In the meantime, happy collecting!
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Don't give up on me just yet
It's been a crazy couple weeks, so no new post once again this week, but here's a small teaser image for the next post, just to let you know I am thinking of things. Just haven't had a chance to write my thoughts down as yet.
In the meantime, happy collecting!
In the meantime, happy collecting!
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Everything old is new again Vol. 2
DC Comics
Creators: Bob Rozakis, Curt Swan, Frank Chiaramonte, Milt Snapinn, Gene D'Angelo and Julius Schwartz
Cover Date: November 1980
I'm still making my way through that large purchase of old Superman comics from the 1970s and early 1980s as I have time. But I came across one story the other day that proved to be very serendipitous timing.
Let's back up. About three weeks before, I was talking comics with a co-worker who shares an interest in the hobby. I honestly don't remember how the topic came up, but I was asking him if he'd read an Elseworlds one-shot from 1993 titled Superman: Speeding Bullets by J.M. Dematteis and Eduardo Barreto. The vast majority of the Elseworlds titles from the 1990s were Batman-centric comics with a few Superman and Justice League titles thrown in here and there. This one had Superman right in the title, but seemed to depict Batman right there on the cover.
The story posits that the rocket from Krypton lands not in Kansas, but on the outskirts of a much smaller Gotham City. And instead of Jonathan and Martha Kent finding the rocket's sole occupant, young couple Thomas and Martha Wayne happen upon the child. Being wealthy and childless, they decide to keep the child and raise him in the seclusion Wayne Manor provides. Martha teaches the young boy about compassion and the need for those who are able to help those who are less fortunate. Thomas teaches the boy to care about the law and doing what is right. And they are a happy family until one night when the boy, named Bruce Wayne by his adoptive parents, is 9 years old. The family is leaving the theater when they are mugged by a small-time hood named Joe Chill.
The parents are killed, and the anger, hurt and pain that Bruce feels explode out of him in the form of hot death from his eyes, something that traumatizes the child even more. Guilt and shame consume the boy to the point that he forgets the details of what happened, and he lives in seclusion until he reaches the age of 21. More powers and abilities have developed in the meantime, but it is at this point that the Wayne's butler, and Bruce's surrogate father, Alfred, tries to help the young man by revealing what is known about his origins. The shock of seeing the rocket brings back the traumatic memories of the night Thomas and Martha Wayne were killed, and Bruce swears to take out his anger and loathing on the lawless as a creature of the night named Batman.
Bruce pursues that mission in the daytime by buying the Gotham Gazette and serving as its crusading publisher and in the night by brutally punishing all who would prey on others as the Baman. Only by making a new friend does Bruce come to realize that his brutal nighttime methods make him little better than the criminals he opposes, and he chooses to follow a different path.
Of course, I didn't recall all of those details in the conversation with my co-worker. It had been several years since I last read Speeding Bullets. But about a week after that conversation, I came across the book while going through part of my collection looking for something else. I re-read the issue, then took it to work to let my co-worker borrow it since he seemed interested and hadn't previously read the story. Then, just a few days later, I sat down to read Superman No. 353, the next in my stack.
Those familiar with the nearly 40-year-old comic might recognize that the page pictured at the top of this post is not from the main story. Rather it is an eight-page backup story from the issue titled "The Secret Origin of Bruce (Superman) Wayne," and I was happy to read a very similar — but also very different — story to Superman: Speeding Bullets.
In the 1980 tale, as in the 1993 one, the rocket from Krypton again (or previously) crashes on the then-outskirts of a smaller Gotham City. In this instance, however, the young baby Kal-El breaks out of the rocket on his own and begins to crawl toward town when he is spotted by a young Gotham City patrolman named James W. Gordon. Gordon makes a report to his desk sergeant, asking if anyone has reported a missing baby. Finding no such reports, he decides to take the child to his friend, Dr. Thomas Wayne, to ensure the child is uninjured. Dr. Wayne and his wife, Martha, decide to keep the baby until his real parents can be located rather than having the infant sent to an orphanage, and Gordon agrees. When no one comes forward, the Waynes adopt the child and name him Bruce.
True to Superman's earlier origins, this child from Krypton already has most of his future powers even as an infant rather than developing them over time and exposure to earth's yellow sun. The Waynes notice evidence of Bruce's unusual abilities right away — his impervious skin, his ability to fly and his X-ray vision — but keep quiet about them until the fateful encounter with Joe Chill.
In this instance, the quick-thinking young Bruce uses his super speed to reach out and grab the bullets before they can strike either of his adoptive parents. Chill, spooked by the turn of events, tries to shoot the boy directly and is instead hit by a ricochet off the boy's invulnerable chest. Patrolman Gordon, alerted by the sound of the gunshots, arrives on the scene in time to hear Chill's dying words, a confession that he was hired to kill the Waynes by mobster Lew Moxon.
Moxon is jailed. Gordon is promoted to sergeant for his part in the case. And the Waynes finally decide to confide in someone — their friend, Gordon — about young Bruce's abilities. The three adults continue to be a guiding influence in shaping the man young Bruce will grow into. Then, on Bruce's 21st birthday, at a party thrown for him by his parents, the recently paroled Lew Moxon shows up to take his revenge. Bruce quickly disguises himself and thwarts the mob boss, thus beginning his career as Superman, aided by his parents and their friend, now Commissioner Gordon.
I know a lot of stories and ideas get recycled in comics, and the longer a reader is involved in the hobby, the more instances you will find. But it was particularly fun and timely to discover this version of Superman being Bruce Wayne so soon after talking about and re-discovering a later story that starts in the same place but takes a much different route to get to a similar ending. The simple germ of an idea can go in many different directions depending on the creators and the time in which it is developed.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Everything old is new again
Deathstroke the Terminator Nos. 6-9
DC Comics
Creators: Marv Wolfman, Steve Erwin and Will Blyberg
Cover date: January-April 1992
Among the April 2018 solicitations for DC Comics is this blurb for Deathstroke No. 30: "'Deathstroke vs. Batman' part one! Beginning this month, a six-issue series-within-a-series featuring the ultimate showdown between DC’s fiercest rivals!"
I've read some issues of the current Deathstroke series and enjoyed them, so I mean no disrespect to writer Christopher Priest or artist Carlo Pagulayan when I raise the question: Are fans really clamoring for this face-off? Isn't this a bit of old news? These two characters squared off long ago in a truly excellent tale that avoided a number of potential pitfalls. Go check it out; it's well worth your time!
Let's give this tale a little bit of context. Deathstroke debuted alongside Marv Wolfman's and George Perez's The New Teen Titans in 1980. Longtime Titans foes the H.I.V.E. tried to hire the mercenary, Slade Wilson, to slay the teenage heroes, but he refused, preferring to avoid conflict with costumed vigilantes. So the H.I.V.E. set about engaging Deathstroke's services by involving his estranged son, Grant. Grant accepted the contract, but died while attacking the Titans, and Deathstroke, a man of honor, felt bound to complete his son's contract against his own better judgment.
This touched off a long antagonistic relationship between the Titans and Deathstroke that reached its conclusion in "The Judas Contract" storyline in 1984. Deathstroke finally fulfilled the terms of that original contract by successfully capturing all of the Titans and turning them over to the H.I.V.E. The heroes survived and escaped, but Deathstroke saw his obligation as fulfilled when he turned the Titans over. That wasn't the end of the character's history, however.
Deathstroke proved popular and was used as a villain in many other DC Comics. Some of those appearances made for good stories; some were less well conceived, especially in light of the character's ongoing appearances in the New Teen Titans title. Deathstroke made amends with the various Titans characters following "The Judas Contract" and even served as an ally to the team in the "Titans Hunt" storyline several years later. The character was still a mercenary for hire, but one with a rigid code of honor and ethics. Not everyone, especially a superhero, would agree with all of Deathstroke's decisions and actions, but the character was given more depth by Wolfman's continued use of him. He certainly wasn't a hero, but he could be someone readers could root for in a number of situations.
Following the "Titans Hunt" storyline, Deathstroke was given his own title. Many of the stories in this book took Wilson to foreign countries, often ones at war, where killing and mercenaries could be viewed outside the moral absolutes of most superhero stories. Wolfman's continued great writing and characterization made Deathstroke a more multi-faceted character, and Steve Erwin and Will Blyberg gave the art a crisp, clean, dynamic appearance.
The first story arc of the title re-examined Deathstroke's origin and added details to it while taking Wilson on an emotional journey through all of the tragedies of his life. I'm sure the addition of Batman in the second story arc was an attempt to pull in more readers with a more superhero-centric tale. But including a character like Batman could have backfired for the book.
Deathstroke is the title character of the book, which is also a new book to comic stands. It wouldn't be good to have the title character losing a fight. But neither is Batman a character DC would want to see put to shame in a matchup. Remember, the height of Batmania began in 1989 and is still going very strong in 1992. So they could fight to a draw? That wouldn't be satisfying for fans.
Instead, Wolfman smartly avoids having the characters go head-to-head. Remember, this Batman was very different from the Batman of today in one key regard. He's the world's best detective, an excellent combatant and a brilliant tactician. That has been — and always should be — a part of the Batman mythos. But in the early 1990s, Batman was still willing to work alongside other heroes, to trust other heroes and to listen to what other people had to say. Also, remember that Deathstroke at this point had very recently been an ally of the Titans.
