimpe. ***** On to more pleasant matters...THE ATHEIST! I'll probably at least capsule review this next week, but long story short, it's a terrific issue. Takes a bit more of a sci-fi bent in the second issue with the introduction of a supporting character ravaged by a kind of super-cancer, but the wild ideas continue to flow brilliantly and there are any number of great scenes. Artwork is still somewhat perfunctory, but it does the job, same as your average Vertigo book. ***** Sidebar: JSA: CLASSIFIED had little that interested me, but I think the artist, Amanda Conner, is pretty talented. The breast-fixation was pretty prurient, but all the basics were fine. I'd say she's a rock-solid artist.
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wow that really makes u see things from another perspective. if indeed the organizer of the show let them know well in advance when his show would be and they are just trying to steamroll him than thats pretty damn low.
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I like Lee's art too, doesn't excuse the plethora of mistakes of AS Batman's first issue, but most of those were not his mistakes to begin with. I loved when he was on X-men. Maybe he's just better suited for those characters. Regardless, I don't get all the hate about him. You won't see me complain about pretty drawn ladies.
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To each his own about what art they like. I think we can all agree on writers being the more important of the two. That's why we excuse the art in The Atheist, and why I did in JSA Classified. Amanda Conner is okay, but but not rock-solid in my opinion. If you're going to write about a character that is very busty even for a comic book woman and show that she knows she has something to work with, I'd prefer a little more stream-lined style of art.
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is like the pretty girl you take out on a date and realize she has absoutely nothing of interest to talk about. you can still check her out but your not gonna marry the bitch
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look for the kal-el drunken posts coming to a talkback near you later this evening
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It starts with a world like ours. No superheroes, no mutants, no armored despots. One day, what will be called the "white event" occurs. The entire sky is filled with a blinding flash of light. Not long after, "paranormals" start popping up. First, there was Star Brand. A normal, everyday, very flawed guy is out riding his dirtbike in the woods when he meets an old man. The old man gives him the star brand, a star-shaped "tatoo" that pretty much gives its bearer infinite powers. It's like a green lantern ring on steroids. There are rules though. It can only be passed on freely, and you shouldn't try to pass it off onto inanimate matter. The main character here is your average joe type: works as a mechanic, has a lovely girlfriend with a kid or 2, and has a cute, quirky girl on the side. Totally bit off more than he could chew, as the brand brings all kinds of headaches. He sucks at being a hero. He pretty much botches everything. The old man comes back to reclaim the brand (turns out once you've had it, you retain about 1/10th of its power if you pass it on. And what's 1/10th of infinity?) The biggest mistake comes when our hero, finally tired of the shit, tries to put the brand onto a friggin' barbell over Pittsburg, and finds out why there's that whole "no inanimate object" clause when the power surge creates a crater where Pittsburg once was. There was PSIForce, a group of 5 teenagers with different mental powers on the run from the government, who could create "PsiHawk" (I think that was his name) by focusing their powers together. He was a sort of atavistic representation of the one agent that died trying to help them. He had all their powers. D.P.7 (which stood for "displaced paranormals 7", as there were *surprise* seven of them) was another group on the run from the gov. My favorite character there was the guy who was sort of like the Hulk, only he was continuously adding muscle mass. The cool thing was that it HURT. He cramped up. Justice started out as a sort of interdimensional cop. His right hand was offensive, firing energy blasts. His left defensive, forming energy shields. I think it turned out he was actually a "paranormal" who went a little batshit and made up the whole trans-dimensional thing. Spitfire & the Troubleshooters was about a girl in a red Robotic suit and her merry band of mechanics and such. Nightmask could travel in dreams. Mark Hazzard: Merc was a regular guy. A sort of Punisher ripoff. Kickers Inc was about some superpowered ex-football star or some stupic crap. All the books sort of connected. Characters would pop in and out of other titles. After the Pittsburg disaster (the crater left was called "The Pitt". The star brand power made horrible mutations of anyone who survived), there was a huge paranormal draft. I believe there were international paranormals, see, so of course the US had to be prepared. Star Brand's girl on the side had a baby that inherited dad's powers, there was a war, and I don't know how that came out.
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The "white event" was actually triggered when the old man (original bearer of the brand) tried to pass it onto an asteroid in space. That's where the whole "no inanimate objects" rule came from. So, all the paranormals were a result of the star brand's power.
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spitfire was a girl?!! damnit!i sued to call myself spitfire when playing pretend wars with my friends!!!oh well its still a kick ass name
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who's everyones top 3 artist working today?
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"I've had moments of genius with myself too" I was gonna say the exact same thing! Damn you. You know wveryone's talking about how Lee draws hot wimmen and stuff...and come to think of it his women aren't so hot! And Dave i agree with you on RISING STARS. Bought the first trade and was so underwhelmed...it's the kind of writing that gets tainted by the crappy art. And these weren't even the "hot" top cow artists...they were the amateurs. It's kind of insulting that they get a big name television writer and they fuck him up the ass with Keu Cha. At least they gave him gary Frank for Midnight Nation. As for your question blackthought: Quitely, Risso and Cameron Stewart.
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The guy in DP7 with the muscle cramps went by the name Mastadon. My favorite of the group was Scuzz, who secreted acid and threw acid spitballs at opponents. Antibody was cool but was a Jonny Thunder rip-off. And the Blur was...well...a blur and moved real fast. I loved all of DP7. One of my favorite of the New U. But my absolute favorite character in the New U was Duck, Starbrand's semi-girlfriend, who was in complete love with him, but got shit on by him constantly. I think she ended up getting mutated by the Starbrand itself. I forget though. I also loved Pitbull, the lone survivor of the Pitt disaster who crawled out of the pit with a mad-on for everyone. I'd love to see a revisit or reimagining of the New U. Lots of good stuff there that could be great in the right hands.
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Died when their Star brand-powered babie pretty much tore its way out of her stomach. Quack!
