May the odds be ever in your favor

Yes, I'm a nerd.

I get excited about things I love.  When I was approached by someone at work to make a READ poster to promote literacy in our schools, I got a little too excited. Of course there was only one series of books I wanted to promote right now.

I dressed myself up and Tammy, our master of Photoshop, put together an awesome READ poster of me.

It's fun things like this that help me to love the job I do.

The New 52's Second Wave

So I haven't even caught up on my current issues, but with the news of DC's Second Wave coming out, I wanted to set myself a new wish list and some new goals.

Now that the dust has settled with the first relaunch, and the interest (or lack thereof) in some issues has waned, DC comics is moving forward, releasing a set of six new titles.  With these, I'm mostly more intrigued than super excited to see a new version of an old friend.  For me, they are all new.

Earth 2
In keeping with the ever-present idea of multiverses (multiversi?), DC explores the adventures of the JSA on Earth 2. No doubt, the alternate versions of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, etc. will all collide with the current versions and confusion will commence.

World's Finest
A much "toned-down" or "reduced" version of PowerGirl teams up with The Huntress (both from Earth 2).  They are trapped in our universe and try to figure out how to get back to their own.  Should be a killer chick adventure.  Nothing as awesome as some bad-ass bitches kicking some supervillain ass.

Dial H
This is one that is making me a little excited.  It's a revival of an old title (Dial H for Hero and H.E.R.O.) which I had never heard of.  This title brings the possibility of metahuman powers to anyone.  Essentially, if you come into possession of this dial, and you dial H-E-R-O, you become a superhero.  If you see me frequenting random phone booths, you'll know why.

The Ravagers
I'll never know why I'm attracted to "teen-based" story lines in books, tv, movies or comics.  Either it's the kid in me who refuses to grow up, or the teacher in me, but this title looks fun.  As a spinoff to Teen Titans, these super-powered kids try to accept their powers while simultaneously trying to escape from a group who wants to recruit them as villains.  Run, Forrest, Run!


Should be an exciting new wave.  DC retired some titles to make way for these, but none of them were ones I read so I'm ok with that.  Hopefully, once I make my decisions to let titles go, I won't be overwhelming myself too much.

See you in the next multiverse!

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

Review: Green Lantern #6

Finally, I'm caught up to the most recent issue of at least one of the series that I follow.  Keep up, Jim.

SPOILER ALERT: The following reviews contain them. 

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Green Lantern #6

Now that he's back on Earth and deprived of the powers of the ring, Hal has given up wanting to be a lantern in favor of a life of love and romance with Carol and some good old fashioned vigilante justice on the side. He's got the skills, even if he doesn't have the ring.  Why not rough up those hoodlums? You have to have something to keep secret from Carol, right?

In this issue, Sinestro tracks down Yellow Lantern Lyssa Drak (doesn't it even sound like a vampire name? - She's got the teeth to prove it) to strip her of her ring, in pursuit of his "eliminate the Sinestro Corps" mission.  In doing so,  he finds she is in possession of the black book. Through his close call with it, Sinestro learns of the guardians plans to destroy the Green Lantern Corps and create a new army: a destructive one.  Sinestro seeks out Hal Jordan, his new slave, because he knows there's no way he can take this on himself.

This is definitely a good way to finish up the first story arc and lead into the conflicts with the Indigo tribe.  It's a clean stopping point for anyone who wants to jump ship and a strong enough cliffhanger for those who want to stay on the ride.  I have to say though, Carol always gets the short end of the stick.  Just when she thinks Hal is truly hers, another Lantern emergency rips him away.

The saying, "Be careful what you wish for," comes startlingly to life with this issue.  For months I have been complaining about Doug Mahnke's artwork in this book and hoping for the illustrations to change.  Well, I guess I got my wish.  Guest artist Mike Choi lends his skills to this issue with some pros and cons. Choi is certainly an artist of a different caliber. His Sinestro is so much less pedophile that it's comforting. I enjoy looking at Sinestro now and not in some sick sexual way.  Choi makes enough of an effort to be more like Alex Ross, bordering on a soft-focus realism, in his art, and succeeds pretty well in his close-ups.

