Earth's Mightiest Capos?

So, when I first read New Avengers #6, I thought the end discussion between Captain America and Iron Man was lame.

To begin, my problems with the scene already were as follows:

1. I am not a fan of Bendis' outside writing on this title. He will have events occur in the comic to satisfy one of his concepts for the title whether the concept works in the setting or not. For instance, before he took over Avengers, he would talk about Avengers Disassembled and say things like "The Avengers are lucky this has not ALREADY happened!" Then, in the actual comic, an almost random character (Falcon, Hawkeye, whichever) would all of a sudden give that exact same speech.

Weird.

In any event, Bendis has decided that Wolverine is the "Captain America" (i.e. the member who joins the team later but makes the team truly complete...sorta like that scene in Jerry Maguire) of the New Avengers (note that Wolverine, like Cap, first appeared in #4, wocka wocka wocka), so he writes Iron Man as telling Captain America that Wolverine is the "Captain America" of the New Avengers.

Never mind that it makes no sense (for one, the original Avengers were together for a couple of months before Cap joined, this team has been together for a long weekend - if that), Bendis wants him to be the "Captain America" of the New Avengers, so that is what is going to happen in the comic.

But whatever, it is annoying, but I am used to this kind of thing from writers, so it did not really bother me. I do not think it is good writing, but I do not think it was unusually bad.

2. Bendis put HIS reason for Wolverine joining the team over a much more logical reason that also would have connected the book to the events in Millar's Wolverine (events that are fairly major in scope).

In that title, Wolverine is working with SHIELD to atone for all the people he killed while brainwashed by the Hand. Meanwhile, he is at odds with the X-Men over the fact that he, well, killed a bunch of students and one of his teammates (as an aside, remember Millar's "I couldn't believe they let me kill this character!" tease for who the character Wolverine killed was? How did he say that stuff without laughing, knowing that he was talking about Northstar, who was featured in about ONE of the last 25 issues of X-Men - and was not even a MEMBER of the team until a couple of years ago!).

So wouldn't it make sense for him to work with the Avengers along the same lines? Atoning for all the murders he committed as a member of the Hand?

But, no, Bendis wants Wolverine to be the "Captain America" of New Avengers, and that doesn't fit with the other approach, so it was scrapped.

Silly.

However, silly is not that big of a deal either. I'm used to silly as well.

In fact, I would not even say this is poor writing - more like disappointing writing.

So I basically had just written off the issue and moved on when I saw this examination of the Cap/Iron Man scene by a fella named Den here. It was at this point that I realized that I was actually being too kind to the scene. I was not paying enough attention, and the scene was a good deal worse than I first thought.

Here are the lines from the comic:

Iron Man: Cap, you said this team came together by... fate. Your word. Just like the original Avengers... Right? Yes.

IM: Well, the original Avengers didn't truly come together... until that one last ingredient came into the mix. We needed one last ingredient.

And then when we found you......you were that one thing.

But for this team, for this situation, in this world...

IM: He is you. He is our missing ingredient.

Captain America: Tony, he's a murderer.

IM: He's a Samurai Warrior. After what happened to us with Wanda, after what we know happened here today-- We can't afford not to have him.

IM: We're going to need someone to go to that place that we can't. And you know exactly what I mean.

CA: I wish that wasn't true.

Then it goes into a discussion about how he's an X-Men, etc.

When I first read the scene, I thought Iron Man was saying to Cap that in today's world, the Avengers need a guy who is willing to kill if he has to (which also does not make much sense, as Cap would kill if he has to, as he has shown in the past, but whatever).

But as Den points out, and I now notice, that ISN'T what Iron Man is saying. What he is saying is that the Avengers need someone who can kill FOR them!!!!

"We're going to need someone to go to that place that we can't."

He is saying that Wolverine is going to be their hitman!!! They can't get their hands dirty, so they will let Wolverine do it.

What the hell is up with THAT?!?!

What a stupid idea!

Cap and Iron Man are hanging out, and Iron Man decides that they need someone to kill people for them!?!?!

And Cap AGREES!!

Wow.

That is some poor writing there.

I already wasn't a fan of the scene, but looking at it more carefully, that is a bad, bad scene.

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Asterix the Gaul - Groo Le Barbare

Today's "You Decide" is Asterix the Gaul (pick courtesty of Zaki), the 2004 edition of the 1961 French "album" (as Asterix stories are called) by writer René Goscinny and artist Albert Uderzo.

In any event, as per the title (which is what Groo is translated into in France), this comic is basically quite similar to Groo the Barbarian - and that is a good thing.

The story is set in 50 BC, where Rome has conquered all of Gaul.

All except one tiny village, where the druid Getafix has developed a formula to give people super strength, so the Romans are no match for the Gauls in the village, Asterix in particular.

As you may have noticed, the names are silly. This is quite intentional. All the characters have silly names.

Asterix, Getafix, Obelix, Cacophinix, Vitalstatistix.

The Roman soldiers are led by Crismus Bonus.

Lot of groaners here.

In any event, the plot of the comic is exceptionally simple. The Romans send in a spy to steal the secret of the Gauls' strength, then kidnap Getafix, and Asterix and Getafix must outwit the Romans to be free.

The humor is derived from slapstick and sight gags. It is the type of humor that is truly universal. This comic could have easily been written today without dropping a step.

Good job by Goscinny.

The art by Uderzo is a treat as well.

He is not as detailed of a comic artist as Aragonés, but shares the same gift of comical art.

This is not the deepest of stories, but it is a fun, well-told book that can be enjoyed by all ages, which is a rarity that I think should be commended.

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What I bought - 22 June 2005

Well, I'm a father again, but did that stop me from buying and reading comics? Hell no! I have a responsibility to the good readers of this wonderful blog to let them know what kind of good stuff is out there that they might have missed!

It was huge week, too. Let's begin!

Astro City: The Dark Age #1 by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson
$2.99, DC/Wildstorm

Busiek's monster AC saga (16 parts!) begins with a solid story, one that I think Busiek can do in his sleep. The story isn't revolutionary - the public is beginning to distrust superheroes at the same time that they're beginning to distrust the government - but Busiek's hook, telling the stories of superheroes but using regular folk as the focus, is a nice angle to take, because it lets us see that what these superheroes do - lots of property damage, mostly - could easily be construed as reckless and silly. It's a scary world when forces beyond your comprehension appear out of control. Ask people in Oklahoma during tornado season.

The story focuses on Charles and Royal Williams, brothers we met in the AC/Arrowsmith flipbook (you all have that, don't you?). Charles is a cop, and Royal a petty criminal. They still socialize, and Charles knows about Royal but lets it slide. Now, however, he warns him that heroes are starting to kill people, something Royal scoffs at. Meanwhile, the Silver Agent is arrested for murder (of a foreign head of state!) and the Old Soldier appears to be fighting for North Vietnam. No one knows what's what anymore.

This is a nice issue. Busiek is making several comments on the comic book industry and the United States as well, without being to preachy about it. If T is reading this, he's probably upset because the Old Soldier is fighting for the Commies, but it's an interesting take on what Busiek has carefully set up throughout the series as a superhero who fights for America. For the past 30 years, this country has had to deal with whether or not we're fighting for the ideals we espouse. That's something for another day, but Busiek has been very clever with his use of the Old Soldier up until now, so when he does show up fighting for the Viet Cong (and, to be honest, he's not really fighting for them, just preventing the U.S. military from destroying a village), we're forced to reconsider what we know about him. Similarly, Busiek (who, from his writing, does not like the "dark" turn comics has taken) is taking shots at the comics of the 1970s, when Batman became gritty and the Punisher showed up. When Royal shouts, "They don't kill, Charles!", it's a cri de couer by all the young comics fans back in the 1970s and '80s, when everyone started killing everyone else. Fascinating.

After the slightly disappointing "Local Heroes" arc of Astro City, this is a fine return to form for Busiek. He keeps promising that the book will be monthly, but we'll see. It doesn't matter though, because it terms of superhero comics, this is one of the better books out there.

