Reviews: GLNG#1 and TT#1

This week I had some titles I wanted in print, so I headed on in to Mile High Comics in Glendale. After talking to the best Comic Book Guy I know, Aaron Tucker, I learned to call on Tuesday to have books held when...

It's New Comic Book Wednesday!

Green Lantern New Guardians #1

My second favorite Lantern of 2814 is Kyle Rayner.  He was first introduced as I was entering college and exploring my creative, artistic side.  I knew I could never be the cool, jocky, test pilot like Hal, but I was able to identify so much more with Kyle.  He was an artist, I was an artist.  He was about my age and living  on minimal resources. If Kyle could be picked as a Lantern, I could have some of the same positive attributes.

This issue explores the birth of Kyle as a GL, but with the relaunch, they play with the idea a little differently.  And I like it.  Green Lantern, Sinestro, Star Sapphire and Black Hand have all been around for a while, but the rest of the Lantern spectrum was introduced in the Blackest Night series.  Because it was so successful, the idea of all Lanterns was incorporated into this relaunch.

A pensive Kyle,
drawing for favors

SPOILER ALERT: Kyle is so poor, he's trading drawings for drinks when he's out with his friends.  When he sneaks out back to take a leak, he's accosted by Ganthet bearing the last Green Lantern ring of Oa.  He has some trouble gaining acceptance from the rest of NYC who are used to seeing Jordan in the role, but in an epic rescue, he impresses the folks in Times Square.  The "twist" to the story comes when Kyle is "chosen" by a ring from every color of the spectrum.

The humor in this issue is pretty characteristic of GL and somewhat self-mocking.  As soon as Kyle saves the day, a tween bystander starts talking about "the brown haired" Lantern and asks why Kyle has on a bib.  I also really like the twist of the story and the challenge presented with Kyle being chosen by every ring.  It's a cool concept, even though it does raise some unusual questions, the strongest being, "Whenever has a ring decommissioned on an active lantern?" followed closely by, "When does a ring choose someone outside its own sector?"  No wonder the other Lanterns are so pissed off and suspicious.

The art of Tyler Kirkham is actually pretty impressive.  We see it in the details of Kyle's face, the bulges of strained muscles and the nooks and crannies of alien features.  He even shows his range in style when Kyle forms an "anime Ganthet" but I think the true wonder is in a two page "rescue" spread.

Absolutely love the beefy blue
collars saving the rig.

The fun thing about Kyle is because he has such a different perspective, his "creations" have historically tended to be more artistic than Hal's much more concrete embodiments.  In his attempt to rescue a massive crane falling of the top of a Time's Square building he creates some amazing, massive energy construction workers to catch and support the tumbling machinery.  Quite impressive, Booth.

I was talking with Aaron about the New 52 and how some stories are minimal and some have too much.  He referred to JL#1 as being like "a quarter of a cookie."  I feel a little like that with this story.  What was there was delicious, but it just wasn't enough.  Luckily, I'll continue to follow.  It is GL after all.

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Teen Titans #1

I still feel like a teenager.  Even though I'm pushing 40, I behav like I did in high school.  Heck, I can't imagine that a day has even passed.  How do I hold down a job?  Granted, maybe thats why I ended up working with teenagers in a high school.

All that said, it's kind of why I have a tie to Teen Titans. They're kids. Life is awkward even if you don't have super-human abilities.  When you do, it just compounds all those weird feelings you have of feeling out of place.  So the misfits turn to each other, just like I turned to other misfits in high school.  The result here is a powerful force.

SPOILER ALERT:  Red Robin is trying to stay one step ahead of the evil agency trying to hunt super-human teams. His mission is two-fold.  To protect them all and help them band together to form a solid team. He's the current target, but his research on meta-humans tells him who is next.  Narrowly escaping his hunters in his Luthor Towers penthouse (big fireworks there), he seeks out Wonder Girl as the first of many he knows are also being hunted.

The story is actually pretty riveting and it feels like "a whole cookie" to me.  There's enough exposition there, gets you right into some conflict and develops two strong characters throughout the 20 pages.  While the cover is slightly misleading (most of these characters aren't in the mix yet), it's a fun and enticing foundation.

Psyched for a gay hero,
but purple? Really?

I admit, I've not been a "follower" of Teen Titans, but I was interested in reading this, but hadn't planned on picking it up in print.  But then I read an interesting article on Bleeding Cool. TT is introducing a new gay character in this series named Bunker.  I may not be a fan of his gaily purple costume, but the young, latino meta-human should provide a positive image for gay teens everywhere.  I wish I had some positive image of other gay teens.  Now if only he wasn't so stereotypically "Mondo-Queer."  I guess progress is progress no matter how slow.

Is she 17 or 40? Or are those just
man hands?

The art in this book is great too.  Brett Booth's got quite the handle on musculature and details in the humans and scenery.  The one suggestion I would give him is to work on being able to correctly convey the age of his characters.  Wonder Girl is clearly identified as 17, but  in most panels, she looks much older.  It's not about muscles, it's more about the aged look we all get as we get older the lack of elasticity in the skin.   Red Robin has it, why not Wonder Girl?  In one specific scene, I thought I was looking at a 40-something housewife of Orange County.  The hands? Really? No wonder the poor teen can't get any dates.

This story ends with the same few pages that end Superboy #1 which is a nice way to tie the two books together.  But with a merge, I have to wonder how they'll run two parallel series.  Of course I'll keep reading to find out.

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Watch out for this week's mini-digis: Red Hood #1 (last week), Aquaman #1, and I, Vampire #1

Next week:  Action #2, Green Arrow #2, Red Lantern #2,  and Stormwatch #2


All images copyright DC Comics and used under guidelines of Fair Use

Mini-Digis: Week of 9/21

I've noticed my digital reading is starting to build up as much as my print reading.  I'm glad I have this blog to keep me on task.