However his full body panels tell a different story.  While his Hal Jordan no longer resembles a low-budget transvestite, the characters come across more like Archie throwbacks. It's almost as if they are one step away from Tiny Titans.

I'm not sure if Mike Choi comes from a background of undead books, but his characters seem to all have fangs.  This is slightly disconcerting when you enter super-hero world.  I expect to see it in my movies, books and tv, but not when I come to Coast City.

Up Next: The Indigos

"Tor lorek san, bor nakka mur,

Natromo faan tornek wot ur.

Ter Lantern ker lo Abin Sur,

Taan lek lek nok--Formorrow Sur!"

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

Being Human Recaps on FBOTU

Being Human is like a Real World: Boston for sexy supernaturals. 

While Green Lantern and comics are what I love to read, my time is also taken up tremendously by other aspects of sci-fi, music, entertainment, etc.  I'm not just a one-trick pony.

For about a month now, I've been writing recaps on a show called Being Human for a website called Fanboys of the Universe.

Read my recaps HERE. 

Being Human is a show about a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost who live together and try to live "normal" lives, just like other humans.  It sounds a bit hokey, but is a ton of fun.  Originating as a BBC series, the Syfy channel picked up the idea for the US and has been taking it in awesome directions.

Fanboys of the Universe is a great site for people like me: gay guys who love all things sci-fi.

Hopefully, I'll start expanding my blog to include more of my other eclectic interests.  May this be the first of many.

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All images are copyright the Syfy Channel and are used with permission under guidelines of Acceptable Fair Use.

Review: Green Lantern #5

Since I'm in some severe catch-up mode, you may be seeing a string of these today.  Thank goodness for holiday weekends.

New GL Comic Book Reviews!

SPOILER ALERT: The following reviews contain them. 

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Green Lantern #5

When we last left off, Sinestro had created lantern rings for the citizens of Korugar who immediately turned on him.  No surprise there.  The Sinestro Corps he created had tortured and enslaved them.  They felt betrayed.

But finding their rings can do no harm to their creator, instead they band together to rid Korugar of the Sinestro Corps members enslaving the planet. Sinestro uses his new corps as bait while he and Hal head to deactivate the yellow battery.  What a bold and brave move. Save yourself at any expense.  That should win their trust.  Speaking of not winning trust, in the end, Sinestro goes back on his word and sends Hal back to earth with no lantern powers.

The whole issue is a bit Hallmark Channel.  Sinestro begs Arsona to understand and forgive him as he was only trying to protect the world he loves.  While they appreciate what he did this time, she says she will never forgive him and he is never welcome back on Korugar.  He leaves them with the promis that he will seek out and defeat the remaining Sinestro Corps members so Korugar will stay safe.

Upon returning to Earth, Hal realized his need for the ring was an addiction and it kept him from truly loving Carol.  Without his powers, he is dedicating his life to her and her alone.  Seriously, I did throw up in my mouth a little.

While Mahnke's art not getting any better for me (of course taste is relative), it is getting more tolerable. I've resigned to the fact that Sinestro will always look like a pedo as long as Mahnke is around and Hal will always look like a reject from RuPaul's Drag Race.  I must accept it and move on.

Now I can have issue with character decision-making.  What's with all these fat blobby villains that seem to keep popping up in DC books? 

This New 52 storyline really make you hate the guardians, no matter what incarnation of the series you read.  Where old and faithful fans know them as beings invested in protecting the universe, this time around, they are nothing but selfish, fiendish, conniving creatures bent on their own gain. They want to get any obstacles out of their way and make no question that Hal is too powerful and he had to be gotten out of the way.

The next most powerful force that could oppose them is the Sinestro Corps.  They're on their way out too.  Luckily Sinestro only put them in a coma and can still reactivate them when he needs to.  I have a feeling they won't be dormant for long.