Catwoman #44 by Will Pfeifer and Pete Woods
$2.50, DC

Yes, I bought Catwoman. It's the first time I ever bought an issue that wasn't part of one of those godawful Bat-crossovers in the 1990s. Why did I buy it? Because Pfeifer seems like a cool dude. That's pretty weak, I know, but what the hell. I liked some of his H-E-R-O stories, and as he pointed out to me a few months ago, he wrote the Jill Thompson-illustrated Dazzler story in X-Men Unlimited a few years ago, which is awesome, so I thought I'd check it out.

So, how is it? It's pretty good. The art is beautiful. I know Woods has been around for a bit, but I don't think I've ever seen his art. For shame, I know. It's fantastic. He doesn't draw Selina with impossibly large breasts, and everything looks sufficiently grungy without being too dirty. As for the story ... well, it's a nice little heist caper, and it's enough to bring me back, because I like the characterization of Selina. Pfeifer does a nice job getting her free-wheeling attitude, as well as her love of her part of the city. I did not like the inclusion of Hush or the Ventriloquist, especially because the Ventriloquist is dead, isn't he? Did I miss something? Maybe this story was written before that, but I thought he was dead. As for Hush, that story has completely bled out of my brain - who the hell is he? That Tommy character? I don't know, and I don't care. That was a weak part of the story. I'm intrigued enough to stick with it for this arc, but we'll see after that. Pfeifer's a cool guy, though - check out his blog.

Dream Police by J. Michael Straczynski and Mike Deodato
$3.99, Marvel/Icon

Dream Police is a one-shot by the current team on Amazing Spider-Man, and while it's not bad, it's not worth 4 dollars. Deodato's art has come a long way since his days on Wonder Woman, and it's very pretty here. But the story, while clever, is inconsequential. Joe Thursday and his partner Frank Stanford are cops in the world of dreams, and they make sure everyone is playing nice. That means finding a guy who gave a nun erotic dreams, making sure a dream echo (a memory, basically) does what it's supposed to do, and reining in a kid whose monster dream has gotten out of control. Like I said, it's clever, and JMS is obviously chock full of ideas, but it's kind of pointless. I don't know if Marvel is testing this to see if it would make a good series (or - God help us! - a six-issue mini-series), or if JMS used his clout to simply put out one book, but it's kind of a strange issue. Anyone out there know anything?

The Gift #12 by Raven Gregory and Rich Bonk
$2.99, Image

Boy, Gregory gets raked over the coals on the Internet a lot, doesn't he? I don't know how much of it is justified, I'm just saying. I mentioned after last issue that this one might decide for me whether I'm keeping it, and I'm still on the fence. This was a good issue, as Death and the Ancient One talk about their relationship, and a lot of clues about what's ahead are dropped. I still do not like the art, however, and no matter what artist works on this, it doesn't seem to get better. Strange. It's also not as good as it should be, if that makes sense. Gregory obviously has a lot of ambition, and I admire that, but sometimes his writing is a bit clunky. His exposition is clumsy, and his attempts at vagueness are too vague. It just seems like there are a lot of words in each issue that don't mean anything. When issue #13 comes out, I will stand in the comics shoppe and page through it, weighing whether I want to buy it or not. That's no way to live!

Girls #2 by Joshua and Jonathan Luna
$2.95, Image

Here's another book I want to like more than I do. It's better than issue #1, because Ethan is not quite as big a dick, but he's still pretty much a tool. The ending is pretty wild, and makes me want to come back next month, but we'll see if I stick with it. My problem with this is - I don't like any of the characters. This is a pretty character-driven book, so that's a problem. Sigh. I want to like it, I do! Oh, and there are evil rednecks. I just don't like evil rednecks. It seems like such a stupid cliché. Boring.

GrimJack: Killer Instinct #5 by John Ostrander and Timothy Truman

Brian said I'd be happy about this, and he was right. Holy crap, it's still good. The action is well-paced and furious, the characterization is excellent, the surprises are wonderful and I, at least, didn't see them coming, and everything is still up in the air, even though the plot is moving furiously. This is a great mini-series. You must buy the trade if you're not buying the issues. Do it for the children!

The Iron Ghost #2 by Chuck Dixon and Sergio Cariello
$2.95, Image

Brian also mentioned that this is right in Dixon's wheelhouse, and it really is. There's nothing earth-shattering about this book, just a nice, solid read. The Ghost kills some more Nazis, including a radio announcer who reads propaganda about how the Germans are winning the war. The cops continue to investigate, and they discover something interesting about the Ghost's pistols. The Ghost lets witnesses live (a young boy and a woman), which will come back to haunt him, I'll reckon. The decay and decadence of 1945 Berlin are on display. Like I said, nothing earth-shattering, but a good book.

Livewires #5 by Adam Warren, Rick Mays, Jason Martin and Norm Rapmund
$2.99, Marvel

Wow, that's a cool cover. This is basically a big chase issue, and bad things continue to happen to our little group of fake people. I don't think I'm spoiling too much when I say everyone "dies" except for Stem Cell. You had to know it was coming, right? The cool thing about it is that Warren has made us care about these characters in just a few issues, and the chase scene is so well done and drawn that not only are we a bit sad when they die, we're eagerly turning the pages to see how they're going to die! That's pretty cool. I doubt very much if this series is selling anywhere near a good number, but it really is a good book, and if Marvel brings out a trade, you should snap it up. It's really neat.

Noble Causes #11 by Jay Faerber and Fran Bueno
$3.50, Image

See now, this is why I stick with a book like Noble Causes. Yes, it's a chunk of change, and yes, the art isn't great (it's fine, but not great), but Faerber obviously loves the book and has a nice plan for it and tells each story meticulously and so that everything ties together. Unlike Raven Gregory's writing, there's nothing clunky about the dialogue here, and everything is explained so that, even though these stories started MONTHS ago, you're not lost. A nice issue that brings elements we've been following together and sets up more stories. It's harder than it looks, but Faerber makes it look effortless. And Rusty tells Race he cries "like a woman." Funny stuff.

Otherworld #4 by Phil Jimenez and Andy Lanning
$2.99, DC/Vertigo

Well, I'm done. This just isn't doing it for me. It's beautiful, and the story isn't bad, but it's too slow and simplistic. Yes, I said simplistic. Factions fighting each other, no one trusts anyone else, a paradise that's really rotten underneath - we've read it all before. I want to support Jimenez's work, for a couple of reasons: he's a very good artist who actually knows how to write; I liked his work on Wonder Woman; he's gay. That last may seem a stupid reason, but it's my reason, damn it, and I'm allowed it. But, sorry Phil, fabulous fashion sense of no, I can't keep up. Add all that to the fact that DC is putting this on hiatus (or are they canceling it?) just so Jimenez can pencil that Crisis thing they have coming up (George Perez, last time I looked, isn't dead), and that tears it. Good-bye, Otherworld. May you find sanctuary elsewhere.

Sea Of Red #3 by Rick Remender, Kieron Dwyer, and Salgood Sam
$2.95, Image

Sea Of Red, on the other hand, gets better and better. This is turning into a really fun book, one in which you can never tell what's going to happen. Joel is even a bigger dick in this issue, but unlike Ethan in Girls, he's a charismatic dick. Just when we think we have a handle on the story, along come sea monsters from the Black Lagoon and start killing people. I honestly had no idea what was going to happen from page to page, which is a great way to read a comic. I know some of you crazy people out there have an aversion to pirate comics and vampire comics, but you really should check this out. The trade paperback should be out soon, so pre-order yours today if you can't find the issues! It's really fun. And I'm still loving the red art. It's unlike anything out there.

Supreme Power #17 by J. Michael Straczynski, Gary Frank, Jon Sibal and Mark Morales
$2.99, Marvel/MAX

I know a lot of people aren't reading Supreme Power because it moves slowly, but that's a pretty lame cop-out, isn't it? I drop books because they move slowly, sure, but if they're moving slowly in a lousy direction, or there's really nothing going on in each issue, as opposed to just not a lot. I mean, Ultimate Nightmare #2 is the slowest thing in the comics universe, and the only reason I kept buying the title was because I knew it was a mini-series and would be forced sooner or later to come to the point. If that had been an open-ended series (I'm looking at you, Iron Man!), no way would I have kept buying it!