In the "City of Assassins" storyline, Wolfman has Batman and Deathstroke working toward a common goal rather than at odds. There is an initial confrontation, and Deathstroke, an enhanced human, does have the upper hand against the Dark Knight, who while in peak form, is still human. But from the outset, Batman suspects that Deathstroke might be on the side of the angels after consulting with Nightwing for information about the mercenary. When others are quick to assume Deathstroke to be one of many bad guys in the scenario, Batman looks at the evidence of what has happened and rightly concludes that assumption is incorrect.
As an added bonus, this storyline also is the one that introduces the third character to bear the name Vigilante in the DC Universe. I strongly recommend it if you've never read it before. And even if you have, it is well worth another look if you haven't read it in a while!
DC Comics
Creators: Marv Wolfman, Steve Erwin and Will Blyberg
Cover date: January-April 1992
Among the April 2018 solicitations for DC Comics is this blurb for Deathstroke No. 30: "'Deathstroke vs. Batman' part one! Beginning this month, a six-issue series-within-a-series featuring the ultimate showdown between DC’s fiercest rivals!"
I've read some issues of the current Deathstroke series and enjoyed them, so I mean no disrespect to writer Christopher Priest or artist Carlo Pagulayan when I raise the question: Are fans really clamoring for this face-off? Isn't this a bit of old news? These two characters squared off long ago in a truly excellent tale that avoided a number of potential pitfalls. Go check it out; it's well worth your time!
This touched off a long antagonistic relationship between the Titans and Deathstroke that reached its conclusion in "The Judas Contract" storyline in 1984. Deathstroke finally fulfilled the terms of that original contract by successfully capturing all of the Titans and turning them over to the H.I.V.E. The heroes survived and escaped, but Deathstroke saw his obligation as fulfilled when he turned the Titans over. That wasn't the end of the character's history, however.
Deathstroke proved popular and was used as a villain in many other DC Comics. Some of those appearances made for good stories; some were less well conceived, especially in light of the character's ongoing appearances in the New Teen Titans title. Deathstroke made amends with the various Titans characters following "The Judas Contract" and even served as an ally to the team in the "Titans Hunt" storyline several years later. The character was still a mercenary for hire, but one with a rigid code of honor and ethics. Not everyone, especially a superhero, would agree with all of Deathstroke's decisions and actions, but the character was given more depth by Wolfman's continued use of him. He certainly wasn't a hero, but he could be someone readers could root for in a number of situations.
Following the "Titans Hunt" storyline, Deathstroke was given his own title. Many of the stories in this book took Wilson to foreign countries, often ones at war, where killing and mercenaries could be viewed outside the moral absolutes of most superhero stories. Wolfman's continued great writing and characterization made Deathstroke a more multi-faceted character, and Steve Erwin and Will Blyberg gave the art a crisp, clean, dynamic appearance.
The first story arc of the title re-examined Deathstroke's origin and added details to it while taking Wilson on an emotional journey through all of the tragedies of his life. I'm sure the addition of Batman in the second story arc was an attempt to pull in more readers with a more superhero-centric tale. But including a character like Batman could have backfired for the book.
Deathstroke is the title character of the book, which is also a new book to comic stands. It wouldn't be good to have the title character losing a fight. But neither is Batman a character DC would want to see put to shame in a matchup. Remember, the height of Batmania began in 1989 and is still going very strong in 1992. So they could fight to a draw? That wouldn't be satisfying for fans.
Instead, Wolfman smartly avoids having the characters go head-to-head. Remember, this Batman was very different from the Batman of today in one key regard. He's the world's best detective, an excellent combatant and a brilliant tactician. That has been — and always should be — a part of the Batman mythos. But in the early 1990s, Batman was still willing to work alongside other heroes, to trust other heroes and to listen to what other people had to say. Also, remember that Deathstroke at this point had very recently been an ally of the Titans.
In the "City of Assassins" storyline, Wolfman has Batman and Deathstroke working toward a common goal rather than at odds. There is an initial confrontation, and Deathstroke, an enhanced human, does have the upper hand against the Dark Knight, who while in peak form, is still human. But from the outset, Batman suspects that Deathstroke might be on the side of the angels after consulting with Nightwing for information about the mercenary. When others are quick to assume Deathstroke to be one of many bad guys in the scenario, Batman looks at the evidence of what has happened and rightly concludes that assumption is incorrect.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Fun to read; powerful storytelling
Motor Girl Vols. 1 and 2 (Real Life and No Man Left Behind, respectively)
Abstract Studio
Creator: Terry Moore
Release Date: 2017
I am no longer a stranger to Terry Moore. I'd read and heard a lot about his epic "Strangers in Paradise" comic before I ever actually gave it a try. I hemmed and hawed with indecision, but picked up the digest-sized collections a time or two when I'd see them at shops. But they never seemed to have the first volume. One day I decided to take the plunge and just try the series. I tracked down all of the trades on either eBay or Amazon.
What I found was an incredible story about two women, their lives, their friends, their loves, etc. This was very much character-drive writing, and Moore was an excellent artist to boot. There was very little not to love!
To top it all off, not long after I finished reading the then-last trade of "Strangers," it was announced that Moore would be working on another story line titled "Echo." This title, oddly enough, also focused on strong female leads. It also had more of a sci-fi slant to it, while still being firmly grounded in the real world. In fact, late in the title's 30-issue run, it was revealed that "Echo" was set in the same universe as "Strangers" thanks to a common character. I collected that title as singles as they came out and enjoyed every issue.
Not long after "Echo" ended, Moore announced his next title, "Rachel Rising," would have a supernatural slant. I purchased that series in singles, as well, sticking with it well into the upper 20s. I still enjoyed Moore's strong writing, his beautiful artwork and his powerful female leads, even the undead ones, but it began to feel to me like the narrative of "Rachel" was beginning to meander a bit. Look back at some of my past posts and you can read more of my thoughts on Moore's previous titles.
But after I gave up on "Rachel Rising," I didn't heard about any more Terry Moore projects for a while. In fact, I failed to notice when "Motor Girl" was announced or solicited or released. I was happily surprised one day doing my comics order to see a new Terry Moore trade, and decided to give it a try.
I was glad I did. "Motor Girl" is "Sam"antha Locklear, a Marine Corps veteran fresh out of Iraq, where she was captured and tortured by the enemy. Back stateside, she now works in a Nevada desert junk yard where she prefers to be alone — except for the imaginary gorilla she calls Mike, her best friend; her boss, Libby, a grumpy but sweet old lady; and some comical little green men who land in her back yard with "engine trouble." Unfortunately, the arrival of the aliens brings some shadowy industrial/government types nosing around, too. And Sam is suffering from headaches and post-traumatic stress disorder from her ordeal in Iraq.
That first trade was everything I expected it to be. It was funny. It had a sense of drama and mystery. And there was also a sense of heavy foreboding regarding Sam's health. This book was definitely a keeper, and I kept watch for the second trade.
I was surprised to learn the month after I ordered that second trade that a "Motor Girl" omnibus would soon be solicited. That makes this the shortest Moore story I am aware of to date with only 10 issues to wrap up Sam's story. And I can confirm after now having re-read the first trade and reading the second trade that this is an incredible story about yet another strong female lead character.
Both volumes are great reads, and I am happy to recommend that anyone give them a chance. If you've read and enjoyed other Terry Moore Abstract Studio comics, you'll love this one, too. And If you've never tried his comics, this is a great one to start with. His work is deserving of your attention!
Abstract Studio
Creator: Terry Moore
Release Date: 2017
I am no longer a stranger to Terry Moore. I'd read and heard a lot about his epic "Strangers in Paradise" comic before I ever actually gave it a try. I hemmed and hawed with indecision, but picked up the digest-sized collections a time or two when I'd see them at shops. But they never seemed to have the first volume. One day I decided to take the plunge and just try the series. I tracked down all of the trades on either eBay or Amazon.
What I found was an incredible story about two women, their lives, their friends, their loves, etc. This was very much character-drive writing, and Moore was an excellent artist to boot. There was very little not to love!
To top it all off, not long after I finished reading the then-last trade of "Strangers," it was announced that Moore would be working on another story line titled "Echo." This title, oddly enough, also focused on strong female leads. It also had more of a sci-fi slant to it, while still being firmly grounded in the real world. In fact, late in the title's 30-issue run, it was revealed that "Echo" was set in the same universe as "Strangers" thanks to a common character. I collected that title as singles as they came out and enjoyed every issue.
Not long after "Echo" ended, Moore announced his next title, "Rachel Rising," would have a supernatural slant. I purchased that series in singles, as well, sticking with it well into the upper 20s. I still enjoyed Moore's strong writing, his beautiful artwork and his powerful female leads, even the undead ones, but it began to feel to me like the narrative of "Rachel" was beginning to meander a bit. Look back at some of my past posts and you can read more of my thoughts on Moore's previous titles.
But after I gave up on "Rachel Rising," I didn't heard about any more Terry Moore projects for a while. In fact, I failed to notice when "Motor Girl" was announced or solicited or released. I was happily surprised one day doing my comics order to see a new Terry Moore trade, and decided to give it a try.