So here are my mini-digi-reviews this week. This week is full of titles I'm a relative newbie to.  Completely quick thoughts. Warning: Most likely contains spoilers.

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Birds of Prey #1

As an English teacher, I always tried to make sure my female students had strong powerful female characters as role models.  And these women are certainly strong.

Re-cap:  Canary and Starling are being stalked by a reporter determined to discover their secret having been tipped by an anonymous source.  Meanwhile, Canary is trying to recruit Barbara Gordon and others for her team. Trying to flush out "Deep Throat," Dinah and Ev put themselves in grave danger.

What Soars:  I like that this goes back to the beginning of BOP and the assembly of the team.  I think it's a good way to lure those new readers (yes, I've said it before).  I also like the way this brings the reader in without feeling the need to "explain" too much.  It truly allows the reader to discover the characters ("Show, don't tell," the teachers always say).  Finally, I LOVE when there's that fine line between, "Are they hero or criminal?" Not only does it make us wonder, but it puts us in the shoes of the public who might wonder that about any super-human.

What Crashes: The penciling seems pretty inconsistent.  In some panels it's clear and detailed while in others it seems sloppily rushed.  I suppose I'm being a perfectionist, but I like consistency throughout. Also, why can't DC seem to find strong women writers and artists to support their strong female titles (or any titles for that matter).

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Legion of Super-Heroes #1

I knew nothing about this group until the cartoon on TV.  And I've still only seen a couple episodes.

Re-cap:  One team goes to investigate the lost contact on a Watcher World, while the rest of the Legion stays back and does their thing.

What Soars:  Um.  I love the art in this book.  You can tell a great deal of attention was dedicated to this book and I really admire the quality and the detail involved in so many of the really intricate scenes. I also like the identifiers throughout the book helping the noob meet a character and know his ability.

What Crashes:  There is too much going on here.  There were so many characters introduced and the story switched so many times, my head was spinning. Also, I'm bugged by the pull to read Legion Lost as a companion to this. Do I really need to be reading MORE?  Besides. I'm confused enough by the overabundance of characters in this book.  Last time I was this lost was reading Anne Rice's The Witching Hour.  Finally, the cover.  Actually, I can't quite say if this is a crash or not.  The art is AWESOME, but it looks so 1960s.  Representing the 31st Century, it seems too retro.  Almost like watching an episode of Star Trek TOS. Is that part of the allure? 

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Nightwing #1

Red?  I thought Nightwing was blue?  I have to admit, if anything drew me to the original Batman it was Dick Grayson. Not the Burt Ward version, and not just because of the name Dick, but because he was a kid, he was athletic and acrobatic, and he could fight.  Maybe because he was everything as a kid that I wasn't.

Re-cap:  Dick Grayson has been filling the role of Batman for the past year, but with Bruce Wayne back, he's free to be himself again.  After resuming his role as Nightwing, Dick visits Haly's Circus, his old troupe that is traveling through Gotham and discovers a hired killer has been sent to eliminate him.

What Soars: I love the two-page, slant panel spreads in this book.  For some reason, the slight askew gives the feeling of motion, of action although it's not necessary to move the story along. In general, I'm not normally a fan of the same character appearing more than once in a panel, but this book does it well and with purpose.  To show the acrobatic action of a chase or a fight sequence, the character is drawn in various poses, throughout the progression of movement, (transparent, like a ghost image of where he was) until you get to the point of where he IS, fully opaque and still in motion. Pretty darn cool.  I love when things in comics look transparent.

What Crashes:  What is with these obscenely awkward poses? First Batgirl, now Nightwing.  I'm just saying.  I thought this was rated T for teen.  And the proportions seem off, even with foreshortening.  The title page makes Dick look like a creature out of the evolutionary chain. But if that's all that I can find to complain about with this title, I'm pretty happy.

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WOW!  Two "Bat" reviews this week from someone completely not into the Bat Franchise.  Maybe that's how they creep into your world.  Hmm...

And as always, if you agree or totally think I'm full of crap, let me know in comments below.

Who is she??

Ever since I was little, when people asked me who my favorite superhero was, I'd say Green Lantern.  Inevitably, they'd say, "Who?" or even worse, "Oh yah, The Green Hornet."  Now that the move has come out, the don't ask anymore.

But then they ask me about the other symbol I have on my arm, and I have to explain.  So I'll do that for everyone because, it's...

Star Sapphire Saturday!

photo courtesy dcwikia.com

While it doesn't explain everything, DC did a great job with these one pagers, so I wanted to share.  For those of you who have always wondered, now you know a little more.

Love conquers all with violet light!

Reviews: GLC#1 and WW#1

I did it.  This week, every title I purchased was in digital format.  By choice. I abandoned my weekly trip to the comic book store and bought everything online, because...

It's New Comic Book Wednesday!

Green Lantern Corps #1

While I love Green Lantern and the Corps, two of my least favorite GLs are Guy Gardner and John Stewart. Since they are at the forefront of these storylines, I was torn about this series.  Hal is "de-ringed" (see GL#1), Kyle is a "New Guardian, leaving only Kilowog, Sora and Arisia to carry me through.

SPOILER ALERT:  This book opens with violence (which I secretly love).  Two Lanterns have captured a criminal and are holding him prisoner.  Within the first three pages though, all three are slaughtered by an invisible enemy.  The killings are akin to the opening scene of the sub-par horror film Ghost Ship, but I just love watching people sliced in half by razor sharp wire.