All I'm saying is, yes, Supreme Power moves slowly. Mike Sterling cut and pasted a review of the book that completely misses the point. Yes, "Batman" is black. So is the "Flash." And "Wonder Woman" walks around naked a lot. That's just idiotic snarking, though, and it ignores the book's brilliance at really getting under the skin of superheroes and what it means to have power. Mark Milton can't even go to a strip bar, for crying out loud! What's a superhero to do? Actually the strip bar scene is interesting for the very fact that it shows what Superman must actually see with his X-ray vision - and why it might not be the best thing to have. We get a little more tantalizing clues about Dr. Spectrum's spectrum and Kingsley's connection to Zarda, and this little bit is enough to keep the story going and keep everything intriguing. This is a fine comic book, and one that keeps gets more and more fascinating as it goes along.

Ultimate X-Men #60 by Brian K. Vaughan, Stuart Immonen, and Wade von Grawbadger
$2.50, Marvel

Ah, yes, my popcorn title. My junk food title. We all need a little junk food in our diet, don't we? It can't all be serious, can it? I just dig this book. I don't apologize for it! The biggest problem I have with this issue is Immonen's drawing of Logan. What the hell is up with his hair? The fight scene between Deathstrike and Wolverine is nicely done, Wolverine's weakness is a little silly but still plausible, and I like how in this comic, unlike the "regular" X-Men, people sometimes die and the heroes sometimes cause them to. It's not like it doesn't happen, and even though I wouldn't like it if everyone in the book became crazed killers, it's nice to see collateral damage occasionally. I like how these characters are revealed to us, with their actions and interactions and not through dialogue. I like dialogue, but sometimes it's overdone. Here, we learn a lot about Logan and Ororo even though they don't talk too much. It's nifty.

Crap, that's a bunch of stuff. Let it rip, people! Tell me what a fool I am!

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Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #4!

This is the fourth in a series of examinations of comic book urban legends and whether they are true or false. The first one can be found here , the second can be found here and the third can be found here.

Let's start!!

COMIC URBAN LEGEND: Artist Joe Jusko dressed up as Captain America for the cover of a comic book.

STATUS: True

Artist Joe Jusko is well known for his comic book paintings (amongst other paintings he does).

In fact, here is a sample of his art on a Captain America print...



However, that is not Jusko's only Captain America experience - for in 1982, he posed wearing a Captain America costume on the cover of Marvel Team-Up #128.



Jusko is a big man, so he certainly fills out the Cap costume well.

COMIC URBAN LEGEND: DC changed the outcome of a comic book because the original ending had been leaked to the public.

STATUS: True

For conspiracy theories regarding moves in the comic book industry to really truly exist, there must be some precedent for said moves.

The ending of the Armageddon 2001 mini-series is an example on which all future conspiracy theories rest.

In 1991, DC had a summer crossover among all their annuals. A man from a future ruled by a despotic former superhero named Monarch travelled from 2001 to 1991, to discover what former hero became Monarch.

This man, Waverider, had the power to see people's futures upon making physical contact with them.

Each of the annuals that year he would check out the future of those characters, so each annual would be a story of the future.

In any event, DC had it planned to be Captain Atom to be revealed as Monarch. However, news of this event had leaked well before it was revealed (or, as one other rumor goes, the folks who licensed Captain Atom to DC were not pleased with DC making him a big villain - but that is unlikely to be the real reason, as people on the "inside" all refer to the incident as "the news was leaked, so we had to change it quickly").

Hawk, from Hawk & Dove, ended up being the sacrificial lamb.

Here is Barbara Kesel, writer of Hawk & Dove, on the topic (courtesy of the great resource Titans Tower):

Let's get one thing clear: that wasn't a planned ending of Hawk and Dove. That awful story was an Armageddon 2000 special created after somebody at DC spilled the beans about Captain Atom's being Monarch. Then, a small number of people worked feverishly to find some other character to sacrifice, and since H&D had just been cancelled! "

If you've ever pitied anyone, pity Jonathan Peterson, the poor person who had to give me the news. I wasn't pleased, and wasn't shy about sharing. If there's anything I hate with a passion, it's characters behaving out of character, especially when it involves a smart woman being stupid for no reason. H&D becoming Monarch could have been a clever idea: if they BOTH became the character, their innately opposite natures could explain a schizophrenic villain. As it was... it was a last-minute fix that sucked.

COMIC URBAN LEGEND: Nicolas Cage took his last name from Luke Cage, Hero For Hire

STATUS: True, depending on when you talk to Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage originally began acting under his birth name, Nicolas Coppola, which reflected the fact that he was the nephew of acclaimed director, Francis Ford Coppola.

However, since he did not want to appear like (in his words) "some nepotistic asshole," he decided to take a stage name.

The origin of the last name choice, though, has changed over the years. Originally, Cage (an avid comic collector, with a collection once worth in the millions, before he sold it recently) was quite up front about the fact that he took the name from the comic character, Luke Cage.

In the last decade or so, though, Cage has also begun citing the avant-garde musician John Cage as the inspiration for the name.

So they both could be influences, I suppose, or a more cynical person would say that he wanted a more "sophisticated" inspiration behind his name when he became an Oscar-winning actor.

I will let you all draw your own conclusions.

So there you go!

Feel free to suggest urban legends you'd like to see debunked (or confirmed) in a future installment!

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Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed History

Here are quick descriptions of each of the previous editions of Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed.

To see if they are true or false, you have to click on the link!

#1 - Jim Shooter wrote comic books when he was 13 years old.

Mark Gruenwald's ashes were mixed in with the printing of a comic book.

DC must publish at least four issues of Wonder Woman a year or else lose the rights to the property.


#2 - Youngblood was a reworking of a pitch Rob Liefeld made to DC for Team Titans.

Jim Steranko was the inspiration for the escape artist character in Michael Chabon's Kavalier and Klay as well as Jack Kirby's Mister Miracle.

Fawcett Comics had to stop publishing Captain Marvel because it lost a copyright lawsuit brought by DC Comics.


#3 - Al Milgrom was fired by Marvel after sneaking an insult to Bob Harras into a comic book.

Wonder Girl was added to the Teen Titans by mistake.

Swamp Thing is a rip-off of Man-Thing/Man-Thing is a rip-off of Swamp Thing.


#4 - Artist Joe Jusko dressed up as Captain America for the cover of a comic book.

DC changed the outcome of a comic book because the original ending had been leaked to the public.

Nicolas Cage took his last name from Luke Cage, Hero For Hire.


#5 - All-Star Comics #3 was an inter-company crossover.

Marvel changed the names of X-Force, Deadpool and Cable to avoid paying Rob Liefeld royalties.

Woody Allen was once featured in an issue of DC's Showcase.


#6 - After the Captain Marvel decision, DC bought Fawcett's characters.

DC had a Superman storyline set during the Holocaust that did not mention the word "Jew" or "Jewish."

Mark Bagley got his start by winning the original Marvel Try-Out Contest.


#7 - DC had an ongoing comic that simply repackaged old TV tie-in comics.

The woman on the cover of House of Secrets #92 (Swamp Thing's first appearance) is Louise Simonson.

Superman once got into trouble for spilling American nuclear secrets.


#8 - Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, the Daily Planet and Kryptonite all appeared on the Superman radio show before they ever appeared in the comic book.

C.C. Beck based Captain Marvel's appearance on a movie where Fred MacMurray daydreams about being a superhero.

A DC comic character invented in 1964 did not make his debut until 1992.


#9 - Marvel and DC own the trademark of the word "Super Hero."

DG Chichester left Daredevil with #332.

Christopher Priest killed off a character in a comic because of ownership rights.


#10 - DC dictated the format of Marvel comics for more than a decade.

Thunderstrike was outselling Thor and Avengers combined when it was cancelled.

Charlton printed its comics using a cereal box press.