I was glad I did. "Motor Girl" is "Sam"antha Locklear, a Marine Corps veteran fresh out of Iraq, where she was captured and tortured by the enemy. Back stateside, she now works in a Nevada desert junk yard where she prefers to be alone — except for the imaginary gorilla she calls Mike, her best friend; her boss, Libby, a grumpy but sweet old lady; and some comical little green men who land in her back yard with "engine trouble." Unfortunately, the arrival of the aliens brings some shadowy industrial/government types nosing around, too. And Sam is suffering from headaches and post-traumatic stress disorder from her ordeal in Iraq.
That first trade was everything I expected it to be. It was funny. It had a sense of drama and mystery. And there was also a sense of heavy foreboding regarding Sam's health. This book was definitely a keeper, and I kept watch for the second trade.
I was surprised to learn the month after I ordered that second trade that a "Motor Girl" omnibus would soon be solicited. That makes this the shortest Moore story I am aware of to date with only 10 issues to wrap up Sam's story. And I can confirm after now having re-read the first trade and reading the second trade that this is an incredible story about yet another strong female lead character.
Both volumes are great reads, and I am happy to recommend that anyone give them a chance. If you've read and enjoyed other Terry Moore Abstract Studio comics, you'll love this one, too. And If you've never tried his comics, this is a great one to start with. His work is deserving of your attention!
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Sticking with original ideas and concepts
The Twilight Experiment tpb
DC Comics
Creators: Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Juan Santacruz, Jose Luis Roger, Carrie Strachan and Phil Balsman
Release date: 2005
I got this book from a seller on eBay almost three years ago. When I buy out-of-continuity books like this one, especially trades, they often get tossed on a stack to be read when I have a chance. I didn't know anything about this title going in, so I imagine I purchased it because of the writers, Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray.
I don't always like comics written by this frequent writing duo when they tackle established characters. I guess sometimes their idea of what company-owned characters like the Teen Titans members would do or how they'd act in given situations don't always line up with mine. But I have liked a lot of stories this pair has written using their own, original characters. Don't believe me? Check out these previous posts on Hype, Book Smart and Time Bomb, all penned by Palmiotti and Gray.
This collected six-issue miniseries is no exception. It was printed by DC Comics, but takes place in its own universe, not the DCU proper. In this world, there were only a handful of super-powered beings, and when they all destroyed each other, they took a good chunk of Denver, Colo., with them. This story focuses on Rene Doyle, a troubled paramedic who lost most of her family in the Denver battle when she was just a child, and Michael, the super-powered son of one of the heroes who gave her life trying to stop the violence that day. The two meet by chance, but soon find out that not only do they have a lot in common, they may be the world's only hope of preventing another, even greater tragedy.
Another great story by a simply terrific writing duo — at least when they are writing their own, original characters. And there's nothing wrong with that!
DC Comics
Creators: Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Juan Santacruz, Jose Luis Roger, Carrie Strachan and Phil Balsman
Release date: 2005
I got this book from a seller on eBay almost three years ago. When I buy out-of-continuity books like this one, especially trades, they often get tossed on a stack to be read when I have a chance. I didn't know anything about this title going in, so I imagine I purchased it because of the writers, Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray.
I don't always like comics written by this frequent writing duo when they tackle established characters. I guess sometimes their idea of what company-owned characters like the Teen Titans members would do or how they'd act in given situations don't always line up with mine. But I have liked a lot of stories this pair has written using their own, original characters. Don't believe me? Check out these previous posts on Hype, Book Smart and Time Bomb, all penned by Palmiotti and Gray.
This collected six-issue miniseries is no exception. It was printed by DC Comics, but takes place in its own universe, not the DCU proper. In this world, there were only a handful of super-powered beings, and when they all destroyed each other, they took a good chunk of Denver, Colo., with them. This story focuses on Rene Doyle, a troubled paramedic who lost most of her family in the Denver battle when she was just a child, and Michael, the super-powered son of one of the heroes who gave her life trying to stop the violence that day. The two meet by chance, but soon find out that not only do they have a lot in common, they may be the world's only hope of preventing another, even greater tragedy.
Another great story by a simply terrific writing duo — at least when they are writing their own, original characters. And there's nothing wrong with that!
Tuesday, January 09, 2018
It's all about respect for the source material
The Bionic Man Volume 1: Some Assembly Required tpb
Dynamite Entertainment
Creators: Kevin Smith, Phil Hester, Jonathan Lau, Ivan Nunes, Simon Bowland, Alex Ross and Jason Ullmeyer
Release date: 2012
Bottom line: I was pleasantly surprised by this book, and I owe it all to Scott Gardner.
I've talked before about what a mixed bag I often find licensed properties in comics to be. Some are really good; but others really, really stink. On top of that, while I like a lot of Kevin Smith's movies, his comics work has also been a mixed bag for me. I really liked his relaunches of Daredevil for Marvel Comics in 1998 and Green Arrow for DC in 2001. Can't stand his work on Batman, though. Batman: Cacophony from 2008 was horrid.
So when I heard the news that Dynamite Comics had secured the license and planned to resurrect the idea of The Bionic Man, I was skeptical. Hearing that Kevin Smith would be the writer didn't change my mind. And the tragically botched attempt at a "Bionic Woman" reboot on television from several years prior was the final piece of evidence in my mind. Modern creators weren't handling Steve Austin or Jamie Summers right. No need to waste money on this comic. Nothing good could come of it.
And I never had reason to second-guess that opinion. Not until I listened to Scott Gardner rave about the then-new title on an old episode of one of his podcasts, Comics Monthly Monday.
A brief aside: For those of you who didn't read my post on podcasts, in a nutshell, I'm anal. I like to listen to podcasts when I exercise. But when I find a podcast I like, I want to listen to it from the beginning. I have more than a dozen I like to listen to, but my time to do so is quite limited, and many of the creators involved have been podcasting for quite a while. Long story short, I'm listening to podcasts from several years ago, not current ones. Right now, I'm listening to early 2012 podcasts because I just finished the 2011 episodes of my favorite shows. And it was during the December 2011 episode of Comics Monthly Monday, I'm pretty sure, that Scott, one of the three co-hosts of the show, was raving about the issues of The Bionic Man that he'd picked up.
He spoke so highly of the book and its faithfulness to the heart of "The Six Million Dollar Man" television program that introduced most of us to the concept of cyborgs and Col. Steve Austin (Yes, I know the show was based on the novel "Cyborg" by Martin Caidin from 1972, but the vast majority of the show's fans only learned about the book after first watching the show it inspired.), that I decided to give the series a try in trade.
The opening arc takes no less than 10 issues, all of which are collected in this larger than usual trade paperback collection. And Scott Gardner was quite correct. This series is very, very good.
It isn't the 1970s television program re-presented in comic book form. It has been updated for a modern audience. But in updating the concepts, the creators involved did not lose sight of what made fans of the television program love the show. The name was simplified to The Bionic Man because $6 million doesn't carry the financial heft it used to, but Smith finds a way to work in a special significance for the figure in this modern story as well. Also here are the red track suit; familiar phrases like "Colonel Steve Austin. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology." and "We'll make him better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster."; Max the bionic dog; that cool sound effect from the show when Steve's bionics are being used. It's all here, maybe in slightly different contexts, but in ways that make sense in this new story while also showing a love for what has come before.
That's part of what makes this such a great comic. It's also why I liked the 1998 movie "Lost in Space" so much when it was not well received by most. That film had a lot of nods to the old TV show, while still forging its own path and finding a new story to tell. So many reboots or relaunches of old concepts today seem to say, "Let's take this old property and fix what's wrong with it." Well, if it was popular enough in its day that you are considering bringing it back, maybe you should have a little more respect for the old property. Maybe some of the ideas and concepts then will seem hokey today, but rather than poke fun of the property for that, find a new reason to make those elements relevant. Because quite often, those are the same elements that made the concept popular the first time around.
The Bionic Man is not an old episode retold in a new format. There are a number of changes and different concepts in this story that make it fresh. But it doesn't forget that there's a reason for the show's popularity. This book is well worth checking out whether or not you ever watched "The Six Million Dollar Man." I definitely think so. Thanks, Scott!
Dynamite Entertainment
Creators: Kevin Smith, Phil Hester, Jonathan Lau, Ivan Nunes, Simon Bowland, Alex Ross and Jason Ullmeyer
Release date: 2012
Bottom line: I was pleasantly surprised by this book, and I owe it all to Scott Gardner.
I've talked before about what a mixed bag I often find licensed properties in comics to be. Some are really good; but others really, really stink. On top of that, while I like a lot of Kevin Smith's movies, his comics work has also been a mixed bag for me. I really liked his relaunches of Daredevil for Marvel Comics in 1998 and Green Arrow for DC in 2001. Can't stand his work on Batman, though. Batman: Cacophony from 2008 was horrid.
So when I heard the news that Dynamite Comics had secured the license and planned to resurrect the idea of The Bionic Man, I was skeptical. Hearing that Kevin Smith would be the writer didn't change my mind. And the tragically botched attempt at a "Bionic Woman" reboot on television from several years prior was the final piece of evidence in my mind. Modern creators weren't handling Steve Austin or Jamie Summers right. No need to waste money on this comic. Nothing good could come of it.
And I never had reason to second-guess that opinion. Not until I listened to Scott Gardner rave about the then-new title on an old episode of one of his podcasts, Comics Monthly Monday.