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i tried rising stars and actually loved it for a while but i guess i kinda fell off.midnight nation tho,damn i love that book!seriously i think MN fucked with me more than preacher.it felt so personal.the thing on the road the gauntlet,i swear,im 27 years old,i cried like a fuckin baby. then he talked to himself.wow.then the last chapter in the story,i cried again,damnit!the hell happened to rising stars?such a promising concept waylayed by lack of respect for deadlines and the fans that supported it.oh well.last i heard the guy that wrote the brillliant midnight nation was putting out some shite about gwen stacy having norman osborns kids.i skipped all of it.the only good spidey stories being told are in USM and MK SM.and MK Sm not so much lately.everything else is a bad dream i had. i swear ill wake up and itll all be durasnoz con crema.did i spell that right vale?god m drunk
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so i feel i should answer.
risso,cassaday,dillon.deal with it chicas -
Jul 23, 2005 11:13:42 AM CDT
"In my gloomier ruminations on the North American industry, I se
by sideshowbob
Woah, Dave, it's like you can see into my soul! You should write an op-ed on this idea for like the fourthrail or something. I've been feeling this way too, and I don't think it was ever more obvious than the response to Batman Begins this summer (and Fantastic Four--interesting case study here). Sickening stuff, I've found. Not to mention Marvel's dedication to supplying more fun, all-ages and humor based comics in the coming years, and DC's dedication to dark and gritty, and some of the really hate-filled stuff I've read about Marvel as opposed to DC as a response. As if it is unrelated. **** I would be interested in reading The Comics Journal more often, but they'd need to shave a couple buck off that price tag. And they'd need to cover the big 2 just a little bit more than they do. It's funny, they want to shine light on the little people, and that is wonderful, but they've also taken the little people and put them in their own private, gated community. I'd prefer an all-inclusive magazine, because I am an all-inclusive reader. I don't look down my nose at superheroes, or kiddie books, or artsy books, or manga. I don't put my various tastes into little ghettos, and I wish the magazines didn't.
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So are you implying that people hate the 'Fantastic Four' movie because it's "fun?" Give me a break.
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You know I think you're both great. But, I think I am one of those fans you guys are talking about. I bought Hush to see Lee's take on Batman characters, I confess. I'd take him over, good lord, Herb Trimpe, any day. But I hated all the imitation of him and Liefield back in the day and I think too much of that, the whole "visual flash is everything" gets old quickly. This is a pervasive trend, but I don't think Best Week Ever exemplifies this trend. Maybe Michael Bay and Access Hollywood do. In any case, I love BWE and I also love comics. I buy tons of them and share them with anyone I can, butt I totally don't care if comics are all ages or not. I guess I have co-opted an all-ages genre. "Dark" comics haven't hurt the industry. Print is struggling these days, and the books that drive the industry aren't the best ones. Not in "real" books (i.e.DaVinci). Not in TV or movies, and not in comics. One of the only things about books (and comics, but not quite as much) is that writers can get away with being a lot more explicit and graphic than is possible in other media. So why not take advantage of your strong point? I don't think the fan reaction here was "sickening." I guess I am with Ribbons, could you elaborate on why you say that?
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At the end of my last post I meant to say I don't think the fan reaction to Batman Begins and FF was "sickening" annd to ask Sideshow why he said that. I don't understand. Ribbons said "hate FF because it's fun" but the same wouldn't apply to Batman Begins, so I wanted to ask why the reaction to each movie was allegedly so bad.
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Strong word, sorry about that. I shouldn't post before morning coffee. I don't think people hate FF because it is "fun". I think a certain segment of fans hate it because it dares suggest that comics are goofy and are, primarily, for kids. While Batman Begins went to great pains to make "Batman" into "Godfather", as if to look around nervously and say "look...we're cool, too, right?". It seemed to me to speak to the adult comic book fan that is overly defensive about loving a medium aimed at kids. Whereas FF, to me, seemed like a middle finger aimed that attitude. Was FF a flawed movie, on nearly every level? Oh, god, yes. But kids have taken to it, and I felt its heart was in the right place. With Batman (which was also flawed, by the way), I'm not really sure where its heart was at.
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Batman Begins seemed to be made so adults can say, "see...comics are cool...right?", whereas FF was made so that kids could say, "Wow! Comics are cool!"
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I thought it was actually quite good, even if I didn't trust it. In fact, this has been the best year ever for comics in film, in terms of quantity, variety and quality. We've had the kiddie superheroes (FF), the grown-up superhero (BB), the pulp masterpiece (Sin City) and the Satan movie (Constantine). All of which I really liked to some extent. And the year in comics movies will be capped off with "V For Vendetta" which sure looks purty even if I wonder how much of it will be brilliant subtext and how much will be big-ass 'splosions. Still, if V is great (and there's a possibility of it), then it will the feather in the cap of the best year ever.
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And I've got no problem with grim and gritty adult superheroes. Although the fact that comics aren't selling so well during this trend raises an eyebrow for me. And the fact that so many people demand that their *superheroes* be grim and gritty, while leaving non-superhero stuff gets left on the shelves, also raises an eyebrow. Strikes me as a "have your cake and eat it too" scenario that is actually doing the industry in. I mean, imagine if adults left superheros behind for other grim-n-gritty genres, while the Big 2 bust their ass to gear their superheroes to 7-12 year olds? It may not solve the industry's readership woes, but I don't think it would hurt to try.
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Jul 23, 2005 2:38:50 PM CDT
On blackthought's query - *my* present day top/favorite arti
by gus nukem
Vince Deighan (aka Frank Quitely), Jean Gireaud (aka Moebius), Hayao Miyazaki, Katsuhiro Otomo, Steve Dillon, Kevin o' Neill, Geof Darrow, Richard Corben, Frank Miller, Paul Pope, Yoshitaka Amano, Junji Ito (horror master), Jiro Taniguchi (Icaro), Jacen Burrows, Juan Jose Ryp. *** Quitely and Pope are tomorrow's (West's) grandmasters in storytelling. *** I can't speak for the Japanese, French and Korean grandmasters. *** Avatar has some great talents. Burrows and Ryp. These guys are horrendously underrated.
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Guys, I've got many more thoughts on the issues discussed, but this is a busy weekend for me, so this may have to be a "to be continued" issue in next week's TalkBacks. Homer, just so's you know, I definitely think things are more complex than "you should feel guilty for liking IDENTITY CRISIS." I do feel that to some extent, but I also think we're all caught up in the Catch-22 of the direct market, where specialty shops have effectively weeded the kids out and, as much as anything else, made a shift to adult-oriented material the only moneymaking game. Maybe Bob's right - I could probably turn this into a decent opinion piece. But at least to clarify: I don't blame ANY one segment of the comic-buying public so much as the inadvertant effect of the direct market in starting a domino chain of events in the '70s. People should buy what they enjoy, period, but I do wish there was a greater sense of what the industry has lost in losing the all-ages market. More on this later. And Bob, if you're interested, I'm planning to review the most recent COMICS JOURNAL for next week. Hopefully it'll be a decent overview of what at least one of the WIZARD competitors is offering.