Trying to fit in to normal life on Earth, Guy Gardner applies to be a high school football coach, but the school can't "afford" to have him around.  While waiting for his interview, Guy explains Oa, Space Sectors and Corps numbers (Lantern Basics 101) to fans in the waiting room.

A quiet, reflective, bromance
moment in space.

John Stewart on the other hand, on the job site as a consulting architect, explains how the ring works converting thought into energy (more 101). But what his mind crafts is far too costly for the builder.  In an effort to promote more safety, it turns out John Stewart is fighting the same type of business corruption Superman is fighting in Action Comics #1. The notariety and liability of these guys keep them from being able to find "real jobs" and simply fit in.  Was it a good idea they never hid their identities?

A force in the universe is committing mass genocide (destroying the water world Nerro) and killing any lantern who comes to the rescue.  Of course, with nothing to do and feeling down, these two take a team to investigate the radio silence in sector 3499.

Not sure why there was a need to build the Earth backstory with John and Guy and provide the inevitable basics course.  I suppose to readers not familiar with a "green lantern" it's good to have that info, but it wasn't done as much in other titles, so it seemed a bit forced (kind of like when tv shows to stupid plot summary episodes to catch you up on what you missed).  I did like that there is another petty "close to home" topic at hand here: mass genocide.  It keeps the "army" ideal of the corps and the political nature of the story line from ever letting the reader forget this isn't too far from reality.

He may not be my favorite lantern,
but take a look at that... detail.
(click to enlarge)

The art in this book, pencilied by Fernando Pasarin, is pretty frikkin awesome.  One reason why I like to follow big titles is how amazingly detailed the art can get, especially when you can see every bulge of every muscly mass on the characters.  That is some sick detail.

I'm loyal to this army because it's the corps.  I'm glad I decided to go digital with it though.  I can zoom in on detail and I don't mind carrying it around with me to re-visit at any point (OK, to look at John's butt).  It's a good start to a series, but can they keep up FOUR GL series in this relaunch?  I'm wondering when some will eventually merge.

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Wonder Woman #1


My loyalty to Wonder Woman goes back to the 70s with both Lynda Carter and the Superfriends.  For the longest time, she was the only really fierce woman I knew. Strong, smart, and willing to put up a fight and win every single time.  Maybe she's the reason I love heaving breasts; maybe she's the reason I love confident women who speak their mind and pursue their goals; maybe she's the reason I was called a queer for spinning in circles on the playground. Whatever the reason, I couldn't ignore her in the relaunch and pants or not, I'll always love my Princess.

SPOILER ALERT: The story opens in Singapore with three young women in the penthouse of a seemingly wealthy, attractive young man, but he's not quite what he seems.  Aren't these women suspicious of a guy whose eyes and mouth glow orange?

The story then jumps to rural Virginia where Hermes is protecting a young farm girl, Zola, from some centaurs born to hunt her.  Using a magic key (very Harry Potter portkey-like), Zola is transported to London where she meets Diana who agrees to protect her and they return to VA.

Look, Ma. No pants!
(on either of them)

Do you know
 how I know you're gay? 

For some reason, the biggest concern on most of my friends' tongues is if WW is still wearing pants.  I reassured you a few weeks ago, after JL#1, and I'll say it again.  WW has her traditional briefs. Her boots have changed color, and the body looks somewhat like Spiderman's, and she's all silver now instead of gold.  But she's the same old WW.  The one thing I'm not sure I get is the armband. Its a little to leatherbeargay for me.  I don't want to see you at The Wrangler, Diana. It would taint my perfect image of you.

Until I read the name Hermes, I forgot Diana's world revolved around Greek Mythology.  The Centaurs, and so many other allusions began to come clear to me.  I think Wonder Woman's storyline began to stray some the origins of her culture, so I was glad to see the villains in this issue be mythology based.  Kudos!  One element I love about reading, and reading comics, is I can always go back and see some of the literary elements (both visual and textual) I missed before.  There was so much of that here, so I give credit to the writer, Brian Azarello (who gets credit even if it wasn't his idea).

Diana, you're beautiful
 even just waking up.

I wasn't initially a tremendous fan of the artwork by Cliff Chiang.  It reminded me too much of that classic, maritime tattoo design style.  While I appreciate that work, and I think the art is good, I don't think it's appropriate for a comic.  And I'd never get that style actually etched on my skin.  It gets considerably better after the initial exposition though to a point where we see Diana as we expect to see her.  as a beautiful goddess.  And we see tremendous detail in the unusual characters of the story.

I really liked this story, so I'll continue to pick it up.  Digitally.  The more I read digital, the more I'm enjoying them.  However,  I fear if too many people go digital, it might be the death of the comic book store. Yikes.  I'd hate to see that happen.

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Watch out for this week's mini-digis: Legion of Super Heroes #1, Nightwing #1, Birds of Prey #1


Next week:  Green Lantern: New Guardians #1 and Teen Titans #1

Mini Digital Reviews

I've decided that my review of digital comics will be two fold:

1. Mini-reviews of the digi-titles I "picked up" this week.
2. A running record of the pros and cons of digital v. print.

The latter will be a separate post that I will keep adding to and updating.  I'm not sure how it will show up, so I may need to re-date it from time to time.

So here are my mini-digi-reviews this week. Completely quick thoughts.

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Action Comics #1

Action Comics has been around and I have NEVER followed it (other than the iconic first issue image you see everywhere) so this will be a review from a newbie.

Re-cap:  A vengeful Superman uses "everyday" villain Mr. Glenmorgan, shrewd business man who uses cheap labor, violates safety standards and bribes officials to get away with it to show his fight for justice for the poor and the "everyman." Concerned about this new "hero," Lex Luthor, bent on rebuilding Metropolis despite the poor who live there, enlists General Lane in the fight against Superman.