A brief aside: For those of you who didn't read my post on podcasts, in a nutshell, I'm anal. I like to listen to podcasts when I exercise. But when I find a podcast I like, I want to listen to it from the beginning. I have more than a dozen I like to listen to, but my time to do so is quite limited, and many of the creators involved have been podcasting for quite a while. Long story short, I'm listening to podcasts from several years ago, not current ones. Right now, I'm listening to early 2012 podcasts because I just finished the 2011 episodes of my favorite shows. And it was during the December 2011 episode of Comics Monthly Monday, I'm pretty sure, that Scott, one of the three co-hosts of the show, was raving about the issues of The Bionic Man that he'd picked up.
He spoke so highly of the book and its faithfulness to the heart of "The Six Million Dollar Man" television program that introduced most of us to the concept of cyborgs and Col. Steve Austin (Yes, I know the show was based on the novel "Cyborg" by Martin Caidin from 1972, but the vast majority of the show's fans only learned about the book after first watching the show it inspired.), that I decided to give the series a try in trade.
The opening arc takes no less than 10 issues, all of which are collected in this larger than usual trade paperback collection. And Scott Gardner was quite correct. This series is very, very good.
It isn't the 1970s television program re-presented in comic book form. It has been updated for a modern audience. But in updating the concepts, the creators involved did not lose sight of what made fans of the television program love the show. The name was simplified to The Bionic Man because $6 million doesn't carry the financial heft it used to, but Smith finds a way to work in a special significance for the figure in this modern story as well. Also here are the red track suit; familiar phrases like "Colonel Steve Austin. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology." and "We'll make him better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster."; Max the bionic dog; that cool sound effect from the show when Steve's bionics are being used. It's all here, maybe in slightly different contexts, but in ways that make sense in this new story while also showing a love for what has come before.
That's part of what makes this such a great comic. It's also why I liked the 1998 movie "Lost in Space" so much when it was not well received by most. That film had a lot of nods to the old TV show, while still forging its own path and finding a new story to tell. So many reboots or relaunches of old concepts today seem to say, "Let's take this old property and fix what's wrong with it." Well, if it was popular enough in its day that you are considering bringing it back, maybe you should have a little more respect for the old property. Maybe some of the ideas and concepts then will seem hokey today, but rather than poke fun of the property for that, find a new reason to make those elements relevant. Because quite often, those are the same elements that made the concept popular the first time around.
The Bionic Man is not an old episode retold in a new format. There are a number of changes and different concepts in this story that make it fresh. But it doesn't forget that there's a reason for the show's popularity. This book is well worth checking out whether or not you ever watched "The Six Million Dollar Man." I definitely think so. Thanks, Scott!
Sunday, December 31, 2017
And Happy New Year's, too
Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year's celebration and many more comic. And in the spirit of starting the year off right, here's another comic-themed happy New Year's illustration for your enjoyment. Come back next week for more comics talk!
Monday, December 25, 2017
Merry Christmas, everybody!
No new post this week. Just wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday. Read some comics; you'll be glad you did!
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
It's a bit of a head-scratcher
Future Quest Presents: Space Ghost 1-3
DC Comics
Creators: Jeff Parker, Ariel Olivetti, A Larger World Studio, Steve Rude, Brittany Holzherr and Marie Javins
Release dates: October-December 2017
I liked the 12-issue Future Quest title DC used to unite all of the Hanna-Barbera sci-fi and action/adventure characters together. Don't believe me, just read about it here.
Based on the strength of that series, I decided to pick up the follow-up book, Future Quest Presents, which so far is a solo Space Ghost story with cameos by the Herculoids. It clearly takes place after the events of the previous Future Quest series because Space Ghost and his teen allies, Jan and Jace, mention that adventure as having just happened.
I like this story on its own merits, so far. I also like how it is continuing to flesh out the back stories of its various characters. We learn more about the Space Force Space Ghost was once a part of, as well as more of the backstory of the twins now in his care. The fact that Jan and Jace are twins was taken directly from the "Space Ghost" cartoon, but viewers knew nothing about their parents or how they came to be under Space Ghost's care and tutelage.
This series shows the two youngsters attending school and keeping a secret the fact that they are training under Space Ghost to rebuild the once proud Space Force, and that's where I have issues that don't seem to quite line up for me. I can't think of a single instance where Jan and Jace are given a specific age, but they always seemed like teenagers to me in the show. Nothing in Future Quest made me think differently. And nothing in Future Quest Presents specifically contradicts that idea.
But the twins are drawn in these issues in a way that makes them seem younger than teens. The same goes for their classmates in the school they attend. I very much get an 8- to 10-year-old vibe, maybe slightly younger. They also make very obvious reference to the fact that noone at their school is supposed to know about their association with Space Ghost. Despite their undercover status at school, they wear their uniforms, identical to those worn by the members of the previous Space Force, something you'd expect to be a dead giveaway. Add to these oddities the absence of their usual comm badges; both teens typically wore red triangle badges with a picture of Space Ghost's head on them. These were used to communicate with each other while in space, and would also be a dead giveaway. Those comm badges are missing in these issues, even when the twins are with Space Ghost. I started to doubt that they did sport these devices in the show. But I checked out some episodes. They did wear them in the show, and they were drawn with them in Future Quest. So where are they now.
None of these discrepancies are ruining this book for me. But they do leave me scratching my head as to how these things were overlooked or "wrong" in an otherwise excellent series.
DC Comics
Creators: Jeff Parker, Ariel Olivetti, A Larger World Studio, Steve Rude, Brittany Holzherr and Marie Javins
Release dates: October-December 2017
I liked the 12-issue Future Quest title DC used to unite all of the Hanna-Barbera sci-fi and action/adventure characters together. Don't believe me, just read about it here.
Based on the strength of that series, I decided to pick up the follow-up book, Future Quest Presents, which so far is a solo Space Ghost story with cameos by the Herculoids. It clearly takes place after the events of the previous Future Quest series because Space Ghost and his teen allies, Jan and Jace, mention that adventure as having just happened.
I like this story on its own merits, so far. I also like how it is continuing to flesh out the back stories of its various characters. We learn more about the Space Force Space Ghost was once a part of, as well as more of the backstory of the twins now in his care. The fact that Jan and Jace are twins was taken directly from the "Space Ghost" cartoon, but viewers knew nothing about their parents or how they came to be under Space Ghost's care and tutelage.
This series shows the two youngsters attending school and keeping a secret the fact that they are training under Space Ghost to rebuild the once proud Space Force, and that's where I have issues that don't seem to quite line up for me. I can't think of a single instance where Jan and Jace are given a specific age, but they always seemed like teenagers to me in the show. Nothing in Future Quest made me think differently. And nothing in Future Quest Presents specifically contradicts that idea.
But the twins are drawn in these issues in a way that makes them seem younger than teens. The same goes for their classmates in the school they attend. I very much get an 8- to 10-year-old vibe, maybe slightly younger. They also make very obvious reference to the fact that noone at their school is supposed to know about their association with Space Ghost. Despite their undercover status at school, they wear their uniforms, identical to those worn by the members of the previous Space Force, something you'd expect to be a dead giveaway. Add to these oddities the absence of their usual comm badges; both teens typically wore red triangle badges with a picture of Space Ghost's head on them. These were used to communicate with each other while in space, and would also be a dead giveaway. Those comm badges are missing in these issues, even when the twins are with Space Ghost. I started to doubt that they did sport these devices in the show. But I checked out some episodes. They did wear them in the show, and they were drawn with them in Future Quest. So where are they now.
None of these discrepancies are ruining this book for me. But they do leave me scratching my head as to how these things were overlooked or "wrong" in an otherwise excellent series.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Creative. Educational. Entertaining. And a Little Bit Scary.
The Tithe Vol. 3: Samaritan
Image Comics
Creators: Matt Hawkins, Atilio Rojo, Troy Peteri, Elena Salcedo, Bryan Hill and Carey Hall
Release Date: September 2017
This will not be the first time I've mentioned this title on the blog. I covered the first trade collection and why I was interested in giving the series a try here. The series is the story of a hacker who is working to attack the corruption rampant in many of this country's mega-churches. It is not an attack on any specific religion or even on faith in general. One of the two FBI agents also central to the plot is a devoutly religious man, and the character is not presented as foolish or a zealot simply because he is a man of faith. Rather he is shown to be an intelligent, caring individual who also takes issue with the corruption the hacker, Samaritan, is targeting. That's intelligent, thought-provoking writing that uses real-world events and situations as a springboard for story ideas.
I liked that first trade so much, I was happy to learn that not only would there be a second volume, but that the writer, Matt Hawkins, and the illustrator, Rahsan Ekedal, had another series they collaborated on titled Think Tank. I decided to try Think Tank, which had three existing trades at that point, while I waited for The Tithe Vol. 2 to come out. I absolutely loved that series, too, although that's where the scary description comes in.
Think Tank follows the life of a young man named David Loren. Loren is a genius, so much so that he is recruited at the age of 17 by the government to come work for them. Loren is one of the people responsible for creating a lot of the tech the government uses, often for clandestine purposes and military applications. In exchange, they provide Loren with anything and everything he needs to live and work because they keep him under close wraps on a military base he is not supposed to leave. He has limited contact with the outside world — although often more than his handlers realize — and often gets bored with his work, the limited minds around him and the general sameness of his day-to-day existence. Not to mention he has increasing qualms about how the officials around him use his developments. So Loren has a tendency to go a little rogue.