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"Dvds and video gaming has killed the comic book market". Not really. And even if it were i don't think it'd be that bad. I mean, with some exceptions, video games are stupid. Fun, yes, but depthless and moronic. Comics tho', they can be pretty intelligent stuff, pretty cool stuff, pretty subversive stuff (in a way that GTA can never hope to be) and many times downright impressive...but everyone wants stupid kids who can't tell their dicks from their controllers reading the damn things. Kids are dumb! If you really care about giving kids what they want you have to scoot down to their level and deliver moronic thrills, and then it all goes to hell. Sitting in the theater and watching Spidey sing around Manhattan in those cool as hell shots made me realize comics really can't compete with that. The reason Stan and Jack made you all doozy with their imaginative and crazy shit is because movies couldn't do that, the technology wasn't there. Now it is, and everyone's complaining it's giving comics a run for their money, which it also is. So what then? The medium has to grow up and expand to give readers everything they can't get from movies! How does that happen? I don't know, you figure it out!
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Duraznos con crema. See? you almost got it. Also on the subject of grim n gritty superhero comics...i think this all speaks to how healthy and wide the superhero genre can spread. I mean if you were to turn mundys (and i don't mean kids, i mean interesting people)into superhero comics there is such a wide selection of titles and takes on the subject out there you'd have a picnic trying to pick just one. "There's this amazingly complex and incredible story called Watchen..." or "There's this great teenage superhero comic called Runaways which is so much fun..." or you know anything you can think of. I once told my aunt about this comic where the superheroes sat and talked about who would play them in a movie...she was absolutely fascinated! If you look outside the american market for comics you'll find the medium wasn't designed to cater to young boys or grown men who want to feel like grown boys again when they read. It's an art form and as such it's a vehicle for expression...expressing anything you could possibly want to express with it. Yes you can do anything with comics, but that doesn't mean every comic should start trying to give hollywood a run for their money, it means you can tell any and every kind of story. There's room for the fun and there's room for the gritty. The important part is distinguishing the good from the bad.
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Not sure what *you* mean by that, Dave. But I feel the catch 22 there is that there can only be as many DM stores as the industry can support. But, if theren't many DM stores, there isn't much room for the industry to expand in popularity. Especially if the DM is the only outlet to buy comics in. The less people that buy comics, the less DM stores there will be. But the less DM stores there are, there less people will buy comics. Is that what you mean?
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I don't think they are dumb for the most part. In fact, I think they are the future of storytelling and comics AND Hollywood better watch out. By the way, the next year will see games with scripts by Mark Millar, Brian Bendis and Warren Ellis. Worth noting.
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Go to Europe where comic conventions take up entire towns and comics creators have statues built in their honor and comic book stores are crowded with people of all sizes before you start thinking comic books are an endangered species. I don't think videogames are the future of storytelling...people with stories to tell are the future of storytelling. Movies and prose and comics and videogames are all in *service* of such people, not viceversa
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A great discussion so far about video games/comics/kids/adults and how it all effects comics sales and the rest of the industry. When I'm not reviewing comics I'm in the business of child psychology. A lot of the kids I see do nothing but play video games. They don't go outside. They don't play with toys. They don't read or write or make art or anything. They just sit and play video games all day long. I don't want to start to sound like a crotchety geezer, but when I was a kid, I didn't have video games (or at least they weren't as big as they are now, I did have an Atari then a Nintendo then a Sega, but they never really interested me). I was forced to play with toys that required my imagination. I used to stage epic and complex battle scenarios with my GI JOE and Star Wars fidures and toys. It required some creative thinking and helped develop my imagination. These days, everyhting is spelled out in the video game or on the TV screen and children aren't required to think creatively, so they don't. The result, I have seen that many children are horribly literal and refuse to think outside of the box. I don't want to say that imagination is going extinct, but I see a whole generation of kids who if it isn't spelled out to them completely, they refuse to show interest in something if it requires the smallest stretch of the imagination. Right now, comics seem to be effected by this. Stories which could be out of this world have now become a series of small instaces. The scope of comics has shrunk in many of the mainstream books. An entire issue is dedicated to deconstructing one aspect of a power or personality trait, when it they used to be taken for granted. I see this as good, in that there are interesting stories to tell regarding the small stuff, but when the small stories outweigh the big ones, that's not taking advantage of a medium the way it could be. These days, an entire issue could be dedicated to how Hawkeye reaches back for a trick arrow, finds the right one for the right occasion, pulls back the bowstring, and shoots the arrow. End of story. Used to be that was taken care of in one panel and then we got on with the story. There's got to be a happy medium in there somewhere. The best stories integrate both the big and small stuff, but because the industry's creators and a large protion of its audience have become such literal thinkers, everything has to be spelled out, which ultimatle slows the story down.
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and my imagination developed just fine. ** Then again, I had to project a forest full of gold and scorpions and alligators onto the rudimentary pixels in "Pitfall", not to mention making it into a much bigger adventure in my mind than it actually was (and don't get me started on Atari's "Haunted House" or "Adventure!"). None of which is quite the same thing as the hyper-realistic graphics we have today. But then again, I thought the problem with kids today is that can absorb info too fast, not too slow?
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rereading my posts, maybe vid games did have an effect on my brain..
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Jul 23, 2005 6:11:37 PM CDT
Miller bashers: THWARTED - PART 1 : shameless copy-paste of Ian
by gus nukem
shameless copy-paste from *** brillbuilding.blogspot.com *** ladies and gentlemen, Ian Brill: ***
I can -
My lame contribution:
(a) Vicky Vale's characterization is consistent with the decaying and corrupt Gotham as portrayed in (Miller's) Year One. { From Miller's introduction to the latest edition of Year One: [Slam Bradley comments] Gossip diva Vicky Vale got her legendary, notoriously firm, shapely fanny tossed into the hoosegow yet again after trying to lift an estimated $11,320.00 worth of merchandise from the Sprang. The cutie klepto pled guilty. After paying for the loot and promising on a whole big heap of bibles to seek counseling, she got off with a wink and nod to the judge.
Leave us say the dame knows how to wink.
One juror says she even blew a kiss to the horny old fart.
You can't make this crap up! }
Obviously her depiction is the 'evolution', or Year Two version of her character in the Miller Batman universe.
(b) As for the time/pages spent from her POV, this is supposed to last longer than 6 issues. In the complete project, what percentage do you suppose Vicky Vale's POV will cover? -
I very much liked tDKsa (a Batman-centric Silver Age JLA story, created by Miller and functioning both as a satire and as a superhero wish-fulfillment) and believe that a Sin City-like Year One film by Aronofsky and Miller would have been the bomb. ( haven't read the supposed script - how can you be sure of its authenticity ? )
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imo, this issue served as a self-parody on Frank Miller's part. And Jim Lee didn't get it and went for a grim, serious approach (imo he failed). Why someone would buy such a comic is something I can't explain. I don't know what to expect from the complete project. *** link to an excellent review: http://tinyurl.com/ac6ez ***
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That was an excellent excellent review and probably the smartest one i've read in a while. On the subject of comics and children and all that: The problem with children today is their parents are stupid.
