What The Hell Happened to Sweet Jubilee??

I just finished reading an X-Men trade, the first one I've picked up since the re-launch oh-so-many moons ago starring Frank Quitely's art and Grant Morrison's words and I am completely gobsmacked. Jubilee is a vampire.

I know I haven't been keeping up with current X-Men drama (Pixie is an X-Men now? WTF??) but holy crap. I just don't know where to start. Maybe it's the fact that Cyclops actually planned something that worked for once. Maybe it's the fact that Wolverine was turned into a vampire and his healing factor failed. Maybe it's that the X-dorks resurrected Dracula in order to fight the one responsible for the whole thing in the first place: Dracula's own son.

Whatever it is, I didn't like it and I'm not impressed. I still don't like Cyclops no matter how they try and make him out to be a team leader and I don't buy that Wolverine would be turned so easily. I also don't buy meek-and-mild Emma Frost either, but that's another blog post.

Thumbs down, X-Men.

Oh yeah, I have this Blog too

Wow. I cannot believe I have neglected this for so long. Well, let's dive in.

I am not a fan of Superman. I always thought he was too powerful, too squeaky clean, not human enough, and he always reminded me of that one jock in high school who had everything handed to him on a plate. In short, he was not flawed enough.

Then something happened. Superman: Earth One, to be precise. 

Now, I am also not a fan of J. Michael Straczynski, especially after what he did to Wonder Woman. But, I was in New York at Midtown Comics this past summer and one of the guys there thrust the first volume into my hands and promised me it would change my opinion about Superman. 

I bought it, feeling sorry for the guy who clearly knows nothing about comics or me. I came home from my trip, unpacked the book, and put it on my shelf. I remember thinking to myself that I should not have bought it, that it will just sit there and collect dust and that I should have bought The Walking Dead trades instead. 

And then life happened and I forgot about it.

Fast forward six months. Last night I found it on the shelf. I flipped through it, thinking the art was great. I thought, well if the art is good maybe I can forgive the lack of story. I put it in my bag and went to bed.

This morning, sitting in a Starbucks drinking my morning coffee ( I didn't make any at home because I got up early and anyway shut up; I like Starbucks) and I pulled out the book. I stared at it for some time and then cracked it open. 

Next thing I knew, I was at the last page and late for work. I could not believe how great it was. I am still kind of in shock. And, though I am loathe to admit it, I actually kind of like Superman now. At least, this particular version of Superman. 

Well played, Straczynski. I still don't trust you, and I think you will disappoint me sooner or later, but for now you have converted me.

Just don't expect me to cover up my Batman tattoo.

Things, They Be Happening

I already know how long it has been since I last posted and I feel much shame so let's move ahead, shall we? There are big things happening at DC, so big I cannot even get it all out on this page. Even though there is infinite amounts of space in web-land, there still wouldn't be enough to write down how stupid I think the whole re-set thing is. It didn't work for Marvel, and it sure as hell won't work for DC. Why not, you may be asking, all wide-eyed and innocent and boy, am I glad you asked.

DC has exhausted each and every one of us comic fans. Blackest Night was a lot to get through and the follow up, Brightest Day, was/is no better. There was/is just too much going on across too many titles that many people, myself included, just gave up and said they'd wait for the trade. Having said that, the trades that we have been waiting for have not come forward as yet, simply because the story lines have not ended. And now they want to erase all of that? For shame.

Details are sketchy and wrought with my personal disdain for the whole situation. Good luck trying to get the real story out of DC though; everything I have read so far has been heavily censored and geared to making things sound shiny and bright. Characters have been redone, some to the chagrin of the creators, and stories will be modified to ensure that everything stays squeaky clean.

What is happening to my beloved medium?

New Year, New Comix

I know what you are thinking and you are correct: I am a fucking lazy person who has not been diligent in keeping this blog up to date. Now that that's settled, onto the comix.

Mouse Guard: The Black Axe #1

Once again, David Peterson has managed to capture my attention and evoke an emotional response within the first few pages of this latest installment of the Mouse Guard saga. Centering on Guardmice trainer Celanawe, the story introduces Em, a distant relative of Celanawe and the last of her lineage. She seeks Celanawe out for a special mission, one that is endorsed by the reigning Matriarch Bronwyn, much to Celanawe's surprise. While the story is engaging and the artwork nearly perfect, what drew me in completely and totally was the emotional response brought on by the death of the crow that brought Em to Celanawe.

Imagine being able to speak to beasts to such a degree that they would be willing to bear you as a mount across an ocean simply because you asked. Now imagine that you, being naive of the world in which you have just entered, dismount and in your haste to deliver your message to your last remaining kinsman, neglect to comprehend the danger your mount is in from a marauding pack of fishers. You watch from safety, sobbing, as they rip your friend apart and even worse, you understand every single caw that issues from the beak of the dying bird; bearing within your heart the knowledge that you are to blame for its death.