What Soars:  This series brings the villains to a "human" level that many today can still identify with.  The rich keep getting richer even in our poor economy and everyone seems to be looking the other way. If our system work bring about swift justice, someone has to.

What Crashes:  I'm not sure if Superman is "jeans and workboots" in the original Action Comics.  The jeans and workboots really say "I'm a working man, just like you.  Identify with me." But the shortsleeved, tight fitting top over the bulging muscles says, "I'm a roid-raged, sexually confused metrosexual looking for some Tina and a hot night of fist pumping."  It's not working for me. Especially considering how raggedy and old Clark Kent appears.

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Batgirl #1

Batgirl has always fascinated me since Yvonne Craig danced around the screen in Batman reruns when I was a kid. Beautiful and tough, I had to pick this up.

Re-cap:  "The Mirror" is enacting is own brand of justice, determining the fates of people who survived tragedy when others did not. On his list:  Barbara Gordon. Elsewhere, a Barbara Gordon who survived the shooting by the Joker and recovered from paralysis, is back stopping serial killers from attacking a family.  However, in a moment of fear facing "The Mirror," her inaction results in a man's death. Is she good or bad?

What Soars:  There was a ton of story in this issue and it never seemed rushed or convoluted.  It felt like this was twice as long as an average issue, in a good way.  I am ALWAYS a fan of a strong woman who can hold her own in a fight.  I'm also huge when a "super" human is afflicted by and makes normal human mistakes.

What Crashes:  Seriously?  You rode your Batcycle up to the 14th floor of the hospital in an elevator? The fleshtone color of the boots, gloves and emblem have got to go.  You're not Powergirl. And that tiltle page.  Wow!  Do you really fly through the air in "full splits" position? I feel like I'm watching Kathy Griffin's gyno exam in high-rise Gotham.

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Superboy #1

I know very little about Superboy other than pieces I've gathered from 52, Blackest Night and Smallville.  I know Superboy is hotter than Superman.  I know he'd be the product if that cute gay couple Clark and Lex had a genetically created child. I know Superboy is hotter than Superman. Oh, did I say that already? Really. I'm not a pedo.

Re-cap:  A genetic experiment combining the DNA of Superman with Lex Luthor has produced "Superboy." Feeling he is showing no signs of life, the scientists want to destroy him, but one doctor, Red, is sure his consciousness lies on a higher level.  When they try to destroy him, the scientists are all killed.  Despite her failed tests to prove he is ready for the world, Superboy is "released" by the man behind the money.

What Soars:  I really like the "processing"icon that appears in the middle of a panel where Superboy is thinking.  It makes me think of my phone and reminds me that he is more like a self aware computer than anything else.  A hot one. I also like that he is to be the solution to the "problem" Zaniel has with the Teen Titans.  I just hope Superboy's drawn better in TT.

What Crashes:  Can someone please learn to draw some joint articulation, some feet and outlines that have dimension? I was looking at the full page pic of Superboy post-"escape" and he looks like a bad version of my friend Amy's William and Kate paper dolls. Oh. And can you say "deer in headlights"? Everyone.

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Sorry for the late recap.  I now the week's over, but these might still inspire you to check out a new title or two.

And as always, if you agree or totally think I'm full of crap, let me know in comments below.

Star Sapphire on Batman BB

As always, Saturdays are dedicated to the most remarkable woman in the DC Universe. On that note, let's proceed with...

Star Sapphire Saturday!

We were lucky enough last night to have the season premiere of Batman Brave & the Bold. Although the Cartoon Network had this slated to air this episode last May, they decided it would be best to launch this season off right! The episode... "Scorn of the Star Sapphire!"

Now it's very important to understand that this is the Cartoon Network and with 6pm as it's airing time slot, it it CLEARLY intended for kids. I kept having to remind myself of that as line after cheesy line poured forth from the screen. Regardless, it was a very fun episode and SS was not portrayed in a more tame light. In fact, I was kind of shocked as how aggressive they went with the character. It made me smile. Huge.


Considering they had to tame it down for the audiences, I thought the costume changes were very appropriate. And I like the way they kept with the correct storyline (Carol/Hal lovers; SS/GL enemies). Even with the pre-pubescent audience, presenting the relationship as challenging, less than perfect, and something that needs work was pretty remarkable. I'm glad they also showed that Carol could use her will to control the Star Sapphire rather than it entirely controlling her.



I'm sure my idealism, and the toned down, more "loving", Star Sapphire of recent incarnations can't last. She's a villain. That's one of the reasons I love her. But it has been nice having her as a "good guy" for a while. Maybe they can put a spin on her character like they've done with Attrocitous in Red Lantern #1. As far as I'm concerned, not picking up SS as her own series was a "miss" on the part of the New 52. I guess we'll have to see what they do with the Green Lantern: New Guardians. Looks like that may be Fatality on the cover of issue #1.

In the meantime, I'll continue to spend the weeks admiring SS and expressing my love on Saturdays, because as we all know...

Love Conquers All With Violet Light!

Reviews: Green Lantern #1, Red Lanterns #1, Batwoman #1

Prologue:  So I stopped at the comic book store on the way home today.  When I arrived, the shelves were mostly empty.  I checked and double checked that it was actually Wednesday and it wasn't a holiday week (I've committed both mistakes), and eventually went to the front.  There were two copies of GL#1 left in the "Pick of the Week" rack.  Everything else had been picked clean!

When I asked Aaron if they were all sold out, he said there were 25 people waiting for them to open this morning and they sold out soon after.  THIRTEEN brand new "52" titles this week all gone in about 4 hours.  Looks like comic sales are back on the rise.  And I am forced to buy titles in digital this week.  How's that for a sign?  With that in mind, you already know...