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I have no idea what makes a person like comics. My cousin and i grew up being best friends (still are) and watching the same shows, playing with the same toys and reading the same comics. We liked M.A.S.K and GI Joe and That show with the manga cowboys with cool armors (that was fucking cool), we staged huge GI Joe battles in the yard (good call Bug) and read Tintin and Asterix. Then as we got older i got a lot more into comics and i started really liking the stories andnot just the cool pictures and stuff, but i'd ask him to read this one particular comic which i thought was great and he simply...wouldn't. He likes superheroes a lot and manga and all that shit, he's into it. But you couldn't make him *read* a comic if you held a gun to his head. So really, i just have no idea what makes us readers tick.
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I ust downloaded it and read it after a fellow talkbacker suggested it (i can't remember who it was, please tell me) and it was amazing. For some reason it scared the shit out of me. And the ending is as good as anything i've ever read. So thank you
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1) again, that was Ian Brill's review that I shamelessly copied and pasted here 2) "On the subject of comics and children and all that: The problem with children today is their parents are stupid." - What are you referring to? And to whom? 3) Your cousin doesn't share the same genetical material with you, nor the same behavioral . What do you expect? 4) You 're welcome. I have often recommended Ennis's latest works. And this comic introduced me to the great Richard Corben. Oh boy, what a treat! Apart from that, I again recommend 303, probably the crown achievement of all things Ennis. 5) DC++ rocks. 6) addition to abstract: another reason why this comic didn't work was Jim Lee's inability to infuse his art with emotions and life
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1) I know, i was thanking you for posting it. 2) Don't know, it was very random...and i was reffering to all children, these past few being the "How to raise your kid book" generations of parents. 3) Yeah neither do you, and you and i both read comics and probably have a lot of them in common. It's not as simple as that. 4) I was introduced to Richard Croben with Azzarello's incredible Hard time storyline from Hellblazer. Then it was Banner with Azz again. It'll be a while before i read 303...unless someone uploads it to thepiratebay soon. 5) Huh? 6) Some creative teams simply don't click. Miller seems to try to play to Lee's "strengths" but it still doesn't work...but i could've told you that before the book was announced, Jim Lee is a poor choice for a Frank Miller project. It didn't happen for any other reason than to sell many many copies, and we all know that's a bad recipe for stories. I do agree that Miller is too good a writer (one of the greats) to not be in on the joke and think his Millerspeak can be used as self parody. These talkbacks haven't given him much credit at all, which is very sad.
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1) with all the bashing Miller received lately (and prior to that for DK2), I find it possible (still!) that you ironically thanked me for posting the aforementioned review. 2) I can't believe you 're not using DC++ for getting comics. Google for DC++ and CDisplay (okay, that you probably have). Use the * latest *, * official * DC++ to download comics. In the ' Public Hubs ' tab, go to the ' Filter ' form and type Comic. 10-15 servers should be there. Try the 5 most populated at peak hours and you can find comics you wouldn't find anywhere else. The latest releases - the ones having a sort of signature at the end of the filename - are the best scans/files.
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It's true. Or he likes women but just isn't a good enough writer to convey this. He likes to think he is on a par with Raymond Chandler; Jim Thompson; James Ellroy - he isn't fit to lick any of their boots. All three of these writers make their female characters bold, ballsy and complex. As complex as the males and just as - perhaps even more- powerful. Miller's women are either harpies or whores. He fetishises film noir and hard-boiled crime fiction without ever undertanding the nuances of either. What an over-rated hack. Finally his inadequacies are being described as just that.
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I'm downloading it now. I'm still pretty happy with piratebay and their torrent stuff, let's see if yours is better
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talkback a mustard yellow color? is this a new site design or is my comp going haywired?
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happened to the background? what is this piss yellow? seriously...is it for everyone else too? or am i being fucked with by bendis cuz he hasn't figured out how to break the internet yet?
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thanks for the extensive list on your fave artist...a rather good lot i must say. and the 100 post on f.miller and lee was informative, you are on your a-game my friend. also thanks to el vale my fellow colombian and darth for giving me their artists too...i see so far that i'm not on anybodies list sadly :(
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Looks veeeeeewy weird. Any samples of your art my man or were you joking? I do the occasional drawing meself as well...and get this: i write as well :O
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i'd like to see your work and i draw occasionally, definately not enough for an asshole in this talkback to list me in their top 3 artist ;)...lemme know...and this background crap is horrendous...it's as if rob liefeld made love to this talkback and piss yellow brown whatever was the product of that immaculate copulation.
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Well here's a couple links...check'em out if you have the time. How bout your stuff? Any of it online? http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/7090218/ http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/7090752/ http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/13751305/
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1) blackthought: I forgot to mention Eduardo Risso among the top artists working today. I am not on my a-game. It was Ian Brill's review that I plagiarized. 2) El Vale: your art looks very promising; keep at it. Have you tried doing sequential stuff, ie comics? That should take you to the next level. About DC++ : IT IS THE BOMB! Make sure you use the latest official release and follow my instructions from my previous post. Thus, new horizons for free comics will open for you. WHEN YOU GET THERE, YOU 'LL THANK ME FOR IT, MI HERMANO. (okay, creepy poster mode: OFF)
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Ahh! Pissy brown hurts my eyes. I go to sleep for a day and look what happens? My favorite artists right now (off the top of my head) are John Cassaday, J.H. Williams III, Gary Frank, Steve McNiven, Greg Land, Jim Cheung, and the Kubert brothers.
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Yeah i've tried sequential stuff but i decided to focus on my writing so i've been away from the drawing board for a while. Hopefully it will pay off.
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Kickstart the return of the New Universe
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Is the MAX Punisher series vol 4 or vol 3 or 5?
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lol, I can see why you 're asking
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Appears to be on to me
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I believe he started with a 12-issue (maxi)series = Punisher Volume 3. Frank Castle was supposed to die/commit suicide. Due to popularity, that didn't happen, or more accurately it was re-arranged (editors, E-i-C, writer) so that he lived. Then he started scripting the regular series, which was volume 4 (35 issues long, I think). During then, 'Punisher: Born' hit (Origin for Castle/Punisher). The cartoon violence/Marvel Un. ironic view was getting tiresome, so Ennis was given free reign with the upgrade of the title into a new MAX title = volume 5 = current volume. In this New York, Marvel's other heroes have never been mentioned, and the world/context is pretty much our own. And during this current run, the magnificent, Richard Corben-drawn 'Punisher: The End' hit, as well as the great 'The Cell'.