Much like The Tithe, Think Tank is very intelligently written, and the stories leave readers with a lot to think about. Adding to the narratives is Hawkins' insistence on using real tech currently in use by the militaries and the governments of the world — not just our own — in his stories. I can't say for certain about the individual issues, but every one of the trades from both series have had extensive material, citations, internet links and other research to show the true applications behind the ideas in Hawkins' stories. The fact that some of this tech is real and not just the subject of a riveting fictional story can be a little scary at times.
But wait, there's more. (You remember I said these stories were thought-provoking and intelligent, right?) Both The Tithe and Think Tank inhabit a shared universe. Loren and his core supporting cast did not appear at all in The Tithe Vol. 1. And Samaritan and her core cast did not appear in the first couple trades of Think Tank stories. But some of the background politicians and other ancillary characters in Think Tank did appear as background characters and politicians in The Tithe. I confess, I did not catch those minor characters' crossovers until I read the solicits for a book called Eden's Fall. That book was co-written by Hawkins and Bryan Hill, and it was Hawkins' name that first caught my attention. But reading the advance solicitation material clued me in that this limited series would combine elements of all the Edenverse titles — Think Tank, The Tithe and a third series called Postal I hadn't previously been aware of. So I got Eden's Fall, and it also was great. That single trade is set in the environs of the Postal series, but also includes major characters from Think Tank playing a role, and could easily be billed as The Tithe Vol. 2.5. That's because events in Eden's Fall occur as a direct result of things from The Tithe Vol. 2, and the aftermath of Eden's Fall leads directly into the events in The Tithe Vol. 3.
Some readers might be getting skittish at this point. "Whoa, do I have to read all of these titles to make sense of any single story? That can get pricey!" I understand that fear, believe me. Many intra-company crossovers these days leave you with only part of the story unless you buy all the related crossover titles and one-shots, sometimes bits and pieces that are only very loosely related to the whole, but nonetheless important if you want a complete story. And I agree, that if you are already reading The Tithe, you kind of need to read Eden's Fall or you'll get lost between The Tithe Vols. 2 and 3. But Think Tank stands quite well on its own, and Think Tank is not needed to read any of The Tithe. All you really need to know about any crossover characters is given to you within the book in which they appear. Reading both series has given me a better understanding of some behind the scenes events in either book. But neither is critical to understanding the other. Which is how such crossovers should be handled, giving the decision-making power "to buy or not to buy" entirely to the readers.
Having said that, I liked The Tithe enough to try Think Tank — now up to five trades, the latest of which was a little weaker than the first four, but still good — to stick with The Tithe itself through three trades — all very great reads — to try and love Eden's Fall and now, finally, to go back and try Postal, the book Hawkins co-writes with Hill. That's the one Edenverse title I haven't read yet, but I like the others enough and the brief glimpse I got of those characters from the Eden's Fall collection, that I'm willing to try this series too — which currently has six trades available. What cemented my desire to take the plunge and try Postal, too? Both the Eden's Fall trade and The Tithe Vol. 3 trade included the first full issue of Postal for readers not familiar with the series. In fact, the Eden's Fall trade include the first issues of Postal, Think Tank and The Tithe, giving new readers an idea of what they could expect from the beginnings of each of the characters involved in the Eden's Fall story line. That's good cross-promotion. Not just, "If you liked this title, try our other products," but "If you liked this title and are interested in our other products, here's a free sample before you buy."
I know this post is light on specifics from any of the various titles. I always try to shy away from major spoilers, when possible. But I've also tried to give a sense of what the series I've read are about. I can't speak to Postal in depth yet since I haven't read those beyond issue No. 1. But if what I have said about The Tithe, Think Tank or Eden's Fall has piqued your interest at all, I think you'll enjoy them. And I like each of those series enough to try a fourth title by the same writer. These are definitely good comics!
Image Comics
Creators: Matt Hawkins, Atilio Rojo, Troy Peteri, Elena Salcedo, Bryan Hill and Carey Hall
Release Date: September 2017
This will not be the first time I've mentioned this title on the blog. I covered the first trade collection and why I was interested in giving the series a try here. The series is the story of a hacker who is working to attack the corruption rampant in many of this country's mega-churches. It is not an attack on any specific religion or even on faith in general. One of the two FBI agents also central to the plot is a devoutly religious man, and the character is not presented as foolish or a zealot simply because he is a man of faith. Rather he is shown to be an intelligent, caring individual who also takes issue with the corruption the hacker, Samaritan, is targeting. That's intelligent, thought-provoking writing that uses real-world events and situations as a springboard for story ideas.
I liked that first trade so much, I was happy to learn that not only would there be a second volume, but that the writer, Matt Hawkins, and the illustrator, Rahsan Ekedal, had another series they collaborated on titled Think Tank. I decided to try Think Tank, which had three existing trades at that point, while I waited for The Tithe Vol. 2 to come out. I absolutely loved that series, too, although that's where the scary description comes in.
Think Tank follows the life of a young man named David Loren. Loren is a genius, so much so that he is recruited at the age of 17 by the government to come work for them. Loren is one of the people responsible for creating a lot of the tech the government uses, often for clandestine purposes and military applications. In exchange, they provide Loren with anything and everything he needs to live and work because they keep him under close wraps on a military base he is not supposed to leave. He has limited contact with the outside world — although often more than his handlers realize — and often gets bored with his work, the limited minds around him and the general sameness of his day-to-day existence. Not to mention he has increasing qualms about how the officials around him use his developments. So Loren has a tendency to go a little rogue.
Much like The Tithe, Think Tank is very intelligently written, and the stories leave readers with a lot to think about. Adding to the narratives is Hawkins' insistence on using real tech currently in use by the militaries and the governments of the world — not just our own — in his stories. I can't say for certain about the individual issues, but every one of the trades from both series have had extensive material, citations, internet links and other research to show the true applications behind the ideas in Hawkins' stories. The fact that some of this tech is real and not just the subject of a riveting fictional story can be a little scary at times.
But wait, there's more. (You remember I said these stories were thought-provoking and intelligent, right?) Both The Tithe and Think Tank inhabit a shared universe. Loren and his core supporting cast did not appear at all in The Tithe Vol. 1. And Samaritan and her core cast did not appear in the first couple trades of Think Tank stories. But some of the background politicians and other ancillary characters in Think Tank did appear as background characters and politicians in The Tithe. I confess, I did not catch those minor characters' crossovers until I read the solicits for a book called Eden's Fall. That book was co-written by Hawkins and Bryan Hill, and it was Hawkins' name that first caught my attention. But reading the advance solicitation material clued me in that this limited series would combine elements of all the Edenverse titles — Think Tank, The Tithe and a third series called Postal I hadn't previously been aware of. So I got Eden's Fall, and it also was great. That single trade is set in the environs of the Postal series, but also includes major characters from Think Tank playing a role, and could easily be billed as The Tithe Vol. 2.5. That's because events in Eden's Fall occur as a direct result of things from The Tithe Vol. 2, and the aftermath of Eden's Fall leads directly into the events in The Tithe Vol. 3.
Some readers might be getting skittish at this point. "Whoa, do I have to read all of these titles to make sense of any single story? That can get pricey!" I understand that fear, believe me. Many intra-company crossovers these days leave you with only part of the story unless you buy all the related crossover titles and one-shots, sometimes bits and pieces that are only very loosely related to the whole, but nonetheless important if you want a complete story. And I agree, that if you are already reading The Tithe, you kind of need to read Eden's Fall or you'll get lost between The Tithe Vols. 2 and 3. But Think Tank stands quite well on its own, and Think Tank is not needed to read any of The Tithe. All you really need to know about any crossover characters is given to you within the book in which they appear. Reading both series has given me a better understanding of some behind the scenes events in either book. But neither is critical to understanding the other. Which is how such crossovers should be handled, giving the decision-making power "to buy or not to buy" entirely to the readers.
Having said that, I liked The Tithe enough to try Think Tank — now up to five trades, the latest of which was a little weaker than the first four, but still good — to stick with The Tithe itself through three trades — all very great reads — to try and love Eden's Fall and now, finally, to go back and try Postal, the book Hawkins co-writes with Hill. That's the one Edenverse title I haven't read yet, but I like the others enough and the brief glimpse I got of those characters from the Eden's Fall collection, that I'm willing to try this series too — which currently has six trades available. What cemented my desire to take the plunge and try Postal, too? Both the Eden's Fall trade and The Tithe Vol. 3 trade included the first full issue of Postal for readers not familiar with the series. In fact, the Eden's Fall trade include the first issues of Postal, Think Tank and The Tithe, giving new readers an idea of what they could expect from the beginnings of each of the characters involved in the Eden's Fall story line. That's good cross-promotion. Not just, "If you liked this title, try our other products," but "If you liked this title and are interested in our other products, here's a free sample before you buy."
I know this post is light on specifics from any of the various titles. I always try to shy away from major spoilers, when possible. But I've also tried to give a sense of what the series I've read are about. I can't speak to Postal in depth yet since I haven't read those beyond issue No. 1. But if what I have said about The Tithe, Think Tank or Eden's Fall has piqued your interest at all, I think you'll enjoy them. And I like each of those series enough to try a fourth title by the same writer. These are definitely good comics!