It's panels like that that make me want to find David Peterson and hug him very hard for finally understanding that one of the most important things needed in order to make a comic readable is the engagement of the reader. I have read all of his installments of Mouse Guard and he is one of the few writer/artist's that have always been consistent in his storytelling. The gorgeous art work is a bonus; I would continue to read his series even if he decided to use stick figures. Just saying.

Green Lantern/Plastic Man: Weapons of Mass Deception one-shot

When was the last time you read something from Marv Wolfman that didn't involve a crisis of some sort or infinite worlds? Although not his usual standard script, Wolfman does not disappoint even though the premise of this is pretty dumb: Plastic Man experiences a new type of technology being used in a heist, finds the video footage, and basically tells an adult. The adult, Green Lantern, seems unconcerned until he sees the weaponry being used and realizes that the case he is working on coincidentally parallels this new situation brought to his attention by Plastic Man. Weird how that works, eh?

What ensues is pretty much what you'd expect from this kind of team-up: Plastic Man quoting various movies (including one of my favourites, Star Wars), getting into trouble, and being rescued by Green Lantern. The dialogue is smartly written and the banter between Green Lantern and Plastic Man is just outrageous enough to remind the reader that Plastic Man is not playing with a full deck. The humor, while base at times and completely obvious, is also subtle and gets a laugh out of you even if you don't want to admit it. I giggled like mad while reading this and I am not ashamed of it. I especially adore how artist Brent Anderson manages to perfectly capture all of Plastic Man's insanity when dealing with the underworld and juggling various disguises. I don't want to ruin this book but I will say this: if you are a fan of either Plastic Man or Howard the Duck or both (thumbs up!), run to your comic shop and get this book. Now. Seriously. You won't be disappointed, except when you get to the end and you realize it's a one-shot. Boo, Marv Wolfman. Boo.

Until next time, keep reading and stop emailing me to tell me I haven't updated the blog. I already know that. Sheesh.

Holy Cliff-Hangers!

This week has been nuts for me work-wise. I am in my hotel room in glorious BC supposedly getting ready for a trade show when really I'm reviewing comics. Sweet, sweet deception!

First up: Brightest Day: Generation Lost # 11. One word. TORA. Tora really comes into her own in this one, fueled by the fact that she thinks her best friend Bea has been killed but does the team need what she's turned into? Also: enter Metal Men. I love these guys. The appearance of the Metal Men under Lord's control plus the fact that Batman and Power Girl were inches away from discovering Lord's plot before they blanked out raises this question: Who can't Maxwell Lord control? Guess we will have to wait and find out.

Green Lantern #58 was a pretty good read. I enjoyed Carol throwing the line 'I'll be home when my job is done', back in Hal's face. It is surprising to me that although he is the Earth's Greatest Green Lantern, he is completely stupid when it comes to women. He want Carol to give up the throne of the Star Sapphires and do. . . what, exactly? That's right, wait for him. While he's still seeing Cowgirl. Hmm. Maybe what Hal Jordan needs is a lesson in humility, and by the looks of the ending of this issue, he just might get it. In between the Carol-Hal situation, it seems as though Adara has finally chosen. The Blue Entity chose Nicole, a young girl who had been kidnapped by a very bad man, to bond with and it looks like she chose well. So far.

What would the universe be without Guy Gardner? Probably very dull and boring. Thankfully, he's still around and in Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #3, he makes a rather tough decision after coming face-to-face with Bleez. Thats all I can say about this one; you really need to read it yourself to actually see what I'm talking about. Plus Sodom Yat. But that's all I'm saying. Really.

I would like to talk about the whole Batman/Bruce Wayne: The Road Home but I am in BC without the benefit of the rest of my comic arsenal so for now I will just say that I am glad Bruce Wayne is back but I think he's a dick. Done.

Knight and Squire on the other hand is a lovely deviation from the heavy 'is he really dead/nope just kidding' Batman situation and I love it. I love everything about these two: costumes, banter, accents. Hopefully they will cross over into a few other books but if not, the six issue series will be great on its own.

What would October be without a couple of horror comics? This week I picked up two: Tomb of Terror #1 and House of Mystery: Halloween Annual #2. One Marvel, one DC. I cannot say enough good things about either of these books for different reasons.

Tomb of Terror goes back to the heart of true horror; something that Marvel has always done quite well. This book hearkens back to the glorious age of black and white horror comics. Featuring Swamp Thing, a werewolf, Hellstorm, and a short story about a mummy, this book blends together classic horror with solid art and makes it a great read. Just not before bed; it is in black and white and sometimes the shapes on the walls look like images from the book. Maybe it's me.