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Ennis's PUNISHER work under the Max line has been hit and miss for me, but PUNISHER: THE END really resonated. Maybe because it was an appropriately dark final note for the character, and a finite ending always lends drama. Maybe it was that amazing Corben art. Maybe it was the post-apocalyptic tie-in. Anyway, I loved it. I think I actually picked it for favorite story in this year's @$$ie @wards. Here's the original review: http://tinyurl.com/d2aw3 ****** On a separate note, file-sharer types out there? Please, please tell me you're out there buying shit too. I'm a comic shop manager who struggles like every other comic shop manager, and it depresses me to no end that entertainment piracy is hitting my chosen industry. Like this marginalized industry doesn't already have enough trouble turning a profit... ***** And on a final note: Vale, I dig yer art.
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of course. What I like, I order and buy. I prefer to touch (it reads wrong, I know). From what I DL, whatever I like, I buy. And where else could one find 1963 or Flex Mentallo these days?
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I download comics because it's the only way i can read them. Ok not so much, i just got my Y: the last man vol 1 and Walking dead vol 1 trades on the mail this week, but living a continent away from comic shops and bookstores with graphic novel sections...that's a rare treat. This one time i spent an entire year without reading a new comic. So when i discovered you could download comics i jumped at the oportunity. For instance i downloaded the complete Preacher so i could read the 20 plus issues i hadn't already...and as soon as i have the money and the means i'll buy the trades to complete my collection. And i downloaded Fables to check it out and now i plan to buy the trades. Oh and i too downloaded Flex Mentallo...and would love to read 1963 and Moore's Supreme run and Wildcats run and other obscure stuff that's not easy to find.
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Sounds like y'all are downloading with a fair appreciation for keeping the medium truckin'. It's that *next* generation of downloaders I'm worried about - the kids with no particular attachment to the tactile sensation of comics.
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digged the traditional art you got there in your deviant account...anyone esle get the hardcover of invincable?
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A suggestion though: order the rest as soon as you can! Those two particular storires read really good all at once. **** Dave I completely agree (and worry) that the *next* generation of kids won't give a shit about touching and feeling the paper (it does sound dirty!) and will only download things. They probably won't play with toys, build forts, or have squirt gun wars either! How depressing is that? **** blackthought, my Invincible hardcover is in the mail on it's way to me now. I'm really excited because I haven't read any Invincible, but love Walking Dead. **** On a side note of Robert Kirkman. I'm sure plenty of you heard that Bendis printed Kirkman's Phone # in (I think) Powers and Kirkman replied by showing a punk picture of Bendis from his youth in Walking Dead. Bendis then put Kirkman's # up on his huge questions column at Newsarama
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this is the only website that requires me to change the contrast on my monitor. Anyhow, as I predicted, the aholes stopped reviewing house of M as soon as it started to turn around. so predictable.q
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They did a review for issues 1-3. That's pretty unheard of. The @$$holes don't like to review the same title month to month because they want to spread the word on stuff like Scrooge McDuck like in Dave_F's well informed review earlier this week. And HoM #3 was the first issue that wasn't really sucky and it was given a review. Hom #4 was a little slower but still easily surpassed the first 2 issues. I liked how Emma and others are "finding out" what has happened. Here's a direct quote from last weeks HoM #3 review by Ambush Bug: "@B: Issue # 3 was the first issue of HOUSE O' M that I actually enjoyed. The other two had positive aspects but this one was the kind of story Mr. Bendis does very well! I've noticed in THE PULSE that when it comes to a hero frantically trying to track down a lead, BMB really has the ability to bring the reader into the emotion, tension, and yes, action!" Check yourself son!
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Did anyone else read Serenity, Girls, JSA Classified, Astonishing X-Men, Wolverine, etc? Or should we go back to ripping on AS Bats and Jim Lee?
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Jul 25, 2005 2:11:11 PM CDT
Are blackthought and Gus not even here battling for last? Maybe
by the heathen
LAST. Oh, come on. Where is everybody?
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Thank you all for your kind words about my art, i really appreciate it. Heathen, what did you say to Kirkman's answering machine? And what did it actually say? I'd really like to see that Bendis picture, plus this picture of Alba's pooper i was promised *wink wink* And yeah i'm gonna start saving now so i can buy those other trades cause Y left me feeling a bit like when you're about to have sex and something happens and you can't. I mean it was good, i enjoyed it but i felt it was just about to get rolling when it ended. Walking dead felt more like a complete story and i have to say altho' it wasn't as good as i was expecting (it couldn't have been) it was really really great. That zombie by the side of the road that's so decomposed it can't even move was an incredible moment. And when the guys go into the rainy city to get guns it felt very claustrophopic. Good stuff.
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and unfortunately (pre)penultimate. I. AM. LAST!
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I hadn't seen your post when I posted mine
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We've got two more days left of worthless bickering, so let's not get ahead of ourselves calling last just yet. Tomorrow night maybe
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http://www.newsarama.com/Top_Cow/Hunter_Killer/HKDO_1-32_Page_13.jpg
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Jul 25, 2005 2:37:19 PM CDT
Vale, the next two trades for Walking Dead are even better
by the heathen
He starts out saying: "Hi, you've reached the home of Robert Kirkman, I'm not in right now or I'm too busy. If you need to reach me please leave a message, and if you're calling cause that ass Bendis put my number in his comic - leave me the hell alone!" Or something to that affect. I'm too afraid to call back. It freaked me out when it actually started ringing. Maybe it would be a good opportunity for the @$$holes to leave a message asking for an interview? Cause I started reading Walking Dead from a review I saw here. The Bendis picture is in Walkind Dead #20 (probably online somewhere) and I'm waiting for that picture of Alba's pooper too as was promised *wink wink*
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Jul 25, 2005 2:40:28 PM CDT
Let's keep this one going and not the "Shoot the Mesenger"
by the heathen
Juggling would confuse me like Schleppy eating a raspberry cotton candy burrito. Good but bad new about Y: The Last Man ending at issue #60 though.
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sorry i was absent guys it was a crazy weekend.i went to see eminem and g-unit in concert. good show,i got too drunk tho. great art vale! i like your stuff.hopefully well see more of u in the future.dave i havent tried downloading books yet but im going to using some of the tips offered by above posters but i will by no means stop buying comics.i like to get my stack of comics from the store and lay on the couch reading through them and u just cant do that with downloads.no to mention u cant take them in the crapper with u. crude but true.i swear ive been so busy i havent had a chance to upload the pic of jessica alba. and just so u know its not naked pooper pic just a damn good shot of her ass in a bathing suit bottom.i agree we should keep this tb going and not move it to the news tb. altho thanks for the news update that was a cool way to start the morning. my invincible hardcover is on order too!