Tuesday, December 05, 2017
Now That's How You Do a Crossover
The CW's Arrowverse
Release Date: Nov. 27-28, 2017
Previous crossovers within the shows of the Arrowverse of CW shows have had some truly great moments, but this year's megacrossover was by far the best to date. In the past, the individual shows very much retained their own individual feel, leaving each chapter feeling like merely a special episode of "Supergirl," "The Flash," "Legends of Tomorrow" or "Arrow" with cameos, but the overall storyline would feel a bit disjointed.
This year's crossover event felt like four hour-long chapters of a single storyline that happened to star characters from each of the aforementioned shows. Even the intros and outros were specially created to contain elements from all four shows as a unified entity. Without an episode guide to indicate which hour belonged to which series, it was very hard to tell that they weren't a new unified show, which is as it should be for a project like this.
I confess, I haven't been keeping up with "Supergirl" this season; I just haven't had time to watch everything, and that show has fallen by the wayside. But the writers did a great job of briefly bringing viewers up to speed on the relevant status quo of each series without belaboring things, so I knew everything I needed to know about the "Supergirl" participants and where they were at coming into the crossover, without feeling like I was getting unnecessary exposition about the other shows I knew more about.
I also felt like there was a lot of character and plot development in this crossover for the individual series. Viewers of the next episodes of "The Flash," "Arrow" and "Legends" will definitely have some changes from the crossover to be addressed. I didn't see as much change in the characters from "Supergirl," but again, maybe that is because I'm not current on that show right now.
If there was a weak spot in the whole thing, I'd have to say it was the absence of some of the "Legends" cast until the very end. But let's be honest, this was a massive cast of regulars and new characters to service. I can't blame the creators involved for giving some of the "Legends" a little less to do until the big finale.
Now, a lot of what I've read since watching the crossover indicates that it was a lot of work coordinating on the part of the creators, crews and staffs of each show to pull this type of thing off. I'm sure it was. But the effort was well worth it for this kind of finished product. If all of the shows continue on, I hope this can continue to be an annual tradition, and that this quality level can be maintained.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
The Seeds of Light Are Sown
Star Trek/Green Lantern: Stranger Worlds tpb
DC/IDW
Creators: Mike Johnson, Angel Hernandez, Mark Roberts, Andworld Design, Chris Cerasi, Sarah Gaydos, Jim Chadwick and Michael McCalister
Release date: September 2017
This book is a sequel to Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War which brings these two franchises together.
Permanently.
You see, it begins with the end of the DC Universe. (Spoilers if you didn't read that first volume.)
The first series takes place an unspecified amount of time after the events depicted in "The Blackest Night" crossover event from DC Comics. Nekron arises once again, and having learned from his past mistakes, the first thing he does this time is take out Kyle "Ion" Rayner, the person able to harness the energies of all the rings of the emotional spectrum at once. With Rayner out of the way, everyone else seems pretty helpless to stop the embodiment of entropy from claiming much of the DCU.
In a last-ditch effort to salvage what he can, the last remaining Guardian of the Universe, Ganthet, takes six power rings — blue, violet, yellow, orange, indigo and red — and uses them to open a rift into a parallel universe. All surviving ring-bearers are also shunted into this parallel reality — Sinestro, Carol Ferris, Larfleeze, Atrocitus, Saint Walker, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner and Killowog.
The new reality they find themselves in is the 23rd century that contains the United Federation of Planets, the Klingon and Romulan empires and the U.S.S. Enterprise — the contemporary versions from the J.J. Abrams film reboot, if that matters to you. All of the ring bearers are now stuck in this new reality.
Oh, and Nekron is there, too.
But that's the first volume of this tale, which I certainly encourage you to read. There isn't a lot of material in volume two to catch new readers up to speed. But the first volume is worth the time if you have any interest in either franchise.
This second volume picks up some time after the events in the first book, and there have been some changes in the meantime. Scotty is able to help Starfleet reverse engineer the various power rings — up to a point. Starfleet security personal now have white rings as standard issue gear — rings capable of generating personal force fields and firing phaser-like power beams. As for the original ring-slingers? They have some problems to deal with in this new reality. All of their rings were supercharged during Ganthet's shunting them off to their new reality, but even a supercharged ring eventually can run out of juice. Since no power batteries were brought with them from the DCU, none of them have a way to recharge, no matter what color of the spectrum they represent. That's where this story begins.
The various surviving DCU refugees are finding their places in this new reality. Hal and Carol now serve alongside the crew of the Enterprise. Saint Walker, Guy, John and Killowog are also working with Starfleet. Sinestro has become emperor of the Klingon empire. Larfleeze had a short alliance with the Romulans — all of Larfleeze's alliances seem to be short-lived — but in this new series, he is seeking other things to claim as his own. And Atrocitus had a brief alliance with the Gorn, but he abandons them when they prove less than useful helping him find a new way to charge his red ring.
The inclusion of all the other related Lantern characters adds to the drama of both stories, but Sinestro and Hal take center stage in this second volume. Sinestro's use of fear plays nicely against the dynamics of the Klingon empire for a time, but he's not content to simply sit and rule a portion of the universe. Meanwhile, Hal craves the importance of being out in space with the Federation's flagship crew, but he and Kirk — especially the Chris Pine version of Kirk — are so similar that they can't help but like each other any more than they can help butting heads over who's giving the orders.
I confess, the ultimate solution to the power needs of the various Lanterns' rings seems a bit of a stretch to a longtime Trek fan. A previously unknown race is discovered, one that Starfleet might have run across before if they truly existed in this reality. The introduction of another individual familiar to Trek fans also seems like a bit of a stretch here. But having pointed out both of those plot contrivances, this is still a solid, enjoyable read if you're looking for a fun adventure and are willing to simply accept a few twists at face value.
DC/IDW
Creators: Mike Johnson, Angel Hernandez, Mark Roberts, Andworld Design, Chris Cerasi, Sarah Gaydos, Jim Chadwick and Michael McCalister
Release date: September 2017
This book is a sequel to Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War which brings these two franchises together.
Permanently.
You see, it begins with the end of the DC Universe. (Spoilers if you didn't read that first volume.)
The first series takes place an unspecified amount of time after the events depicted in "The Blackest Night" crossover event from DC Comics. Nekron arises once again, and having learned from his past mistakes, the first thing he does this time is take out Kyle "Ion" Rayner, the person able to harness the energies of all the rings of the emotional spectrum at once. With Rayner out of the way, everyone else seems pretty helpless to stop the embodiment of entropy from claiming much of the DCU.
In a last-ditch effort to salvage what he can, the last remaining Guardian of the Universe, Ganthet, takes six power rings — blue, violet, yellow, orange, indigo and red — and uses them to open a rift into a parallel universe. All surviving ring-bearers are also shunted into this parallel reality — Sinestro, Carol Ferris, Larfleeze, Atrocitus, Saint Walker, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner and Killowog.
The new reality they find themselves in is the 23rd century that contains the United Federation of Planets, the Klingon and Romulan empires and the U.S.S. Enterprise — the contemporary versions from the J.J. Abrams film reboot, if that matters to you. All of the ring bearers are now stuck in this new reality.
Oh, and Nekron is there, too.
But that's the first volume of this tale, which I certainly encourage you to read. There isn't a lot of material in volume two to catch new readers up to speed. But the first volume is worth the time if you have any interest in either franchise.
This second volume picks up some time after the events in the first book, and there have been some changes in the meantime. Scotty is able to help Starfleet reverse engineer the various power rings — up to a point. Starfleet security personal now have white rings as standard issue gear — rings capable of generating personal force fields and firing phaser-like power beams. As for the original ring-slingers? They have some problems to deal with in this new reality. All of their rings were supercharged during Ganthet's shunting them off to their new reality, but even a supercharged ring eventually can run out of juice. Since no power batteries were brought with them from the DCU, none of them have a way to recharge, no matter what color of the spectrum they represent. That's where this story begins.
The various surviving DCU refugees are finding their places in this new reality. Hal and Carol now serve alongside the crew of the Enterprise. Saint Walker, Guy, John and Killowog are also working with Starfleet. Sinestro has become emperor of the Klingon empire. Larfleeze had a short alliance with the Romulans — all of Larfleeze's alliances seem to be short-lived — but in this new series, he is seeking other things to claim as his own. And Atrocitus had a brief alliance with the Gorn, but he abandons them when they prove less than useful helping him find a new way to charge his red ring.
The inclusion of all the other related Lantern characters adds to the drama of both stories, but Sinestro and Hal take center stage in this second volume. Sinestro's use of fear plays nicely against the dynamics of the Klingon empire for a time, but he's not content to simply sit and rule a portion of the universe. Meanwhile, Hal craves the importance of being out in space with the Federation's flagship crew, but he and Kirk — especially the Chris Pine version of Kirk — are so similar that they can't help but like each other any more than they can help butting heads over who's giving the orders.
I confess, the ultimate solution to the power needs of the various Lanterns' rings seems a bit of a stretch to a longtime Trek fan. A previously unknown race is discovered, one that Starfleet might have run across before if they truly existed in this reality. The introduction of another individual familiar to Trek fans also seems like a bit of a stretch here. But having pointed out both of those plot contrivances, this is still a solid, enjoyable read if you're looking for a fun adventure and are willing to simply accept a few twists at face value.
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
You want to talk dark? Now this is dark!
Dark Knights one-shots
DC Comics
Release dates: October 2017 onward
Short post today, but I had a couple thoughts to share about the Dark Knights: Metal one-shots I've read to date. As of this writing, I have read Dark Knights: Metal No. 3 and the various crossovers and one-shots through Flash No. 33 and The Drowning.