It's "New Comic Book Wednesday!"

As DC continues to release #1s of all its revamped AND new titles, I'm playing along.  Here's what I've been anxiously awaiting this week.

Green Lantern #1
Just looking at the cover, any GL fan can tell this is a re-vamp.  We have been teased with this cover for a long time now. Hello! Sinestro is a Green Lantern again! Now DC released a 3 page preview so I knew this was coming.  Anyhow, because the GL universe is my life, I'm just going to start out saying...

SPOILER ALERT: (and mild language warning)
WTF? Hal Jordan is no longer the Green Lantern!  You have got to be kidding me.  Who do I need to blow around here to fix that screw up?

Now I know I'm at fault.  Being so back-logged on inventory, I'm not entirely caught up.  I don't know the last few things that led up to Flashpoint and I don't know what happened there, so I could be missing crucial info.  But this was supposed to be a relaunch.  I shouldn't have to know.  Believe me though, I will be doing my homework and catching up pronto!

Short synop: The Guardians discharged Hal (he's too much of a screwup) and the ring "chose" Sinestro again (Earth-hating Guardians embrace the "friends close, enemies closer" ideal) who is sent off to protect his sector and Korugar (which he last left in the hands of the Sinestro Corps to protect).  Hal, (jobless, in serious debt and facing eviction) gets arrested, bailed out by Carol who offers him a desk Ferris.  Eventually accepting reality, Hal decides to let go of his GL life and move forward.

Discontinuity aside (yes, perceived), there are some really powerful aspects to the story in this first issue.  His hatred for all things green aside, Sinestro's  intent was always to protect Korugar.  When he arrives at his home planet, he knows he has to do recon  because of his new mantle.  And he's not happy what he sees.  The Sinestro Corps he left to protect his planet has enslaved its people.  You don't need words to see the internal battle raging in Sinestro's heart.  Of course, killing a Sinestro Corps member helps you see that just a little.

I'm glad Geoff Johns knows Hal.  As always, the cocky (and clueless) Hal I love is in true form.  He accepts where his actions have gotten him, he decides to swallow his pride and take a desk job, and he even asks Carol out on a romantic date.  There, across the candlelit table, he admits it's time to leave his old life behind, accepts his shame and asks Carol that important question every woman in love wants to hear. "Will you cosign the new lease on my car?" Classic. 

Hal Jordan? Or bad drag queen?

As for artwork, I'm a little unimpressed with Mahnke this issue. OK a lot! Throughout Brightest Day, I saw some really great work, especially in the close up detail.  As I mentioned, some of his stuff was tattoo worthy.  And then I see this issue.  The detail in some of the face work is appalling. Carol looks plain in most panels, Hal looks ok most of the time, but there is one ECU on Hal that makes me hurl.

Yes, Gary the Landlord,
I'm looking at his butt too.

I will admit though, there is one panel in particular where the detail grabs my attention.  Unable to leave his heroism behind, Hal leaps from his 7th floor balcony into another apartment to rescue a woman being attacked by a thug.  As he takes off, we catch a glimpse of his lower back, including his sexy green chones (yes, Spanish slang for undies).   Why this was the view you chose to go with, I'll never know.  Perhaps you artists are on my team. Regardless, I thank you. Thank you VERY much.

Overall, a great story.  I'll continue reading GL forever, but good writing like Johns' will always make sure I'm entertained and thinking.  As for the art, I'll take some Tums while I read and just hope for less of Exhibit A and more of Exhibit B.  And I know what I'll be dreaming of later.

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Red Lanterns #1
I started laughing from the first panel of this issue.

1. Wonderful that the action occurs in Sector 666.
2. Pleasing that the first creatures we encounter are getting a frisson from pulling out a captor's eyeball.
3. Hilarious that they decide to invent a new game of torture on that cute kitty, Red Lantern Dex-Starr.

And all before the title page.

While humor caught my attention in this story, the plight is what kept it.  Rage and vengeance have never been driving forces in my life, but I can certainly identify with them.  In the moment, I have let rage and vengeance consume me, but I can't imagine having that as your only driving force (although it might actually been fun for awhile. Fun and lonely).

This issue is an origin story, but one that gives life and identity to Attrocitus, a being so evil.  Rage lives in all of us and sometimes we can act out in rage while having every good intent. That's where Attrocitus was born; his rage was born out of his love for his people. People slaughtered by the orders of a Guardian.

But doesn't vengeance have an endgame?  When the object of your Rage has been terminated, doesn't it finally subside, or has it become so much a part of your thinking that it has to find another outlet?  And what if the object of your vengeance is destroyed by someone or something else? Can your thirst ever be quenched?  Hal Jordan destroyed the cause of Attrocitus' rage, so he was left feeling empty and unfulfilled.  He decides he will survive by bringing the rage of others into his fold.  A side story on Earth, of a young man whose grandfather is beaten to death by a mugger, is the perfect way to bring this story home.

In my 9/11 post, I talked about how comics helped me understand and process my feelings about real events.  This story has some pretty tough political undertones given the climate of our country over the last ten years.  "We" are fueled by vengeance and attacks on our own soil; we seek out targets we think are responsible, but when those are defeated, the victory seems shallow.  We then feed off the rage and revenge of others by inserting ourselves in their conflicts, making them our own.  The idealist in me is sure it will end sometime.  But will it really?

Ed Benes has some mad pencil skills.  Of course, it's harder to critique details when an artist is drawing creatures so unlike reality, but they still look realistic in form and musculature.  And they do scare me.  However, his renderings of the attack on grandpa are very vivid, quite graphic, detailed and realistic (although I'm still trying to figure out the physics of one punch).