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i ordered the new 100 bullets trade with the wiley times in new orleans story arc.i also ordered a superman trade called infinity city based solely on the art which reminded me a bit of new warriors)the new mini)has anyone heard if this is any good?oh well i guess ill find out when it gets here.thats hilarious about kirkman! im going to call when i get off work.
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Jul 25, 2005 3:04:35 PM CDT
G-g-g-g-g-g-G-UNIT! so sorry, I could not resist that either.
by the heathen
Good to hear from you Kal-El. Was the concert good? Too bad it's not naked pooper, but it's still Alba's pooper, and it's still in a nice suit, and she's still bending over. Okay, enough of the pooper rant. Has anyone else called Kirkman's machine?
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Jul 25, 2005 3:12:21 PM CDT
The shoot the messenger talkback is people wanting a "yay" or "n
by the heathen
Yeah, great idea. I don't want to read anything, just a nay will do. "Have you read AS Batman? Nay I say, NAY!!!" **** Kirkman's # btw is 858-345-5496. I figure everyone else at Newsarama already has it. There you go.
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yeah it was a cool show.i had a good time.i missed most of g-unit and 50 cent waiting in line to get in but eminem was tight.he did the usual making fun of micheal jackson bit which was hilarious.yeah it still a nice shot of her pooper so i promise ill get it scanned tonight and u should have it by tomorrow.yeah i read some of the talback over there and i didnt recognize anyboy so i just came back here to post.
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Jul 25, 2005 3:39:42 PM CDT
"Anyhow, as I predicted, the aholes stopped reviewing house of M
by dave_f
As has already been noted, Bug had some kind words to say about HoM #4, but I've gotta ask: if an eight-issue miniseries takes till the fourth issue - the halfway point! - to "turn around"...isn't it pretty much a failure? I'm a little befuddled by the extended chances folks give books sometimes. If it was an *ongoing*, I might offer some leeway while the writer finds his feet, but a mini's meant to be a concise piece of entertainment. If it hasn't grabbed me by the halfway point, well...that dog won't hunt.
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it reminds me of diareah
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Jul 25, 2005 3:46:01 PM CDT
52 from DC. Explaining what happened in between the 1-year-later
by the heathen
1 issue a week? 52 issues in one year? I gotta admit, this sound like a great idea. It's well thought out sounding and another way to tie together continuity post Crisis.
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The first 2 issues were bad, but I thought #3 was good. So that is only 1/4 of the series (so far) that can be thrown away, not half. What has anyone thought of #4?
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Jul 25, 2005 3:56:22 PM CDT
i forgot to put it on my pull list so i havent gotten 3 or 4 yet
by darth kal-el
i said "pull".heh heh
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i liked both in different ways. im also digging the new GI JOE elite. cool art and a pretty decent comic.is this supposed to take place after the gi joe relaunch series?i get the feeling im missing something. can someone fill me in?
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I'm just a hater, I know. But I don't see how HoM has "turned around," and I thought #4 was unimpressive. It didn't suck, but it wasn't "good" and the only excitement was like on the last page when Emmma Frost (leader of the X-Men?) says she wants to go kill Magneto. It doesn't suck, but it's way over-rated. And IC was also over-rated. Both are fine, but considering the flagship "events" they're supposed to be, I am disappointed. That 52 from DC sounds good. And from this site, I wore a yellow shirt and tie to work, but no one appreciated my shout-out to old one-ball. Now I'm off to check out v.2, shoot the messenger. BTW, re-read "Ultimates" over the weekend, and as a whole it was pretty darn good. Now I see how the whole "paced for trades" sucks as a weekly buyer and am super glad I decided to wait for the trade on Ultimates 2.
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Jul 25, 2005 4:11:20 PM CDT
The dialogue between Kitty and Piotr was great in Astonishing.
by the heathen
When he says, "And Kitty
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when the editor say's, "See you in 30!" Ha! Ha! Ha!
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i also liked the whole danger/prof x thing and damn thats a sweeet looking sentinel. happy early b-day heathen.hope u have a great time tonight!
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The hype machine that is Darth has set that picture up for dissapointment. Altho i suspect it *will* be cracked in half LOL. That was of course a joke since i don't ever say LOL. Also i agree we should keep this one alive instead of selling out to the STM talkback. That one's filled with one time posters and my least favourite talkbacker: The Beast. Finally Walking dead does seem like the kind of book that gets better and better. A question: Does Y get better and better?
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Yep, that Latin goddess of mine is making me my favorite pasta salad and preparing some other surprises hopefully involving cotton candy and raspberries. That Sentinel is freaking awesome! If you want a good laugh at talkbacks, check out the PSP reviews that Harry did. It's a bunch of Nintendo and Sony fanboys defending Kirby and how innovative the DS is. I posted something there (with a point) to see if I would get a rise out of anybody. It's the geekiest thing I've read on this site in a long time, and we're in the comics talkback. Ha! Ha!
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Oh, and Kirkman's machine also said to "go buy Walkind Dead, Invincible, and MTU." Way to get in a plug Kirk.
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heathen, drink enough for the all of us.
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i dont know if i have raised your expectations too far but it is a nice pic! im an ass man so i was all over it.heathen that sounds funny im going over to read it now. have a great time with your latin godess and do indeed drink a shitload.if i was in your area id be buying the first round!
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Feliz cumplea
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one guy who was a nintendo DS suporter said another guy who liked the psp had a tiny monkey brain for liking the psp better than the ds! man i was laughing. and then vale went in there and said something like 'you were right heathen it is geeky in here' and some guy got all offended and said 'your geek ship has sailed or some other nonsense'it was funny.
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I don't know if you agree but the outside talkbacks suck. This one is a lot more focused...a few days in.
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the other talkbacks on this site are so damn random.yeah we may stray a bit but we always come back to comics.
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http://www.drago99.com/JessicaAlba/
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http://www.starcelebs.com/celebs/jessica_alba.shtml
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Bless your generous heart Darth
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actually the link is better than if i had scanned the image because the playboy was in black and white
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alba.......
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and left a message asking why the hell it was snowing heavily in Atlanta in the WD... yeah that doesn't happen right? Right?
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how was your party heathen?
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Give me topics people! There's still life in it. Ask anything, nothing's out of limits.
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where did that transformers thread go? hmm?