#11 - Marvel killed off a Thunderbolts character because of a rights problem.

John Byrne left Jack Kirby off of the 20th anniversary cover of Fantastic Four.

Roger Stern left Avengers over Captain Marvel's leadership of the team.


#12 - Marvel HAS to publish a Captain Marvel comic book.

Lisa Marie Presley made Nicolas Cage sell his comic collection.

Aquaman's first cover appearance was with the Justice League, nineteen years after he first appeared!


#13 - Justice Society of America was cancelled for a reason other than sales.

The Protector was created to co-star with the Titans in the pages of their Anti-Drug comic book.

In 1975, Marvel came up with four new titles in one lunch.


#14 - Destiny and Mystique were intended to be Nightcrawler's parents.

Marvel Comics licenses the use of the name "Hulk" to Hulk Hogan.

For almost a decade, there were born again Christian comics produced starring the Archie characters.


#15 - Walt Simonson based the concept of the Time Variance Authority in his Fantastic Four run on the Time Lords from Doctor Who.

Kevin Smith killed off Mysterio without permission from the Spider-Man office.

Mickey Spillane wrote comic books.


#16 - Steve Skeates reworked an unused issue of Aquaman as an issue of another comic for ANOTHER company - TWICE!

The Human Torch was replaced by H.E.R.B.I.E. in the Fantastic Four cartoon because the network was afraid that kids would, inspired by the Torch, set themselves on fire.

Steve Englehart brought a character with him from Marvel to not one, but TWO other comic companies!


#17 - Steve Ditko does not use the original art that Marvel has returned to him, except sometimes as CUTTING BOARDS!

Robert Loren Fleming is dead.

The first Marvel/DC crossover was The Wizard of Oz.


#18 - The recent Norman Osborn/Gwen Stacy relationship in Amazing Spider-Man was never intended to occur!

The Golden Age Green Lantern's name was originally Alan Ladd.

Elliot S! Maggin's big break came from a story he got from Jeph Loeb!


#19 - Dave Cockrum once sold the same character to both DC and Marvel...at the same time!!!

Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston invented the polygraph test!

John Byrne wrote TWO separate first issues of Blood of the Demon!


#20 - The characters in Watchmen were originally meant to be based on a defunct line of superheroes.

When Len Wein created the "All New, All Different" X-Men, he created Thunderbird with the intention of killing him off two issues later, which is what he did.

A character once escaped from X-Men custody in 1977 and did not have the plot resolved into another comic book...thirteen years later!!


#21 - Wolverine was initially intended to be a genetically mutated wolverine.

Superman's secret identity was made up by combining the first names of two popular pulp heroes.

Dazzler's life was saved by Marc Silvestri.


#22 - Joker was originally killed off in his SECOND appearance!

Marv Wolfman created Black Cat as a foil for the Amazing Spider-Man

Renee Montoya was invented for the cartoon show before she appeared in the comic books.


#23 - Bruce Banner got a new first name due to Stan Lee's forgetfulness

The recently killed off Phantom Lady, Human Bomb and Black Condor are in the public domain and are not actually owned by DC, therefore with their deaths, anyone can now come along and publish stories about them

Speedball was invented for the New Universe.


#24 - Marvel UK turned Killraven into "Apeslayer."

James Robinson decided to kill off a group of superheroes to show how deadly Jack Knight's ememy, The Mist, was.

Joe Orlando illustrated the famous depictions of Sea Monkeys.


#25 - DC was forced to change La Renard Rouge ("The Red Fox")'s name to "Crimson Fox

Grant Morrison's script for BULLETEER didn't actually request that level of cheesecake, and certainly didn't ask for the lead character to spend most of the issue in her underwear.

The film Hardware just took the movie's story from a 2000 AD comic.


#26 - US Postal Laws made for some interesting comic title transitions.

Hank Pym appeared in comics BEFORE the Fantastic Four!

The DC character Triumph was gay.


#27 - Firebreather was originally the son of Fin Fang Foom

Devin Grayson named herself after Dick Grayson.

John Byrne's 2112 was initially designed as a launch of Marvel 2099.


#28 - Spider-Woman was created by Marvel to secure a trademark.

Akira Yoshida is a pseudonym.

Spider-Woman ended up getting Wolverine's original origin.


#29 - Kurt Busiek came up with the idea for Jean Grey's return.

Triathlon was gay.

Kurt Busiek was NOT the first choice for Untold Tales of Spider-Man


#30 - Frank Brunner and Steve Englehart faked a fan letter to themselves.

Mike Deodato used to draw four books a month during the mid-90s.

Ferro Lad was originally meant to be black.


#31 - Frank Miller's lack of interest in Batman continuity ended up with Barbara Gordon being adopted.

Jack Kirby drew the very first cover featuring Spider-Man.

Steve Englehart protested an editorial decison by Marvel by using the pseudonym John Harkness.


#32 - The GI Joe series was partially based on a previous Marvel pitch Larry Hama made to Marvel.

The famous "Silent Issue" of GI Joe was originally meant to have dialogue in it, but it was left out due to some sort of error.

One of the G.I. Joes was based upon Larry Hama himself.


#33 - Marvel is sitting on an unpublished Peter Bagge Hulk comic book.

Stan Lee created the Black Marvel

Aquaman was not from Atlantis for his first eighteen years of existence.


#34 - Jimmy Carter's diplomatic policies led to the Contest of Champions.

Kieron Dwyer is John Byrne's son.

DC produced a completely different version of Emerald Twilight before it was scrapped.


#35 - Elliot S! Maggin's first comic book work was originally written for a college class.

Wolverine's costume was patterned in part on the uniforms of the Michigan Wolverines football team.

Ernie Chan had to be credited under a different name for years due to a typographical error.



#36 - Rob Liefeld once drew a book in landscape style without being asked, leading to the book having to be cut and paste to look like a normal comic book.

Simon Bisley once drew a penis on Lobo's arm on a comic cover.

Batman and Superman began to team-up because of inflation



#37 - Elvis Presley based his famous hairstyle upon Captain Marvel, Jr.

The character Nightveil had to take her name because of violating a DC Comics trademark.

Steve Ditko once had a story censored for using the devil in a comic.


#38 - Electronic ankle bracelet monitors were created based on a Spider-Man comic strip.

Frank Miller coined the term "The Dark Knight"

Green Lantern lost the cover of his own comic book to his dog.


#39 - An artist who wrote and drew a comic book adventure of fighter pilots became an actual flying ace himself during World War II.

A change in postal laws led to the elimination of letters pages in DC comic books.

The Comics Code Authority once banned not the content of a comic, but the art style of the artist.


#40 - The Hulk is green because of poor color separations.

Chuck Austen was J.D. Finn

William Gaines pretty-much single-handedly destroyed 3-D comic books.


#41 - Jack Kirby sued Marvel Comics.

Marvel changed the name of the Black Panther because of the political group by the same name.

Blue Beetle was originally going to star in a weekly comic anthology BEFORE DC came up with Action Comics Weekly.

#42 -
Gerry Conway did not intend to include the "snap" in the death of Gwen Stacy

The woman who was the titular basis for Kitty Pryde has since changed her name due to unwanted comic book fan attention.

Apocalypse was originally going to be the Owl.

#43 -
Julie Schwartz once had to write a comic story in a day because of an mistaken cover instruction

When Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Steve McNiven began work on their Fantastic Four run, it was intended to appear in the pages of the regular Fantastic Four

Dr. Strange has a daughter named Sofia.

#44 -
The original ending of Marvel vs. DC involved the two companies swapping two characters, but this ending was changed due to external pressure.

Almost all the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club were based on famous actors, both visually and titularly

Fred Hembeck Destroys the Marvel Universe was held back for five years because of Justice League of America vs. The Avengers.

#45 -
She-Hulk was created based upon a rumor.

Mad became a magazine because of the Comics Code.

Alan Scott intentionally created a garish costume.

#46 -
Dave Cockrum's resignation letter from Marvel was placed into an issue of Iron Man as a prank.

Orson Welles once teamed up with Superman.