Overall, I'm liking the series and looking forward to how it is all going to play out. Of the various tie-in crossover titles, they've been decent; the more you care about the characters involved, the better they read, but that's usually the case with tie-in titles. I'm sad to say that The Drowning has been the weakest of the one-shots so far. It was the first one I pre-ordered because the title indicated that it would be Aqua-centric. And it was an OK story, just not quite as good as some of the others.
But dark story lines seem to be all the buzz these days, how dark is too dark, is dark good or bad, etc. I'm not here to say that just because something is dark it's automatically either good or bad. Depends on the story, and whether or not it works for me as a reader. Let me tell you, this series earns the label "dark," to be sure.
The Red Death and The Devastator were the two most strong. Want to know just how dark these books are? I read a number of them in one sitting. I came away entertained and satisfied that I had gotten my money's worth. But after reading about six of these Dark Knights titles one after another in one evening, I came away feeling a little depressed. That's how dark these books are. And I have not yet received my copy of The Batman Who Laughs, which I fully expect to be the darkest yet.
That's my two-cents' worth.
DC Comics
Release dates: October 2017 onward
Short post today, but I had a couple thoughts to share about the Dark Knights: Metal one-shots I've read to date. As of this writing, I have read Dark Knights: Metal No. 3 and the various crossovers and one-shots through Flash No. 33 and The Drowning.
Overall, I'm liking the series and looking forward to how it is all going to play out. Of the various tie-in crossover titles, they've been decent; the more you care about the characters involved, the better they read, but that's usually the case with tie-in titles. I'm sad to say that The Drowning has been the weakest of the one-shots so far. It was the first one I pre-ordered because the title indicated that it would be Aqua-centric. And it was an OK story, just not quite as good as some of the others.
But dark story lines seem to be all the buzz these days, how dark is too dark, is dark good or bad, etc. I'm not here to say that just because something is dark it's automatically either good or bad. Depends on the story, and whether or not it works for me as a reader. Let me tell you, this series earns the label "dark," to be sure.
The Red Death and The Devastator were the two most strong. Want to know just how dark these books are? I read a number of them in one sitting. I came away entertained and satisfied that I had gotten my money's worth. But after reading about six of these Dark Knights titles one after another in one evening, I came away feeling a little depressed. That's how dark these books are. And I have not yet received my copy of The Batman Who Laughs, which I fully expect to be the darkest yet.
That's my two-cents' worth.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Checking in once again with our Belgian friend
Casterman/Little, Brown and Co.
Creator: Herge
Release date: 1946
Obviously, I was still doing some reading during the time when this blog was on hiatus. I had previously discussed the first four Tintin adventures, and during the time we were apart, I have read the next five, bringing me to this 10th volume.
I'm not going to go back and do full reviews of the titles I didn't blog about, but here are some brief thoughts on them. The Blue Lotus, No. 5 in the series, brought Tintin back to Asia to thwart opium smugglers. If memory serves, I believe this tale was a bit of a direct continuation from No. 4, Cigars of the Pharaoh, and I didn't care for it as much. It seemed to move very slowly.
The Broken Ear, No. 6, was a little better but also seemed a bit ponderous. The usually very bright Tintin seemed a little slow to put the pieces of this South American mystery together. The Black Island, No. 7, however, moved at a much more brisk pace and was a much more light-hearted tale in places, one of the hallmarks of Tintin adventures I most enjoy. Despite its faster story pacing, it still takes two-thirds of the story before the titular Black Island on a Scottish loch comes into the story.
Next up was King Ottokar's Sceptre, adventure No. 8. This story is set in a fictional European country and very clearly shows parallels to the real world, being written as it was immediately prior to the outbreak of World War II.
The Adventures of Tintin No. 9, The Crab with the Golden Claws, is actually the first Tintin book I ever read. It was in the school library where I attended junior high, and I checked it out and read it several times during junior high and high school. This is the tale that first introduces Captain Haddock into the Tintin cast of characters along with his unique brand of liquor-laced comic relief. Haddock makes a fun ally/foil to the much more straight-laced Tintin. And this book is very much responsible for my love of the series.
All of which catches us up to The Shooting Star, No. 10 in the series of 24 adventures. A massive meteorite barely misses colliding with the Earth, causing a number of catastrophes and allowing Professor Decimus Phostle to discover a previously unknown mineral within the meteorite's composition. Tintin and Haddock help lead an expedition into the Arctic Ocean to recover a piece of the massive meteorite to verify Phostle's discovery, which makes for an entertaining read, especially when our heroes find they are in a race for the prize with another ship also trying to claim the meteorite.
Tuesday, November 07, 2017
Speaking of Saturday-morning cartoons
Future Quest 1-12
DC Comics
Creators: Jeff Parker, Evan "Doc" Shaner, Ron Randall, Steve Lieber, Ariel Olivetti, Veronica Gandini, Dave Lanphear, Marie Javins and Brittany Holzherr
Release date: 2016-17
People of a certain age hear the name Hanna-Barbera, and they are taken back to when they were children, sitting in front of the television on a Saturday morning, eagerly absorbing all these two creators had to offer. The same happens at the mention of Filmation Studios and Sid and Marty Krofft. But William Hanna and Joseph Barbera were the most prolific.
I've met a lot of DC Comics' recent reboots of the old Hanna-Barbera properties as modern comic books with some trepidation. My only exposure to "The Flintstones" reboot was that property's pairing with Booster Gold for a recent forgettable annual one-shot. The Space Ghost-Green Lantern pairing in another one-shot annual was much better, while the Suicide Squad-Banana Splits team-up annual one-shot had some funny moments, but that was about it. And I haven't tried the Scooby Apocalypse ongoing title for fear it will permanently ruin my love of the original "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?" show.
The stand-out exception to all of that is Future Quest, mixing and combining all of the Hanna-Barbera space, sci-fi and adventure characters into one massive story. That one I was also nervous about, but I simply had to try it. "The Herculoids" and "Jonny Quest" were some of my favorite shows as a kid. I also enjoyed "Space Ghost." I confess I didn't know much about the more cartoony "Impossibles" or "Frankenstein Jr.," although I was aware of those shows. And I had never seen an episode of "The Mighty Mightor" or "Birdman."
I was not disappointed by this 12-issue maxiseries.
The story wasn't perfect. My favorites, the Herculoids, weren't as central to the plot as I might have liked, and half the team was sidelined early on. But this is a massive amount of characters to service, so I can understand that decision. Dr. Zin, a frequent foe of the Quest team, seems to very quickly join forces with the heroes and act a little out of character while doing so, to my mind. And the story has a few slow points along the way, making me think it could have been a tad bit tighter.
But overall, this was a phenomenal story bringing a huge cast of diverse characters together with very little tweaking to make the plot work. Most of the characters with which I was already familiar seemed to be spot-on in this series. The ones I wasn't familiar with before, I now want to know more about.
Whoever had the initial idea for this series: kudos to you and this fantastic team of creators who brought it all to life! Whether or not you are a fan of these characters from television, give this series a try if you enjoy sci-fi adventure. You will not be disappointed.
DC Comics
Creators: Jeff Parker, Evan "Doc" Shaner, Ron Randall, Steve Lieber, Ariel Olivetti, Veronica Gandini, Dave Lanphear, Marie Javins and Brittany Holzherr
Release date: 2016-17
People of a certain age hear the name Hanna-Barbera, and they are taken back to when they were children, sitting in front of the television on a Saturday morning, eagerly absorbing all these two creators had to offer. The same happens at the mention of Filmation Studios and Sid and Marty Krofft. But William Hanna and Joseph Barbera were the most prolific.
I've met a lot of DC Comics' recent reboots of the old Hanna-Barbera properties as modern comic books with some trepidation. My only exposure to "The Flintstones" reboot was that property's pairing with Booster Gold for a recent forgettable annual one-shot. The Space Ghost-Green Lantern pairing in another one-shot annual was much better, while the Suicide Squad-Banana Splits team-up annual one-shot had some funny moments, but that was about it. And I haven't tried the Scooby Apocalypse ongoing title for fear it will permanently ruin my love of the original "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?" show.
The stand-out exception to all of that is Future Quest, mixing and combining all of the Hanna-Barbera space, sci-fi and adventure characters into one massive story. That one I was also nervous about, but I simply had to try it. "The Herculoids" and "Jonny Quest" were some of my favorite shows as a kid. I also enjoyed "Space Ghost." I confess I didn't know much about the more cartoony "Impossibles" or "Frankenstein Jr.," although I was aware of those shows. And I had never seen an episode of "The Mighty Mightor" or "Birdman."
I was not disappointed by this 12-issue maxiseries.
The story wasn't perfect. My favorites, the Herculoids, weren't as central to the plot as I might have liked, and half the team was sidelined early on. But this is a massive amount of characters to service, so I can understand that decision. Dr. Zin, a frequent foe of the Quest team, seems to very quickly join forces with the heroes and act a little out of character while doing so, to my mind. And the story has a few slow points along the way, making me think it could have been a tad bit tighter.
But overall, this was a phenomenal story bringing a huge cast of diverse characters together with very little tweaking to make the plot work. Most of the characters with which I was already familiar seemed to be spot-on in this series. The ones I wasn't familiar with before, I now want to know more about.