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I don't know about the thread but i do know Rich Johnston reported Amazon solicited some Transformers trades while most of the creators who worked on them have yet to be paid for their efforts..so obviously they're pissed. Fucking Dreamwave! Now Jessica's pooper is nice, that picture was kind of astonishing cause the quality was amazing and her ass was facing us in a way that looks rehearsed. Know who i have a crush on? Kate from Lost. Giant crush.
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i guess it went with the box office returns of the island, just vanished.
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or much of anythying for that matter.theres a lot of movies out there that i want to see but u know how it is when u forget to go and then more and more movies get released.i would have to drop a good 60.00 dollars to see all i want to see at theaters right now.i think im going to go to fantastic four and war of the worlds(I know i know ive been busy) which i havent seen and buy the rest as bootleg dvds
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Not the best one, that would be Rules of attraction (i know it's old but i only saw it a couple months back) but WotW was such an incredible experience...saw it 3 times.
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so little time
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where the hell is heathen?i want to hear stories of drunken birthday debauchery
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Haven't read what's gone on since I left yesterday (cept Alba's pooper ; ) ) Thanks for the kind b-day words and I'll give you guy's a recap of stuff tomorrow. I just wanted to drop in and add my 2 cents for the day. Told you the Nintendo talkback was funny. See ya guy's
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have a good one man! well be here tomorrw for the details of your shenanigans.
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I think I'll post here. Thanks again for all the kind words guy's. Oh, there weere raspberries, but sadly no cotton candy
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sweet! glad to hear your having a good time so far.
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Sweet. Hopefully the @$$holes will come through
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Jul 27, 2005 10:14:47 AM CDT
Errands, a Crisis, a Possum, Raspberries, Singha, Batman, Japane
by the heathen
So when I left here Monday after work on the eve of my B-day around 5pm in hot & humid Florida I went by Target to get my insulin (I got Diabetes, BUT don't relate me to Halle Berry) in case of any over celebrating. I then had to pick my brother up from work because his car is not working. He works lifting tires all day, so needless to say he stinks. I prepare newspapers for him to sit on so his stink doesn't soak into to my cloth car seat. I'm a little weird with smells. After dropping him off I rushed 30 miles over to my place to await my latin goddess and her delicious past salad (a blend of artichokes, black olives, onions, peppers, and a special dressing). But alas, it didn't quite go as planned. She called me on her way over with a bit of, dare I say it, a "crisis." Something happened in the family (no deaths). She asked me to drive a couple of hours with her to visit the family, I of course will be there for her. When she arrives later than expected because of said crisis I am starving because I didn't want to spoil my appetite. It is then decided that we should not go because of time and work, etc. This is decided after I have already changed my plans. I eat my pasta as she tells me the details of what's going on. Because of the crisis she didn't get all dolled up after work and have time to stop by some place she was going to. I said it was okay and I understood. Of course she was emotional so no fun in the sack tonight. Ended the evening before Letterman was even on. In the middle of the night I awoke to our dogs barking. I let out my English bulldog Remy (after LeBau), our Jack Russel Marvel, and our brown mutt dog Mr. Brown. We've had roof damage from the hurricanes that is finally being repaired just in time to be destroyed again. In the repairs a Possum snuck into our living room to hide under a foot stool. Remy literally rammed the stool to lift it up and in that split second Marvel grabbed the Possums neck and snapped the shit out of it. Just to make sure the possum wasn't playing "possum" she snapped it's neck again. Remy and Mr. Brown stared in awe.The eve of The Heathen's B-day was a mixed bag besides the killing by Ms. Marvel. The next day was better. We got up walked the dogs, got a shower together, and followed by making up for last night (although without cotton candy) but there was delicious raspberries in there somewhere. I then met friends from work for a Thai lunch as we shared some drinks and ate. I tried a Thai beer by the name of Singha. It was okay, but I might need to have a few more to get used to it. After lunch I had to drop off a Wine Label I've designed for a women who is going to have it printed on a bunch of cheap wine that she buy's to advertise her horses. She liked the design even though it was late and gave me one of the wine bottles that had arrived. I drank a lot of it despite it's cheapness. Later that evening my brother bought me the Batman Begins soundtrack and the first season of Batman: The Animated Series. I was thrilled, because I didn't expect anything. I'm past most of the ages that involve gifts. My family and a few friends went to a Japanese steak house for dinner. My mother told the story of my birth and how my umbilical cord was choking me to death and that I was blue when I popped out. I jokingly say that I was trying to hang myself because I knew what was in store for me. This gave me an excuse to drink a little more. We then went over to our office building (where I dropped by here to add my 2 cents) to cut my cake. When I was younger I had the best cakes that were made by a friend of ours Betty. I had Star Wars, Spider-Man, and Batman among others (my cousin got the sweetest looking Terminator cake that I wanted, but instead I got stuck with a non-Betty cake with blue flowers that year). The Batman cake was from the '89 movie. I was all about Batman, who wasn't? Yesterday the circle was completed. I had a Batman Begins logo cake made by Betty. This time she asked my mother if I was a little too old for super heroes, to which my mom knew the answer: "I will never be too old for super heroes."
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Jul 27, 2005 10:35:46 AM CDT
Jeez, I just realized my recap sounded like one of Harry's r
by the heathen
Sans the review though.
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Thanks for that link Darth. Good stuff I must confess. Vale, I'm with you on the other talkbacks. I've checked out a few and I see 50 new names in each one and they are all talking about politics or defending Nintendo or some other bullshit. This one is the best by far. My favorite movies of the year so far are Crash, Batman Begins, War of the Worlds, Upside of Anger, Episode III, and Sin City. Kinda random but there that is.
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or, um....a bad thing? and any batman birthday is a good one.
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LAST!
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im sorry to hear a crisis interfered with your b-day shenanigans but that was waht sounds like a pretty interesting time nonetheless.i like that singha beer that stuff is good.i only get it when i got to thai restaraunts tho. i have a place near my house that sells nothing but exotic foreign beers and pretty cheap too but it feels weird to sit down to play halo or mess around on AICN with an import beer.thats crazy about your dogs and the possum. shower and loving with a latin godess...i think that could salvage just about any situation.
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Although excesive detail and over the top sexual comparisons?yeah it has those in spades
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dont bust a nut just yet my friend!
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revenge of the sith,sin city,batman begins.FINALLY going to FF tonight and i got a bootleg of war of the worlds so that might change
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I think I'll give Singha another go. I've yet to find a favorite regular beer. I haven't played Halo for a while. I haven't even got the new map pack disc either. I need to get back in the habit. I go by "Darth Chaos" when I play Halo btw Kal-El. I don't have a Live account so I know it's taken, but I'll live. The soundtracks to Revenge of the Sith, and Batman Begins or the best I've heard in a long time. I'm the only person that I know that will play The Chronic or ATliens and then put in something by John Williams.