Michael Fleisher's Spectre issues had so many problems with script continuity that they needed a separate writer to keep the continuity straight.

#47 -
Marty Nodell created the Pillsbury Doughboy.

New editions of Grant Morrison's Zenith tradepaperbacks were printed but are currently stuck in a London warehouse due to rights issues.

Marty Pasko wrote a short prose story for Marvel Comics under the name "Kyle Christopher."

#48 -
Dazzler was created as a cross-promotion between Marvel and Casablanca Records.

DC stopped letting writers edit their own titles in an attempt at squeezing Jack Kirby from the company.

John Byrne's first Fantastic Four work as writer/artist originally was meant for a Coca-Cola giveaway."


#49 -
In the comic books, Superman was declared 4-F because he accidentally read the eye chart in another room with his X-Ray vision.

The Spectre had a comic relief sidekick.

Wildcat was inspired to become a superhero by the comic book character Green Lantern."

#50 -
John Romita broke into comics pretending to ink for penciller, while the penciller was actually inking Romita's pencils!

The Super-books were not going to marry Clark and Lois until the TV show got involved.

Venom was originally going to be a woman.


Ta da!

Current Comics Report for 6/22

This is a report about what I think about the comics of this week, based upon Diamond's Shipping This Week list, as reprinted below, with my (sometimes quite snarky, so be forewarned) comments.

Certain sections of the Current Report on the 6/22 Comic Book Week contain forward-looking statements that are based on my expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which include but are not limited to projections of books being good, writing performance, character flaws, artistic coolness and continued title stability.

Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Prognasticators Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results and trends may differ materially from what is forecast in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation:

• A book being better than I thought it would be;

• A different creative team on a book;

• A different type of story than I thought it was;

• Differences in anticipated and actual performance by the writer and/or artist

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report or, in the case of any document incorporated by reference, the date of that document.All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to me are qualified by the cautionary statements in this section...

Shipping This Week: June 22, 2005

DARK HORSE

MAR050089 BECI ORPIN PRINCESS TINA JOURNAL $9.99
MAR050088 BECI ORPIN PRINCESS TINA STATIONERY SET $4.99
APR050021 CONAN #17 $2.99

This storyline opened up quite nicely. I estimate that this will be more of the same.

JAN050054 DOCTOR SOLAR MAN OF THE ATOM VOL 2 HC $49.95
APR050017 HELLBOY THE ISLAND #1 (OF 2) $2.99

I believe that this will be super cool.

MAR050045 JACKSON 500 VOL 1 HC $14.95
MAY050099 KOTOBUKIYA DARTH VADER SOFT VINYL MODEL KIT (O/A) $99.99
MAR050048 LITTLE LULU VOL 4 SUNDAY AFTERNOON TP $9.95

I predict that there will be some sort of printing error involved in this product.

DEC040019 MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER VOL 2 4000 AD HC $49.95

Pricey, but think about it, it's HALF the price of a Darth Vader model kit!

APR050020 MAN WITH THE SCREAMING BRAIN #2 (OF 4) $2.99
JAN050053 MANGA DARKCHYLDE #2 (OF 5) $2.99

This reminds me sorta of when Pulido tried to reinvent Lady Death for Crossgen. Those brand names...they must be protected at all times!

JAN050110 MIRROR MASK PVC SET #3 $14.99

Why do people still make PVCs in this modern age of super articulated figures?

APR050083 MUSICAL WAR OF THE WORLDS 15 OZ LOGO MUG $14.99
DEC040040 NAIL VOL 1 TP (MR) $14.95
FEB050066 STEVE RUDE THE MOTH VOL 1 TP $12.95
MAR050080 WHATS MICHAEL VOL 10 SLEEPLESS NIGHTS TP $8.95

DC COMICS

APR050389 ASTRO CITY THE DARK AGE #1 (OF 16) (RES) $2.99

Who else is as happy as I am to see (of 16), as it means that we are pretty much guaranteed 15 more issues of Astro City after this, at least?

Too cool.

APR050310 BATMAN JEKYLL AND HYDE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
APR050402 BOOKS OF MAGICK LIFE DURING WARTIME #12 (MR) $2.75
APR050314 CATWOMAN #44 $2.50

Okay, so THIS is the first issue of Will Pfeifer's run! I expect it to be good.

MAR058201 DAY OF VENGEANCE #1 THIRD PTG $2.50
APR058283 DAY OF VENGEANCE #2 SECOND PTG $2.50
APR050331 DOOM PATROL #13 $2.50

Byrne and Hypertime! An interesting match!

APR050345 HUMAN RACE #4 (OF 7) $2.99
APR050385 INCAL VOL 2 THE EPIC JOURNEY TP (MR) $19.99
APR050406 JOHN CONSTANTINE HELLBLAZER SPECIAL PAPA MIDNITE #5 (OF 5) ( $2.99

Gotta love series that start up tied in to movies that seem quite odd months after the movie has come and gone...

APR050347 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #7 $2.99
APR050369 MAD MAGAZINE #455 $3.99
APR050410 NEIL GAIMANS NEVERWHERE #1 (OF 9) (MR) $2.99

So wait, is this just a straight adaptation?

APR050412 OTHERWORLD #4 (OF 12) (MR) $2.99

I predict there will be a panel in this comic where the word balloon is so large that it obscures the character speaking it.

APR050367 POWERPUFF GIRLS #63 $2.25
APR050317 ROBIN #139 $2.50

I know some folks out there do not like McDaniel's art, but I think most everyone would agree, in this case, he is an improvement.

APR050381 SEIMADEN VOL 1 $9.99
APR050354 TEEN TITANS #25 $2.50
APR050361 TEEN TITANS GO #20 $2.25

As a fun little aside, you should take both issues of Teen Titans (I really want someone to do this, consarnit!) and have a youngster read them both.

I estimate that while they might think Clark's art is "cooler," they will much more enjoy J. Torres' story.

But I want to know if I am right!

Someone do this experiment for me, please!

APR050300 YEAR ONE BATMAN SCARECROW #2 (OF 2) $5.99

IMAGE

APR051673 FLAMING CARROT COMICS #3 (NOTE PRICE) $3.50
APR051677 GIRLS #2 (MR) $2.95

Let us hope that the Luna brothers work overtime to make their protagonist less of a total prick.

FEB051578 GRAY AREA VOL 1 ALL OF THIS CAN BE YOURS HC SGN $39.95

$39.95?

Isn't that about what issue #1 cost retail?

APR051681 IRON GHOST #2 (OF 6) $2.95

This really IS in Chuck Dixon's wheelhouse, this story.

MAY051563 LIBERTY MEADOWS VOL 3 SUMMER OF LOVE TP $14.95
MAR051735 MONSTER WAR TOMB RAIDER VS WOLF MEN #2 (OF 4) $2.99

I believe that I have never heard of a better title of a comic book in my entire life.

MAR051695 NOBLE CAUSES #11 $3.50
JUL041775 SAVAGE DRAGON GOD WAR #3 (Of 3) $2.95
MAR051703 SEA OF RED #3 (MR) $2.95

Hmmm...does Image add the MR warning, or is that Diamond?

APR051676 THE GIFT #12 $2.99

MARVEL

APR051892 BLACK PANTHER #5 $2.99

In this issue, we learn that Wakanda invented skateboards, pizza and velcro.

MAR051904 CAPTAIN AMERICA #7 $2.99
APR051965 CAPTAIN AMERICA & FALCON VOL 2 BROTHERS & KEEPERS TP $17.99

This storyline, however, was not a keeper.

MAR051895 DAREDEVIL REDEMPTION #5 (OF 6) $2.99
APR051945 DREAM POLICE #1 $3.99

I estimate that this will not be as cool as Cheap Trick would leave you to believe.

FEB058519 FANTASTIC FOUR DIRECTORS CUT #527 $3.99

Director's Cut?

Does that mean JMS gets to show the FF if it was done like Supreme Power?

If so, then a lot of horny Sue Richards fans will soon be in luck.