In the end, the important part is that Attrocitus becomes a character who readers can identify with and eventually see as their heroic protagonist.  I'm not sure how long the connection can last, but I will continue to follow this story.  Digitally.  Besides, how can you resist a man who likes cats?

---

Batwoman #1
I followed Batwoman's short life through and after 52 and the Countdown and thought there was really something there.  I liked the character, I liked the story and the art, and I was even digging on the lesbian vibe.  Anytime, mainstream media, pop culture, art or literature can help break stereotypes, I'm down.  So I had high hopes for this title.

Boy was I ever let down.

The story opens with a family being attacked by La Llorona, a spirit manifested from a latin urban legend. The family is rescued by Batwoman, but not before the Weeping Woman escaped with their three children.  Is the Bat franchise fighting ghosts now?

Kate Kane, the secret identity of Batwoman, looks like a Smurf goth chick gone wrong.  In too few pages, they try to introduce the sidekick (and cousin), Plebe, formerly Flamebird, establish Kate as a lesbian by cramming in a Renee Montoya reference while she flirts with a police detective, tell a backstory that explains why Kate hates her father who covered up the fact that her murdered sister was still alive, returned as a super-villain and died (drowned) as a result of Batwoman's actions (yes, most likely leading to this "twin" being La Lorona).  Oh yah.. And some agent from the Department of Extranormal Operations (who also looks like the dead twin) is being sent to "unmask the bat." Confused yet?

The story (as convoluted as it is) is told through a kaleidoscope of images and panels that were confusing to follow.  I have to admit, here's the advantage of buying it in digital format.  "Guided Reading Mode."  At least I was able to figure out where to go next.

I've never been one for the whole Batman universe, and this comic has certainly not changed my mind.  I will probably give it one more issue (which I might skim in the store), but unfortunately I'm not hopeful.  If anything is going to bring me to the Dark Knight side, it will be Batgirl #1 which had far better art and a much more identifiable and appealing storyline.

---

Other mini-reviews of this week's and last week's (digital) comics coming soon!

Action Comics#1, Batgirl#1, and Superboy#1

Next Week: Green Lantern Corps #1 and Wonder Woman #1

Remembering 9/11

Like so many people, today I'm remembering that fateful morning 10 years ago when tragedy struck the world.  I was at work, toiling away in the Publications Room on our first issue, when the first student came in.  Then the next.  The things they were saying seemed impossible.

We continued to watch reports and video footage throughout the rest of the day.  Images of the planes crashing, the towers crumbling, and the people.  Throughout it all, I couldn't stop thinking about the people. I truly felt like I was living a surreal experience, living in a world that wasn't really my own.  I went home that night utterly exhausted.

While I'm a pretty light-hearted, "uppity" person most of the time, I tend to internalize those suffocating feelings I just don't think anyone else will understand; perhaps that comes from years of hiding my feelings as a kid.  I can also be pretty empathetic, so over the next few weeks, my thoughts about the people and the tragedy and the "what ifs" seemed to tear me apart.  I generally read my comics to escape from reality, but what the world was experiencing seemed straight out of a storyline with villains and heroes and events far too fantastic to ever be considered reality. I really had no way to process it.

And then DC Comics decided to confront it for me. Anchored in "the city"itself, they knew the impact this event was having on everyday people like you and me, and they knew we needed a way to make sense of it all.  Artists and writers from all corners of the DC Universe joined together and quickly put out the DC 9/11 Tribute book.  In it's 213 pages, sectioned out thematically (Nightmares, Heroes, Recollections, Unity, Dreams and Reflections), these amazing men and women assembled a way for readers of all ages to process and remember the event and honor those who lost their lives on that unforgettable day.

Today, I have chosen to avoid the media covering hours of memorials and tributes.  While I respect the need for our country to do so, the sights and sounds of that day still give me nightmares. What I will do, and what I invite you to do, is take some time to read  the DC Comics Tribute to 9/11.  It's available online, it's a user-friendly interface, and it just may help you understand the events from a perspective you have never considered.

I'll always turn to my fictional heroes to help me through the hard times, but DC helped me to remember that I can turn to the real life heroes too. They may come in the most unlikely and unassuming of forms, but they are out there every day, defending our country, teaching our children, healing our sick, and telling our stories.  And while they are always there for us when we need them, it's important to remember, that they need us too.

Star Sapphire Saturday

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Accept our ring and join our fight!

In order to celebrate the coming of the weekend AND my favorite female, I hearby declare today, and every Saturday...

STAR SAPPHIRE SATURDAY!

Photo courtesy Cartoon Network

Years ago, I was thrilled to see SS on the animated Justice League Unlimited series.  This week, I learned that my violet beauty would be appearing in her own episode of Batman: Brave & the Bold where the Bats and GL battle Carol in "Scorn of the Star Sapphire."

Although the animated versions never show the more risqué costuming I've come to drool over (thank you Ivan Reis and Doug Mahnke), any incarnation is precious to me.

The episode airs on Friday, September 16 at 6:00 p.m. ET on the Cartoon Network.  I already have it set to record on the DVR.

If you'd like a glimpse, you can view a couple preview clips on COMIC VINE or watch episodes and clips of Batman: Brave & the Bold on Cartoon Network.

In the weeks to come, I'll be devoting Saturday posts to this remarkable woman.  If you have images to share, stories to tell or requests, just leave me a message or a comment.  I'll do my best to oblige.

And remember...

Love Conquers All With Violet Light!

Reviews: Stormwatch#1 and GA#1

It's "New Comic Book Wednesday!"

As DC continues to release #1s of all its revamped AND new titles, I'm playing along.  Here's what I've been anxiously awaiting this week.