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

Star Sapphire Saturday: Doom Meeting of the Minds

I must admit, it has been a while. I'm hoping this will make up for it.

Star Sapphire Saturday!

So, tomorrow Justice League: Doom is available for download on XBox and PS3, and it is officially released next Tuesday for Blu-ray and other media types.  I will be buying my copy.

In the meantime, I was browsing the interwebs and while there are several pirated YouTube copies of the film in its entirety, I avoided them.  I want my virgin experience to be on the big screen in my darkened living room.

HOWEVER, I came across this one clip which teased my SS desires.  Enjoy!

Love conquers all with violet light!

Decisions: Teen Titans and Superboy

I'm trying to lump together titles that intertwine or are at least related by character line.  These two are both.

Warning: Most likely contains spoilers.

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Issue #3

Teen Titans

Since I'd already covered two issues of TT, this will only cover Issue #3, but really, do I need to?

Re-cap:  So much is going on in this story line, it might take me as long to recap as it would take you to download and read.  Kid Flash rescues Solstice from the N.O.W.H.E.R.E. facility somewhere in the Antarctic, but because of the weather, and the muting of Solstice's powers, they don't make it too far. Bunker, on the run, hops a railway car on his search for Red Robin.  Instead he meets a gritty hobo traveling with a strange cocoon. After a brief scuffle, lo and behold, the hobo is Red Robin in disguise.  The two  stop in a town of mind-controlled citizens and RR meets Detritus, a self-sentient scrap metal beast with the ability to erase memories.  He's going to take over humanity.  Finally, Wondergirl confronts 1/3 of "Thrice" to grill him for more information on who hired him/them.  I have a feeling she'll have to beat it out of him.

What Soars: What doesn't?  The art in Teen Titans is amazing.  I'm ranking Brett Booth up there with Jim Lee and Ivan Reis.  I love the way he pencils with such interesting details.  Lobdell has an amazing ability to write a complex story that is so seamless, the reader is able to move through it without feeling lost or whiplashed.  There was so much I couldn't believe there were only 20 pages.  The humor is also HILARIOUS.  It's adult humor and juvenile humor all rolled into one.  Perhaps his ability to do this is why there is such great character development.  I feel like I know Bunker more in 10 pages then I know most other characters after several issues.  And no, it's not because I have a thing for gay latin guys. I do, but that's not why.

What Crashes:  Honestly, I can't say anything does.  OK, maybe I don't quite understand Bunker's powers yet and maybe he's a little too stereotypically latino twinkie flamboyantly gay, but he's a fucking riot.  And if the shoe fits...  Besides, this series is GREAT!

Decision: A definite keeper!  In fact, I've already downloaded the rest of the issues up to now.  Worth every penny, I'm sure.

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Issue #2

Superboy
Issue #2

Re-cap:  Superboy is released from the lab to team up with Rose Wilson to stop a "prison riot" where three aliens are trying to break free of a holding facility. Even though he is stopped physically, Superboy manages to take down the aliens and the entire facility with his powers of tactile telekenesis.  Rose Wilson barely manages to escape and return to the N.O.W.H.E.R.E. plane as the prison disintegrates.

What Soars: I am actually pretty impressed with the story.  There is enough action and plot to keep me engaged AND thinking this book is much longer than it actually is.  The great part is that Lobdell writes Teen Titans as well so the stories mesh well.

What Crashes:  I've said it before.  The art is abhorrent. It is so distracting, it keeps me from enjoying the story.  How many issues have to run before publishers decide to replace an artist?

Decision:  I hate to say it, but I had my mind made up on this one by the end of Issue #2.  While I think it would be a good companion to Teen Titans, I just can't justify following them both.  Because I like a variety of characters, I'm picking TT. Goodbye, Superboy.  I'll see you in a book where you're drawn much better. Maybe if Silva is replaced in the future, I'll pick you back up.

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