APR051902 FANTASTIC FOUR FOES #6 (OF 6) $2.99

This works as a fill-in arc, but not really all that well as its own mini-series.

APR051953 FANTASTIC FOUR OMNIBUS HC PI

Really?

Please Inquire?

I have a hard time believing Marvel doesn't know how much this thing is.

FEB058041 FANTASTIC FOUR OMNIBUS HC VARIANT DUST JACKET (PP #665) PI

Now THIS baby, I can believe that the price changes every minute!

APR051899 FANTASTIC FOUR THE MOVIE #1 $4.99
APR051868 HOUSE OF M #2 (OF 8) $2.99

This isn't the one that will break the internet in half, is it?

Make sure to tell me, so I will cancel my Verizon account that week.

JAN058161 HOUSE OF M DODSON VARIANT COVER #2 (OF 8) $2.99
APR051880 LAST HERO STANDING #4 (OF 5) $2.99

Have I told you all how nice I think it is that Tom DeFalco has his own little private playground where he can just relive all his old comics?

I haven't?

Well, I do.
APR051908 LIVEWIRES #5 (OF 6) $2.99
APR051923 MARVEL ADVENTURES FLIP MAGAZINE #1 $3.99

I hope this works out!

APR051970 MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS WOLVERINE CLASSIC VOL 1 TP $12.99

This is a good idea, I think. They have all these Wolverine stories, they might as well print them!

APR051959 MARVEL MASTERWORKS GOLDEN AGE SUB-MARINER VOL 1 HC VAR ED $54.99
APR051958 MARVEL MASTERWORKS GOLDEN AGE SUB-MARINER VOL 1 NEW ED HC $49.99

Wow.

Seriously?

Is Marvel seriously charging an extra five bucks for a variant Golden Age Sub-Mariner hardcover?

Yikes.

FEB051909 NEW AVENGERS #6 $2.25
SEP048065 NEW AVENGERS #6 HITCH VARIANT $2.25

FINALLY!

I can now tear off the covers of all my variants and make a giant poster!

What?

That's not what everyone else is doing with their variant copies?

APR051927 NEW X-MEN #15 $2.99
APR051966 NEW X-MEN ACADEMY X VOL 2 HAUNTED TP $12.99
APR051931 NIGHTCRAWLER #7 $2.99

I really am enjoying Aguirre-Sacasa's take on this book. He's using it to tell tales that you can't in the main X-Books.

APR051935 ROGUE #12 $2.99

It is really weird that this series, of all series, is being followed, continuity-wise.

APR051912 SPELLBINDERS #4 (OF 6) $2.99
APR051869 SPIDER-MAN HOUSE OF M #1 (OF 5) $2.99

As there really is only one issue worth of story here (it's a What If..? issue, basically), I predict a draaaaaaaaaawn out plot.

APR051942 SUPREME POWER #17 (MR) $2.99
APR051873 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #20 $2.50

I predict that this will be an enjoyable story by Carey.

APR051874 ULTIMATE X-MEN #60 $2.50
APR051938 WOLVERINE SOULTAKER #5 (OF 5) $2.99

WIZARD

APR052480 WIZARD ANIME INSIDER KODOCHA CVR #22 $5.99
APR052479 WIZARD ANIME INSIDER NARUTO CVR #22 $5.99

COMICS

APR053063 2000 AD #1441 $4.10
APR053064 2000 AD #1442 $4.10
MAY052571 ALAN MOORES HYPOTHETICAL LIZARD TAROT CVR #2 (OF 4) $3.99
APR053074 ANGEL FIRE GN $17.95

You know who is really good?

Steve Parkhouse.

JAN052471 APC PREVIEW 2005 $3.50
APR052635 ARCHIE #558 $2.25
APR052735 ART OF JIM BALENT MAGICK IN B&W #1 $14.99

Jim Balent is magick ANYwhere!

APR053105 BATTLE ROYALE VOL 13 GN (OF 14) (MR) $9.99
APR052731 BEAUTIFUL THINGS GN $13.99
APR053101 BECK MONGOLIAN CHOP SQUAD VOL 1 GN (OF 19) $9.99
APR053319 BECKETTS FOOTBALL CARD PLUS SUMMER 05 #15 $9.99

DAMN YOU, DIAMOND!

You made me think that Beckett finally listend to my pleas and made a comic version of their sporting card price guides!

Instead, it is just a placement error.

I'll remember this, Diamond.

APR053106 BLADE OF HEAVEN VOL 3 GN (OF 15) $9.99
MAR053055 BONEYARD #18 $2.95

I estimate that this issue will be trippy.

APR053107 BOYS BE VOL 5 GN (OF 20) (MR) $9.99
MAY052562 BRIAN PULIDOS BELLADONNA NOUVEAU ED #5 (OF 5) $5.99
MAY052639 BRIAN PULIDOS LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE #1/2 COMMEMORATIVE $5.99

I know I wanted to commemorate the release of Lady Death Abandon All Hope #1/2.

Perhaps it could come with one of those cherubic kid figurines?

MAR052502 BUGTOWN #6 (OF 6) (MR) $2.95
APR052823 BURN DESTINY $3.50
APR052960 CASTLEVANIA THE BELMONT LEGACY #4 (OF 5) $3.99

Why no Captain N comic book?

I demand an explanation!

APR053102 CHRONO CODE VOL 1 GN (OF 2) $9.99
JAN052808 CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON VOL 1 REVISED & EXPANDED ED (M $13.95
MAR052583 DARK MISTS #1 (OF 4) (MR) $3.50
MAR052507 DEAL WITH THE DEVIL #2 (OF 5) (NOTE PRICE) $2.99

I am an ignorant fool.

Please explain to me what this comic is about.

APR053109 DEARS VOL 3 GN (OF 6) $9.99
APR052590 DEATH TRANCE VOL 2 GN $9.99
MAR052848 DF BATMAN DARK DETECTIVE #1 SGN $19.99
FEB052800 DF DAY OF VENGEANCE #1 SGN $19.99
MAR052859 DF FALLEN ANGEL #20 SGN (NOTE PRICE) $6.99

OUCH!

Bummer for Perez and/or David Lopez's self esteem!

MAR052845 DF GREEN LANTERN #1 VAN SCRIVER SGN $19.99
MAR052847 DF RANN THANAGAR WAR #1 SGN $34.99

For 15 more dollars than the others, it better be signed by both Hawkman AND Adam Strange!

JAN052730 DF SUPERMAN #215 SGN $19.99
JAN052564 DOC FRANKENSTEIN #3 $3.50

Doc Frankenstein kicks major behind.

APR053078 DOGWITCH #17 (MR) $2.95
APR053110 DOLL VOL 5 GN (OF 6) (MR) $9.99
APR052980 EASY WAY #3 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
MAR052919 FELIX THE CAT SILLY STORIES #1 $2.50
MAY052536 FRANK MILLERS ROBOCOP IRATE OFFICER LEWIS ED #8 (OF 9) (MR) $5.99

Intriguing.

Is there a "soft-spoken" Officer Lewis edition as well?

MAR052620 FREAKSHOW #7 (MR) $2.95
MAY052567 FRIDAY THE 13TH SP BLOOD RED CON ED #1 $4.99

It would be a lot cooler if it was real blood.

Wimps.

APR053111 FRUITS BASKET VOL 10 GN (OF 14) $9.99
APR052908 FULL CIRKLE CVR A #1 SIGNED ED $9.95
APR052909 FULL CIRKLE CVR B #1 SIGNED ED $9.95
APR052907 FULL CIRKLE PREVIEW BOOK SIGNED ED (MR) $4.95
APR053112 GET BACKERS VOL 10 GN (OF 26) (MR) $9.99
MAR052585 GLOOM #1 (OF 6) $3.50

This looks intriguing.

The art does not look like my style, but the total package is quite inviting.

MAR053042 GONE WILD GN (A) $9.99
MAR053031 GRAVE GRRRLS DESTROYERS OF THE DEAD #2 (MR) $2.99
MAR052972 GRIMJACK KILLER INSTINCT #5 (OF 6) $3.99

I estimate that Greg will be quite pleased.