Stormwatch #1

I have been dying for this one to come out primarily because of the characters being brought up from the DC "minors."  Although I have never followed The Midnighter, I know of him. And Apollo.  I feel like a Noob starting something completely new, but one thing I like about the DC relaunch is that none of them (so far) start at the beginning.  It isn't a string of "Origin" comics.  

In Stormwatch, a team of super powered monitors have been protecting the planets for centuries and they have discovered an alien force that is threatening the earth and has the power to defeat Superman.  Their mission is to save Earth. One member of their team, The Martian Manhunter, explains that he works with the Justice League when the world needs a hero, but he works with Stormwatch when they need a warrior.  And they are looking to recruit a man on earth even more powerful than Supes.

Enter Apollo, a closet case.  He has tremendous power, he's even used it to fight and defeat the man of steel, but he is not interested in being a hero.  He wants to be left alone to live his normal, quiet life.  But Stormwatch knows his ability and knows they need him to save Earth.

This is one story I'm hoping does NOT change from the characters as they exist in Wildstorm comics, for you see, Midnighter and Apollo are a couple.  Yes.  Strong, masculine, male heroes. And gay. Such men do exist.  And here in their own mainstream series.  I'm hoping it continues to be epic.

Now, I suppose I'm being picky, but you have a headquarters lurking in hyperspace, you have technology to monitor the entire universe and you have humanoids with amazing abilities to run the entire operation. And the best names you can come up with are Angie, Harry and Adam? I guess that a world as fantastic and creative as this could have some names that are a little more unique.

I'm also not so keen on the art, but I can certainly live with it.  I get really finicky when comic art borders on watercolor realism.  I recognize that Alex Ross is a tremendous artist, but I do not like his for for comics.  There are times in this, especially in close up details, that Miguel Sepulveda seems to be approaching that line.  And then there's feet.  One character is barefoot and it looks like he's walking on stumps.  I recommend some practice in that area, especially if this guy is ALWAYS barefoot.

Overall, cheers for Stormwatch as a first issue.  I'll continue to read even if it ends up only to follow the Midnighter/Apollo relationship.  

Green Arrow #1
I have been drawn to Green Arrow since early college for his Batman-like origin.  He's just a guy in a suit. Avenging the death of his parents.  He has no powers but does possess amazing skills.   I don't know why I liked him better than Batman (maybe it was the color green or the phenomenal van dyck he always sported), but Green Arrow shot his arrow through my heart.

But making Oliver Queen look like the glamorized CW version detracts from his appeal.  Don't get me wrong.  Justin Hartley is one FINE specimen as a man as Oliver Queen, Arthur Curry or... Justin Hartley, but when it comes to the Oliver Queen on the printed page, he just isn't it.  Disappointment #1.

Now, I've only ever followed GA peripherally, so I don't know which elements are brought from previous stories and which are part of the overall re-write. In this version, Queen Industries is based in Seattle (not Star City) and when I really got to know Green Arrow, he didn't have an "eye-in-the-sky" team helping him pinpoint crime.  As I read through it, I somehow felt like I was reading a modified version of a Smallville episode. Here, his Chloe is called Naomi, although she may as well be called the Oracle or even "Angie" (Yes, the Engineer from Stormwatch). Disappointment #2.

SPOILER ALERT:  The story seemed a tad bit convoluted.  Green arrow is in pursuit of an awkward trio of criminals who video their attacks and post them online.  He confronts them on a yacht party where they are caught and sent to prison.  As he resumes life at Q-Core, the arrested criminals are broken out by a team of villains.  One looks strangely like Claude Rains' Wolfman.  Writer J.T Krul tried to put way too much into a far too ridiculous story.  Disappointment #3.

The only other element that rubs me the wrong way, in all of the New 52 so far, is that every costume seems made of scaled (yes, like fish scales) armor. Somehow superheroes in armor seems wrong.

And finally, I lied.  Yesterday I said I'd buy all The New 52 #1s in print.  However, I decided there were some titles I'd test drive in digital, so I logged on from home and downloaded a few.  I'll talk about them another day.

21st Century Digital Boy?

Tomorrow is "New Comic Book Wednesday," and I'm facing a serious dilemma plaguing most readers these days, regardless of genre. "Print or digital?"

As an English teacher, I've struggled with this for a long time.  I always thought, "I have to hold and feel and smell the book in my hands.  I need to have a collection that I can see and display and share (never to be returned again)."  But when I got an e-reader (brand name withheld), my thoughts on digital books began to change.  Yes, I still have my favorites that I'll always want a bound copy of, but what I really want are the words, and I have them all digitally.  Backed up in at least three places.

But my struggle to go digital with comic books is more intense.  Comics have that VISUAL storytelling element that is so integral to the concept itself.  Like film stock, an original comic has that clarity that you can see, even if it is the tiny dots that make up the printing process. And let's face it, comic books are collectible and could be worth some money in the future.  That's right, I said could.  Seriously? It's like playing lotto.  For all the money I spend on books, bags, boards and storage boxes, I MAY see some ROI if I ever decide to get rid of them.  I only have two TPBs that are autographed, and as for investment longevity, who would I pass them on to?  No kids here.

But digital comics are so much easier to store, take up less space, and truly do have that high definition quality that allows me to see ALL the detail. I can even zoom in to examine in more detail (as my vision heads south, this is pretty crucial for me). For inexperienced comic book readers, the "Guided Reading" feature makes understanding "which way to go next" an easier decision.  Seriously, in some of the more recent, chaotic storylines, I don't know which way is up.  I read the whole page and then figure out the order afterward.  I can also buy issues from the comforts of my home and not have to drive to the comic book store.  But experiencing the Mile High Comics environment is half the fun.