Whoever had the initial idea for this series: kudos to you and this fantastic team of creators who brought it all to life! Whether or not you are a fan of these characters from television, give this series a try if you enjoy sci-fi adventure. You will not be disappointed.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Anticipation is making me wait ... for years!
Superman No. 299
DC Comics
Creators: Cary Bates, Elliot S! Maggin, Curt Swan, Bob Oksner and Julius Schwartz
Cover date: May 1976
Who knew? Multi-part stories are nothing new! (Actually I did, but I didn't realize they were quite so prevalent this far back.)
While he isn't one of my top three favorite characters, I've always had a fondness for Superman.
Even before I'd read many comics, he was one of the "Super Friends" on television every Saturday morning during almost all of my cartoon-watching years (OK, so I still watch a lot of cartoons, but they are no longer confined to Saturday mornings and the odd 30-minute weekday program after school.). I came along too late for the "Superman/Aquaman" show that preceded it, but the "Super Friends" in one iteration or another were as regular on Saturday mornings as "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?" during those days. And the Man of Steel was one of only five regular heroes on most episodes of the "Super Friends." Superman was even my very first Mego action figure as a kid. So, I was definitely aware of him as a child.
Making the Kryptonian even more a central figure in my young mind were monthly (or so) trips to the barbershop. The barbershop my mom most often took me to when I was a child had two large baskets of magazines — mostly sports or hunting mags — placed on either end of a row of chairs where people would sit and wait their turn in the cutting chair. Scattered among the other magazines, there were almost always two or three coverless comic books. Sometimes you'd dig through those magazines and find a comic you'd read on a previous visit, which was usually fun to re-read because back then they were all great reads, even if you'd already read them before. Once in a while, you'd come across one that hadn't been there the last time. But always, every single issue, featured Superman, sometimes Superboy or sometimes alongside the Legion of Super-Heroes. Once or twice maybe alongside Batman. But Superman was always in those barbershop comics.
I developed a fondness for late 1960s and 1970s Superman comics that way. That led me to recently indulge when I came across an online auction selling several early Bronze age Superman comics, some of which I've finally had time to begin reading.
If you had asked me before this purchase, I'd have told you with almost certainty that one hallmark of Superman books from the time was that they were almost always self-contained stories. Done in one. Very few "to be continued"s to be found. That assumption is based on the many Superman books I read at that barbershop. After reading about a dozen of the books I recently purchased, however, I've found that is not the case. At least not with this batch.
Superman No. 254 sets up a situation where the Man of Steel must transfer his powers and abilities into the body of a crippled boy, only summoning each power back to himself one at a time as he needs them. An immediate problem gets resolved in this fashion, but at the end of the story, all of Superman's powers still reside in the boy's body. Did the writers just forget to resolve that plot point? No, they call attention to it at the end of the story with a note saying that plot point will be resolved in a future issue. Not the next issue, but an unnamed future issue at an unspecified time. That would drive fans crazy these days.
So what's all that got to do with Superman No. 299, the comic pictured above? That comic is part of a really long story arc, as you'll soon see.
Superman No. 296 begins by explaining that it was going to tell a tale of Superman that couldn't be contained in a single issue. It then gives a brief two-panel recap of how baby Kal-El came to Earth and was found by the Kents. The rest of the page is devoted to scenes of a second craft from the stars landing on Earth at the same time, but far from Smallville, Kansas. This craft dislodges a far more deadly occupant. The next page gives a glimpse of Superman's early career as Superboy and the second alien watching the young Kryptonian until he receives orders to go to Metropolis and wait for the boy to grow into Superman. The following pages of that issue reveal that this second alien has been sent to destroy Earth, using Superman to do it. The alien, named Xviar, sets his plan in motion by sabotaging the Man of Steel's powers — making it so that when he is dressed in his familiar red-and-blue costume, Superman is mighty as ever, but when dressed in his Clark Kent clothes, Superman is human, losing all of his Kryptonian abilities.
Superman, not knowing Xviar's plan, believes that the change is brought about by the stress of his having lived a double life for so long. He decides he must choose between being Superman full time and saying goodbye to his Clark Kent identity, or the opposite, forsaking his powers forever to live only as a human. Superman No. 297, which I do not own and have never read, apparently details the next week as Clark tries living only as a normal human. Flashbacks in the next issue show he is saddened by — but begins to accept — the tragedies he can no longer do anything about. Instead, he begins to actively pursue Lois Lane and stand up to the constant harassment of bullies like Morgan Edge and Steve Lombard. Then in Superman No. 298 — which I do have and read — Superman goes back into action full time, forgetting about Clark Kent for a week. The Man of Steel is able to prevent a great many disasters and crimes, but never taking off the costume means never having any downtime, something which begins to take a toll.
All of that culminates in Superman No. 299, which interrupts Superman's difficult decision by introducing nine of the Man of Steel's most infamous rogue's gallery members, brings about the final part of Xviar's plan to use Superman to destroy Earth and brings the plot to a satisfying conclusion. Why satisfying? Superman uses his brains just as much, if not moreso, than his brawn to defeat Luthor, Brainiac, the Prankster, Toyman, Parasite, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Terra-Man, Amalak and the Kryptonite Man. Plus, when Superman tumbles to Xviar's plan and manages to thwart it, it is only because of his strong sense of what is right and his sense of honor. I like that the entire plot revolves around Superman being so good that he has to do the right thing, even if it's difficult for him personally, and that is exactly what leads him to figure Xviar's plan out.
Who knew I was going to come across a four-part epic in what I expected to be a collection of fun, standalone stories? And this really is a pretty complete tale in these four issues. But that's really not the end of the story. It is never explained in these four issues what race or planet Xviar belongs to or why they wanted to use Superman to destroy Earth, a plan set in motion before baby Kal-El even arrived on Earth. A teaser at the end of Superman No. 299 again promises that story at another time in a future issue.
And the beginnings of the story stretch back further than Superman No. 296, too. More than three years earlier, in Superman No. 258, the book's main feature has Superman facing a hulking bruiser named the Galactic Golem for the second time. In a backup "Private Life of Clark Kent" story, Clark decides to play amateur detective. He has a neighbor about whom the Man of Steel and his other fellow tenants at 344 Clinton Avenue know nothing. The man keeps to himself, is rarely seen outside his apartment and just presents a bit of a mystery. The only thing anyone knows about him is the name on his mailbox, Mr. Xavier. I don't know if the mysterious Mr. Xavier had appeared before Superman No. 258 or if he ever appeared again between then and No. 296, but the name and the appearance lead me to believe he has to be the same character. Now that's a long wait for a plot thread to pay off!
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
The long wait is finally over
Welcome back, Slacker!
That refers to me, not you,
dear reader. Why would I insult you? I don't even know if you're still
hanging around after all this time without a new post. But I've missed
writing this blog, and I'm going to take a stab at keeping up with it
once again.
So what do we have to entice you to come back? Just a short post this time, and one that doesn't even center on
a comic. Nope, I'm going to brag a bit about the latest figure I've
added to my collection, the King Shark build-a-figure included in one of
the latest DC Multiverse lines from Mattel.
I
really like the look of this figure, based just as much on his
appearances in Season 3 of The CW's "Flash" television program as it is
on the character's comic appearances. His bulk makes him look imposing
next to the other regular six-inch figures I have, and he's a nice
addition to my shelf of villains, which was already quite Aqua-centric
due to the multiple Ocean Master and Black Manta figures.
Besides, what's not to love about the character when he was even a quasi-good guy during the Sword of Atlantis Aquaman run? Why, if Arthur has trouble taking this big guy down alone (perish the thought), maybe the Hulk would be more King Shark's size?
Come
back next Tuesday, and I'll tell you about the surprise I got recently
reading some old Superman comics. I promise I'll try to make it worth
your time.
Tuesday, September 06, 2016
Finally a chance to sit and read
The Lone Ranger/Green Hornet No. 1
Michael Uslan, writer
Giovanni Timpano,
artist
Pete Pantazis,
colorist
Hey, Kiddie Cops, long time, no see! Work is still keeping
me hopping at a crazy pace; so much so, in fact, that this is the first comic I
have had time to read in nearly six weeks. Now maybe that had something to do
with it, but I very much enjoyed this comic. So much so that I wanted to share.
I’ve liked most of what Dynamite has done since obtaining
the rights to Lone Ranger comics, and while I have avoided most of the more
modern takes on Green Hornet, I also very much enjoy the character and his ties
to the Lone Ranger. So I decided to give this six-issue mini a try. And if this
first issue is any indication, this series is off to a great start.
This tale is set in 1936-38 with an aged John Reid (the Lone
Ranger) still around to help shape the beginnings of his grand-nephew, Britt
Reid’s origins as the Green Hornet. Michael Uslan uses the setting and time
period to tie real-world events and figures into the narrative to very great
effect. Further, he uses some pass Green Hornet stories, particularly GreenHornet Year One by Matt Wagner and Aaron Campell
to flesh out some of the early career of the Green Hornet. I absolutely love it
when creators take something done before and build on it rather than going the
everything-you-know-is-wrong route to erase and re-write history. It doesn’t
hurt when the tale the current creator is building on is one I have read and
enjoyed.
This is still only the first issue of a six-issue series,
and I don’t want to spoil the story twists and historical tidbits by revealing
them here (half the fun is discovering them in the story as they come up), but
this was a nice story to return to my hobby with, and I recommend it highly!
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