APR053114 GUNDAM SEED ASTRAY R VOL 3 GN (OF 4) $9.99
MAR053051 HARDY BOYS VOL 2 IDENTITY THEFT GN $7.95
MAR053052 HARDY BOYS VOL 2 IDENTITY THEFT HC $12.95
MAR052909 HEAD #11 (A) $3.95
APR053103 HEAT GUY J GN $9.99
APR052594 HEAVEN SENT STAND ALONE SPECIAL $2.99
APR052598 I HUNT MONSTERS VOL 2 #6 $2.99
APR053116 ID ENTITY VOL 2 GN (OF 13) $9.99
APR053117 IN DREAM WORLD VOL 2 GN (OF 3) (MR) $9.99
MAR052511 JUDO GIRL #2 (OF 4) $2.99
APR052591 KAMUNAGARA REBIRTH OF THE DEMONSLAYER VOL 2 GN (OF 6) $9.99
APR052969 KARNEY #3 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99

Why did no one inform me that Kevin Smith's friends did a comic book!?!?

Why am I always the last to know!?!?

MAR052509 KILLER STUNTS INC #2 (OF 4) (NOTE PRICE) $2.99
APR053120 KING OF HELL VOL 10 GN (OF 10) $9.99
MAY052602 KOMIC FANTASIES VOL 3 #5 (A) $14.95
MAR052510 LETHAL INSTINCT #2 (OF 6) (NOTE PRICE) $2.99
MAR052586 LEXIAN CHRONICLES FULL CIRCLE #1 $3.50
APR052572 LITTLE SCROWLIE #10 $2.95

This is a fun little comic. Very much in tune with the way life is.

APR053099 MBQ GN (MR) $9.99
APR052962 METAL GEAR SOLID #10 $3.99
APR052899 MISTY GIRL EXTREME COLL VOL 1 TP (A) $16.95
DEC042702 NANANANA VOL 1 GN $9.99
MAR053053 NANCY DREW VOL 2 WRIT IN STONE GN $7.95
MAR053054 NANCY DREW VOL 2 WRIT IN STONE HC $12.95
MAY052570 NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET SP BLOOD RED CON ED #1 $4.99

It's not like you couldn't FIND real blood!

APR052601 NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #129 $2.99
APR053123 PEACH GIRL VOL 5 GN NEW PTG (OF 8) $9.99
APR053019 PHANTOM #7 $3.50
APR053124 PHD PHANTASY DEGREE VOL 3 GN (OF 8) $9.99
MAR053104 POISON ELVES VENTURES #1 CASSANDRA #1 (MR) $3.50
APR053097 PRINCESS AI VOL 2 LUMINATION GN (OF 3) $9.99
MAR053076 QUEEN & COUNTRY DECLASSIFIED VOL 3 #1 (OF 3) (MR) $2.95

Wow.

The first non-Rucka Q&C.

I predict this will be scary for me.

APR053126 QWAN VOL 2 GN (OF 3) $9.99
APR053127 REMOTE VOL 6 GN (OF 10) (MR) $9.99
APR053128 RG VEDA VOL 2 GN (OF 10) $9.99
APR053100 SAIYUKI VOL 9 GN (OF 9) (MR) $9.99
APR053104 SAKURA TAISEN VOL 1 GN $9.99
APR053129 SAMURAI DEEPER KYO VOL 14 GN (OF 27) (MR) $9.99
FEB052669 SHAOLIN COWBOY #3 $3.50

Shaolin Cowboy kicks whatever behind is left after Doc Frankenstein is finished.

MAY052927 SHUCK THE SULFURSTAR #1 $2.95
APR053131 SORCERER HUNTERS NEW PTG VOL 3 GN (OF 13) (MR) $9.99
APR052650 TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #3 $2.39
APR053014 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #22 $2.95
MAY052569 TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE SP BLOOD RED CON ED #1 $4.99

It doesn't even have to be HUMAN blood! How about pig blood?

APR052915 UNCLE SCROOGE #343 $6.95
APR053133 VISITOR VOL 2 GN (OF 5) $9.99
MAR052826 WALT & SKEEZIX VOL 1 HC $29.95
APR052916 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #658 $6.95
APR053086 WARGOD ONE SHOT $4.99

Well, those are my estimations!

Feel free to share your own, or just check back to see how wrong I was!

Read More

Three 6/15 Books That I Read So That You Did Not Have To

Same as always...I tell you about three comics that I did not hear a lot about this week, and then I ask you all to fill me in on comics that I did not read this week.

Spoilers ahead!!

Marvel Knights 4 #19 - I have said a few times that I think that Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is one of the best superhero writers working for Marvel today, and this issue shows me nothing to think I am wrong.

In this issue, he manages to give us an interesting look at the Inhumans (although the area he chose is one of the easiest areas to explore - Alpha Primates, as, well, they basically are slaves), where an Alpha Primate and the daughter (a fact I was not sure of until the very end...the whole issue, I was thinking, "Hmm...an Inhuman/Alpha Primate romance AND they are gay!") of Inhuman royalty run away to the Baxter Building.

Once there, Sue Richards gives them shelter, and faces off against the father of the Inhuman - and the cool thing is, you can totally understand the situation from both sides.

It is one of those rare "Good guy" battles where it is NOT a misunderstanding - it is just both "Good guys" take different, fully supported, positions on the issue.

And the end is a really nice twist on the Inhumans, as I BELIEVE that Aguirre-Sacasa is introducing the first mutant Inhuman (unless there has been one before that I do not know about).

Nifty stuff.

Very nice art by Valentine De Landro. I am pleased to see a new artist on this title.

Recommended!

Death Jr. #2 - This issue was a bit of a letdown from #1, if only because the same sense of whimsical humor was a bit lacking in this issue, which stressed advancing the plot more.

And that was another area of problems - to advance the plot forward, writer Gary Whitta makes the main character, Death Jr., act in a way that just did not seem to ring true to me.

Yes, DJ is used to viewing death in a much different way than most people, but while I am totally behind the concept of DJ killing plants to help a friend out, I am not as much behind the idea of DJ killing kids so his friends can get on to the bus quicker.

Or killing the principal.

Or any number of the deaths he causes in this issue.

It just did not ring true to me.

What DID ring true was Ted Naifeh's art. It continues to be outstanding, capturing the weirdness of the characters while still managing to be dynamic, and, when necessary, spooky.

The plot set up for #3 is interesting - DJ and the ghost of his best friend (who he killed in this issue) must set right all the wrong DJ did in this issue.

Should be fun.

While, on the whole, I would not recommend this issue, I still think that, once it is all said and done, this mini-series will read quite well...but, for now...

Not Recommended!

Year One Batman Ra's Al Ghul #1 - I have to give Devin Grayson a lot of credit. The deck was stacked up against her, but she almost managed to pull it off.

Grayson was given the unenviable task of writing a Ra's Al Ghul story to tie in with the movie while sticking to current DC continuity, where Ra's is dead (which is sooo silly to me...when Rucka's new Ra's cannot even be featured in crossovers which are partially controlled by HIM, don't you think it is time to admit - "Hey, yeah, maybe the whole "New female Ra's Al Ghul" wasn't the greatest idea in the world."?).

She almost manages to pull it off, but it is just too much to ask a writer to achieve.

Paul Gulacy does a very nice job on the art in a BIG leap in coolness from his art on Catwoman.

The basic gist of the story is that due to something Ra's did, the people of Gotham CANNOT die - so Batman is basically up against an army of the undead (Meanwhile, we learn of Ra's' past through a "If you have received this letter, I am dead" letter, which is a good technique by Grayson, I thought).

The whole "Ra's writing to Batman from beyond the grave" is innovative, but eventually, after awhile, it is just too fragile of a foundation to rest a narration, and the story suffers by it.

But the basic concept is interesting and the art is good, so I was impressed.

But since the story just wasn't strong enough, I would have to say...

Not Recommended!