With digital servers, all of my books can be stored, I can access any issue quickly, and I can carry countless issues with me to read on airplanes, vacations or waiting rooms.  Considering how far behind I am, I wish most of my collection was digital right now.  Of course, I'll never be able to get an autograph on a digital copy.   And one last thing. No Ads (and truly this is good AND bad for both me and the industry).

So weighing all the pros and cons, I've made my decision.  

Tomorrow, I will buy my #1 issues of the New 52 in print. Old habits die hard.  BUT, as the series progress, I promise to buy later issues in digital.  I'm running out of room in my house and I can't afford a climate-controlled storage space. But for now, my decision is what makes the most sense for me.

Where do you stand on digital v. print?  Is there something I haven't considered?
 Let me know! 

For hearts long lost and full of fright...

"For hearts long lost and full of fright,
For those alone in Blackest Night,
Accept our ring and join our fight.
Love conquers all with violet light!

Yes. I collect stuff.

This week, my local comic shop (Mile High Comics - Glendale) had a 50% off TPB, Tshirts, statues and toys sale.  I finally had an excuse to buy that item I've had my eye on for weeks.

A Blackest Night Violet Lantern Light-Up Power Battery and Ring.

Yes, I already have the ring as part of the entire set I bought months ago, but there's something about the Power Battery I just had to have. So what if I now have two Star Sapphire rings. That's a GOOD thing!

Now, what can I use them for? Cosplay? Night light? Conversation piece at the bar on a Saturday night?

Yes, I have shelves and boxes full of action figures, statues, toys and games.  I don't plan on stopping.  And I'm hoping the Brightest Day series has a SS for my shelf.

Don't lie.  I know you have hidden skeletons too (just like Griffin and his Pee-Wee babies on iCarly). What do YOU collect?

The Hard Reboot

As anyone who knows me can attest, I am a huge comic book geek, specifically loving The Green Lantern, but also the entire DC Universe.  Since I was a kid first discovering "The Superfriends," I felt like I had discovered a world that would take me places.  Superheroes challenged my creativity and helped me to imagine worlds that didn't already exist.  And comic books made me believe. In heroes.

And now, the DC Universe is going through a relaunch.  As a technology geek too, I'd refer to it as a hard reboot.  As a gamer, a reset.  Whatever you call it, they are calling a "do-over" and starting from scratch.  Reinventing every character.  Some have different story lines, costumes have been tweaked and they get to make things up all over again.  How many  times have I wished I could do this in my own life?  Start with a clean slate.

Wednesday, the relaunch started with the release of Justice League #1. I picked it up, in print, to see what DC and Geoff Johns would do with a clean slate.

"NOT-SO-MUCH-OF-A-SPOILER" ALERT: I'm sure anyone who truly cares has already read this, but I hate when people ruin things for me so...

One thing I love is that the slate truly is clean.  You enter the DC Universe with the local law enforcement pursuing Batman.  Super beings are not seen as "heroes" and even better, they do not know each other.  In this issue, Green Lantern comes to investigate the disturbance in Gotham, discovers Batman, the madman who has no actual superpowers (but can steal the ring right off of his finger) and sets off with his questionable new ally to find the alien Superman who must have ties to the alien villain in Gotham.  Distrust lurks in every cell of this book.

Justice League #1 oozes with the old familiar superhero-as-distrusted-outcast flavor that is the basic foundation of all things X-Men.  But introducing characters that have to build the trust of others accomplishes two goals. First, it helps build that characterization from the beginning, not only letting you get to know the character from the start, but helping you to identify with the characters on your own.  So many readers look for something to identify with when they read and this is a way to do so. Second, DC really allows readers to enter not only a storyline, but also a universe without any need for background.  What a great way to entice new readers.  In a world where the comic industry seems to be losing readers by the minute, introducing a new "old" title can get new folks reading both new and old issues.

Now, costume redesign can be HUGE to some purists, including cosplayers who have to make entirely new outfits. I've been to ComicCon.  I understand. When the WonderWoman pilot was being shot for NBC and Adrianne Palicki appeared in jeggings, it was nearly the fall of Themyscira for sure. Some net pics had WW in pants on the cover of JL#1 but thankfully, she's dons something a little more classic.  Sure, the gold has turned to silver, she has an armband and a choker, but she's still the chesty Amazon princess I fell in love with as a kid.  As for the others, they're all mostly the same with minor tweaks and a little more of an "armor" appearance.  In fact, I don't even know if I'd have noticed the "collars" and "kneepads" were it not for this funny YouTube video I saw a few weeks ago.

The artwork is actually pretty great.  Although I'm not an expert at line work by any means, I know what I like and what I don't.  When I look at comic art, I judge it by how "tat-worthy" it is.  Is it good enough to commit to my skin forever?  While it may not be etched in skin yet, Jim Lee does a great job with characters he has been working with for awhile. We shall see.  I might be convinced.  Another exciting element of this issue, I saw Scott Williams doing a demo at ComicCon where he inked one of the cells from this book.  An AMAZING and arduous process for sure.

I have neglected my collection and have stacks of back issues to read, but I'm going  to commit myself to updates on the New 52 (no, not all, just the ones I read) and other current releases (along with my opinions on anything I like tv, movie, comic, and sci-fi related).

I know you're dying to hear my thoughts on digital v. print comics and the every expensive cost of this hobby. I spend more on comics than I did when I was smoking.  I'm also looking forward to a new series from DC called Stormwatch including some characters brought up from the minors.  Altogether, I'm hopeful for what's to come.

And when Jim Lee pens Star Sapphire, I'll let you know if he's truly a tat-worthy artist. We already know Ivan Reis is.