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looks like bukakke. Gold and red and ehh! I was just getting interested in his character (mostly because of Justice League Unlimited) but now, I'm not so sure. Maybe.
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First of all Heathen you're gonna die! You're diabetic and you spend your evening drinking and eating cake? How come you still have your extremities? Harry's reviews are always lacking a review, i agree. That Blade II review with the comparison to...i believe it was pussy eating...you want extensive recounts of pussy eating from hot lesbians, not a gigantic vomit inducing red headed ball of a man. With no eyebrows. Doesn't that freak you out?! No eyebrows, i swear to god. Anyway the @$$holes suck!
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Yeah, I know it sounds bad, but lemme explain. First off, I don't drink all the time, usually just on special occassions and stuff. Boos raise my blood sugar and then lowers it, so I do have to be around friends that know about this. I'm always extra careful and haven't been wasted in a good while (FUCK apple smirnoff forever). The REASON I can do this is because I carb count with my Humalog Insulin. For example, if I eat a Burger that's 30 carbs, I do 3 units of Humalog. Same goes for cake, candy, soda, boos, etc. Piece of cake = 50 carbs, 5 units of insulin. I've done this for over five years now under the recommendaton of my doctor. Before that it was a very strict diet, and even now I eat healthy and don't binge too often on candy or boo's. I also have Type 1 Diabetes. That's the one where your pancreas doesn't produce any insulin, ever. Type 2, if people exercise right and eat healthy they can take other types of medication besides shots of insulin. The drawback of carb counting for me is how many shots I have to stick into my skinny ass every day. I average about five a day. WOW, this is the last place I thought I'd ever talk about Diabetes. Comics fucking rule
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Where are the @$$holes?
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I grew up in Gainesville...
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That's how i work, i get up at 1:30 and check some sites, post something here, go out (sometimes), see my girl, stuff like that. Then at night...at midnight i start writing and/or reading and check the talkback from time to time up till 3:30 or 4. So yeah i'll always be here asking questions about diabetes and stuff. 5 shots a day is a lot, man. My friend who's a diabetic doesn't drink, doesn't eat any sugar whatsoever and does 2 shots a day. Doesn't have sex either but that's not cause of the diabetes. And comics do rule, i'm currently reading The Authority vol 1. (Re reading some of it).
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i didn't know DC stood for Diabetic Comics...heathen, nice birthday but too harry'ish recap...no harm done really except killing the talkback for a bit :) jk.
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Ocala, Williston, and Gainesville is where I spend my time. Work in Ocala, went to college in Gainesville, and go to Mega Comics in the Oaks Plaza to get my books. ***** Vale, the 5 shots a day is more by choice and not because I sounded like I abused my illness. I could eat things with no carbs and only take my 1 shot of Lantus at night, but I like to eat despite my skinny frame. Ask your friend what his A1C is, mine is currently a 7 and has steadily dropped since I've been on this new carb counting. Thanks for the concern and believe me I know how serious this is. I've had it since I was 4 and I intend to keep my eyesight, limbs, and anything else that could go wrong with me safe.
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DC is out to recalim the throne! Hawkeye lives! Fuck a Hawkeye!!! Get ready for the Crisis where The Heathen is finally introduced in issue #5 of Infinite Crisis and completely kicks Supermans ass. It WILL destroy the internet, break it right in half. Aha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
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Please don't break the internet, i need it.
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some Marvel guy say's he's going to rip it in half with HoM #7 after his first attempt failed to even break wind. I'm done for today guy's, until tomorrow and, uh,
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good try tho.thats sucks about your diabetes but it sounds like you handle as best as you can and i comend u for that.comics do rule! a random hot chick at work just asked me about my 100 bullets trade i was reading while on my lunch. she said it looked interesting so i loaned it to her.im hoping this leads to me getting some ass.ill keep u posted
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Jul 27, 2005 5:07:00 PM CDT
next time someone breaks the internet in half im telling buzz da
by darth kal-el
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Darth, i'd be happy if said comic got the girl INTO comics...but if it also gets your naughty parts into her naughty parts then more power to you my man...how does she rate in a scale of 1 through 10? What did she find interesting about the 100 Bullets trade? God i wish i had the full run, i only have A foregone tomorrow. On a side note Bendis claims CBR and some other comic book sites went down because of him...bastard.
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The reviews are up. Go read
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I couldn't resist checking back in. And right when I do-the new comics column is up. My plan to destroy the internet has failed. It was plagued by decompression in comics.
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Do we move this and hand it over to Gus and Blackthought as they battle for LAST post? I have stuff to say
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I'm leaving the office in a minute, but I'll chime in a bit tomorrow if I can. I got a busy day. I can't believe they said this about JSA Classified, "
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Some info: I'm writing a 4 page porno comic to be published in Europe. Wish me luck. Yes, porno.
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send me a copy vale! and last! blackthought and gus when youre ready to eat it let me know
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send me that stuff too...we should start CC Colombian Comics or something, hell we can throw Heathen there for the diabetic fandom....and Darth you too...to bring in the Albalites...ahhhhh..Alba....
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So there's gonna be 2 of them...and i'll start writing the first one tonight. Maybe tomorrow i can give you a link for the script.
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these comics are educational correct?
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Haha that is weird! Fucking Oaks Mall dude! I used to have all my birthday parties at Aladdin's Castle Arcade there yo!
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Is always educational!
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it's educational...is it bilingual too?
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It will be once my artist translates it to portuguese. Come take a look: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/21096241/
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It will be once my artist translates it to portuguese. Come take a look: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/21096241/
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get a deviantart account so you all can be in the presence of my mediocrity :)
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I can pimp you if you want
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who doesn't love being whored out?
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If you guys aren't even fighting for this one, why should i even bother?
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another step in your apprentencing (if that is a word)...now back to school work.
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LAST! nighty-night, kidneys.
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So i get the last laugh
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no, LAST! goes to me, and sorry to hear bout your kidney's Gus, hope they survive till the next talkback.
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Is your kidney dying?
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not sure his kidney is dying...maybe he just doesn't drink enough, erm...i mean too much.
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If your kidney isn't dying please get drinkin'
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i'll take that advice vale
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ultimate!
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must be refering to someone else.
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the LAST refers to me, though.
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my apologies
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http://tinyurl.com/7a2p6 *** it is complete. Let the world bask in the miracle I have created. Leave this 4 talkbacks untainted from further 'last' posting. *** It is ... done.
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not gonna happen....last
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