Now on to the books that I did not read, so I was hoping you might have read them and could tell me what I missed out on -

Oddly Normal #3

Knights of the Dinner Table #103

Bigfoot #4

NYC Mech Beta Love #2

Conan and the Jewels of Gwahlur #3

Thanks!

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Three Rules: Christopher's first post

A few weeks ago, I started a blog called Ink & Drink. It was my own platform for pontificating on two of my favorite things: comics and beer. It was wildly successful. Okay, okay, perhaps three people know of its existence. One of those people is Brian Cronin. Brian and I are co-mods of the Image board at the CBR Forums. That's how we know each other. (Brian is also, at last count, the moderator on 17 other CBR boards.) So, sometime recently, Brian lifted up a large rock and discovered my blog. He picked it up, dusted it off, blew on it, passed it through his rock polisher, and sent me an e-mail that said, "Really, if you're going to do a comic book blog, you might as well do it on Comics Should Be Good." So, here I am. Not that I'm totally turning my back on my little piece of Internet real estate. I'll probably re-tool it a little. I don't think Brian had beer news in mind when he invited me here. He had comics in mind. Comics!

I've got three rules about comics. They're personal rules. I don't enforce them on others. I couldn't if I wanted to. But, hopefully, you'll agree that they're good rules. Here they are.

Rule #1: Comics are for reading.

This seems obvious, I know. I like to think that we've heaved our collective mass out of the sludge of speculation and gotten back to our "reading comics for fun" roots. I know there are a few die-hards out there hoping to get rich off of stockpiled Death of Supermans and variant covers. If they still have that mentality, let 'em be. They're lost souls. Unredemptive. No, most of us woke up and smelled the coffee. Comics can be fun. Enlightening. Comics should be good!

Rule #2: Don't reward mediocrity.

We're all capable of backsliding -- buying a comic because we don't want to break up a lengthy run. Buying by rote. Reading from sheer habit. I like something I recently read at Jason Richards' Comic Riot! blog. He said, "If you’ve been looking forward to it, buy it. If you want it just to have it, skip it."

Some comics readers' intents are noble. They say that a comic may not be stellar but they're buying it to support someone or something. That really shouldn't matter if the book sucks. Marvel Hack Writer X doesn't deserve that support. If you stop buying his work, Marvel will, presumably, can his ass and replace him with someone who does understand dialogue and narrative devices and plot and symbolism. Don't buy a book to "support Marvel/DC." Don't buy a book to "support a creator." Don't buy a book to "support the Indie press." They're on their own. Don't reward mediocrity.

Buy a book because it's good.

Rule #3: Read what you like.

You can't swing a cat without hitting an Internet comics review site nowadays. Heck, we do our share of that around here. There's nothing wrong with it. But some folks buy a comic series because other people say they should, not because they actually like it. Maybe they want to look fancy. "Oh, look at me. I'm an intellectual. I read [insert Top Shelf or Fantagraphics title here]." Maybe they want what passes for popularity among superhero fanboys. "Yeah. I read all the X-Men books and can regurgitate mutant comic history until my eyes bleed."

Horse shit. Do you like that stuff? If you do, then swell. And it's okay to try something that somebody else likes. That's even advisable. But if you don't really like it and read it on a regular basis because somebody else says you should? Don't. Read what you like. Maybe it's the Flash. Maybe it's old romance comics. Maybe it's Disney duck comics. Maybe it's small press b&w stuff. I don't care. But read it because it's what you like.

Hi, I'm Christopher. How do you like me so far?

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Judging (DC's September) Books By Their Covers

DC's September Solicitations are up, so now is as good a time as any for us to make prejudgements based just on the covers (as we all love to make prejudgements, don't we?).

Let's begin!

Just last month, I commented that I thought that the JLA Classified covers may actually fit together nicely...



Well, I was obviously wrong.

How did this cover sneak by an editor?

Remember Batman:Digital Justice?

THAT computer art looks better, and that was done fifteen years ago!!
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Maybe you could help me out here...



Is Lady Blackhawk pulling a gun out on an earthquake?!?!
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I have waited long enough!



The Legion of Substitute Super Villains finally strikes!!!

What?

This group of bad guys are supposed to be taken seriously?

Oops.

Never mind, then.
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Wait a second...



Robin appearing to go on a military mission?

And Chuck Dixon ISN'T writing the book!?!?!?
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Two striking covers by Patrick Gleason this month...



First we have Green Lantern Corps: Recharge, which is written by Dave Gibbons so I hope it will be good, and...



Aquaman #34, which I am pretty darn sure WON'T be good...but that's a cool cover!
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Just when you thought all Alex Ross was good for was drawing Justice Society members looking somber and dark...



He pulls off a good looking Astro City cover.



At least it is still dark! Don't want to worry people TOO much!
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This is a funny Authority: Kev cover...



but I think this one is even FUNNIER!


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Wouldn't it be neat if the Justice League was like this?


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Man, even the magic shows in the DC Universe are depressing and tied into Identity Crisis!!



I promise that is my lone "The DCU is like the Titanic and Johns/Rucka/Winick are the Co-Captains" reference for the month.

Promise.
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Gotta give it up to Terry Dodson - this is a strong cover.


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I think the Day of Vengeance has been pretty lame so far, but it at least gives us two strong covers this month...one by Byrne...



and one by Simonson...


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What, is DC now selling product placement space on their covers?!!?



Where does it end!?!? Where does it end!?!?
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Two strong Ladronn covers this month, particularly the Flash one...




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I just love that Christopher Moeller has been working on JLA: Cold Steel since 2002.

That is so amazing to me.



Cool Hawkman cover.
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I do not like this cover.



At all.
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Showcase Presents, baby!!





SWEET!
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I have to say, I have given him a lot of grief in the past, but I have to give Ian Churchill credit, this cover is a well laid out cover.


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This looks like it will be a fun Gotham Central storyline...



Sean Phillips is awesome.

Why can't HE be the new ongoing Gotham Central artist?
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Hehe...Woozy.


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DUDES!!



Did she just blast him in the robot privates!?!?!?
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Other artists - take note!



When drawing Supergirl, if you must emulate someone, emulate Ed McGuinness instead of Michael Turner.

Thank you.
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I gave Pat Lee grief over the cover of #1, so it is only fair to note that I think that the cover of #2 is a good deal better.


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It's funny...James Jean can make anything look awesome...





So it is still good to see that even Jean seems to give MORE effort to the projects that are a little more worthy of his prodigious talents, as seen in the fact that the above two covers, while good, are standard fare, while the Fables cover below shows much more effort put into the design...


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Strong cover by JG Jones


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And Rags Morales continues to do good covers for this current JLA arc...


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This is a good month for covers! Even Van Sciver gets in on the act, with a strong Green Lantern cover!


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While she is still drawing Power Girl to look just like The Pro, Amanda Conner is still doing a fun job with the JSA Classified covers...



And credit is due to Johns, teaming up two pre-Crisis JSA teammates is interesting.
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You can always depend on Jock for a strong cover...




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Pardon the pun, but Seth Fisher's art is really cool.


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Shouldn't someone have said, "Hey, the covers of Y The Last Man #37 and Vigilante #1 are pretty damn similar in lay out."





Just a thought.
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Not the most original of cover ideas, but sometimes, cliches are cliches because they work so well...



...like the "chesspiece" cover motif.
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Only one Seven Soldiers cover in the solicitations this month - luckily, it is the one I am looking forward to the most!



Ferry is going to ROCK on this book! Great cover to start the series off!
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An attractive cover from Chaykin...


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And a well illustrated one by Tony Harris.


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Another great cover by Marcos Martin...



I notice he didn't draw the interiors. Could DC have heard my "Free Marcos!" chant?!!?

One can only hope.
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What an odd layout by Matt Haley.



He had to work pretty hard at making this cover look this dorky.
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Chalk up another odd layout, this time by Ed Benes...


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My pick for cover of the month!!!!



Now THIS is why you sign artists to exclusive contracts!

WOW.

Joshua Middleton is a great young artist.
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Okay, that's it for me, folks!

Feel free to share YOUR prejudices!!

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