House of Mystery tells the tale of four trick-or-treaters who have been cursed to wander forever in costume trick-or-treating. Sounds fairly innocent, but when you see the various takes on the foursome you quickly realize they are definitely not children and they most definitely do not want the curse lifted. Which is why I don't open my door to children after dark. Ever.

That's what I read this week. What did you read?

Death is the new Black

Have you spent sleepless nights wondering what happens after we die? If you've lost someone close to you, do you ever wish you could bring them back? And if you could bring them back, would you really want to?

The recurring theme of bringing loved ones back from the dead with dire consequences is one that audiences, be them readers or moviegoers or both, have become enthralled with. The idea that with a bit of luck, science, or magic you could be reunited with your recently deceased lover is usually greeted with enthusiam on the part of the bereaved. One of the biggest moral questions is whether or not it's right to interfere with the natural order of things. Many people feel that people die when it's their time and they should be allowed to go peacefully. If you mess with that, you could potentially open the door to something darker, like when Buffy was resurrected by Willow and lost her place in the peaceful after-life. Buffy was so pissed at being wrenched away from what she felt was a well-deserved rest back into a world full of hate that she. . . well if you don't know, you'll have to google it.

Comics are famous for killing and resurrecting heroes. When Superman died, the whole comic world mourned. When he came back, we hated his new costume but loved the fact that he was back. When Joker was beating the shit out of then-Robin Jason Todd, DC held a contest to decide his fate. Yep, he died. Beaten to death with a crowbar. Superman, Aquaman, Flash, Supergirl, Hal Jordan, Oliver Queen, the list of resurrrected heroes goes on. Point is: should they have come back?

DC's 'Blackest Night' and the on-going 'Brightest Day' series have both killed and brought heroes back to life that perhaps should have been left dead. When the twelve were resurrected, I cheered to see some of my favourites drawing breath again and silently despaired that others had been forgotten. The latest issue of 'Brightest Day' is far from disappointing even though it is a bit confusing. Here's my question: the heroes who have been brought back are still very much 'alive' yet their Black Lantern counter-parts are also 'alive'. How can this be? We thought that Black Lanterns could only be formed from the essence of the one they killed/possessed? And why is Mars green? So many questions, although the chance to see the Hawks in Black Lantern gear again? Priceless.

That's comics for you. Always throwing you a curve ball.

I picked up a comic called 'Shield' not realizing it wasn't the one I thought it would be and now I am completely confused as to why Leonardo da Vinci is the saviour of the world. I suppose I will have to hunt down the previous issues so that I can sleep again. Dear Hickman: What the hell is going on here? Robots living in the sun, secret socities, death; why wasn't I reading this before? Anyway. I will talk about that comic once I figure out what it's about.

'Batman Odyssey' is becoming a yawn. While I love Neal Adams, this just isn't doing it for me. Having said that, I still intend to pick up every issue because Neal Adams. D'uh. In issue #26, 'Secret Six' has finally remembered that the team functions best when it's disfunctional so. . . good job there. Wow, Catman. 'Hawkeye and Mockingbird' have broken up. Sorry, but they did. Marvel's answer to power-couple Black Canary and Green Arrow have called it quits. Like DC's team though, I wonder how long before they are back at it? Now it's time for my favorite book this week and if you didn't buy it WHY ARE YOU STILL SITTING THERE?!

Two words. Deadpool. Max.

Thank you David Lapham and double thank you Kyle Baker. Together, these guys have managed to capture the insanity and humour that is Deadpool. One of my favourite characters, Deadpool yuks it up while he's ripping your heart out and when you kill him, he comes back. Like in the just-wrapped Punisher series about the end of the world with zombies. In that, he keeps trying to deliver a message to Frank Castle and Frank keeps dismembering him. Good stuff.

Lapham's writing has allowed Baker's art to capture the essence of crazy, and there is plenty of that. The story centres on an undercover agent who is supposed to be working with Deadpool. Right off the bat you know it's going to go horribly wrong and the fact that the operative looks as though he's gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson is an indication of the hell he's going through. Trust me when I say you will need to pick this one up if for no other reason that to find out how to make an impression of a key using a turd. You heard me.

What are you waiting for? Get out to your nearest comic shop and get reading!

Only Two Books Into My Stack and I am Depressed

Sigh. It had to happen sooner or later, I suppose. Like those couples throughout high-school who seem to be destined to always be together, I didn't think that such big break-up's were going to happen. I've only read two out of my stack of comics and I am sad. Spoilers abound here, so if you haven't read Brightest Day Birds of Prey #5 or Brightest Day #10, you may be upset with me.

First up, Brightest Day Birds of Prey. Last issue saw the pretty birds getting their asses handed to them by an unknown assailant known simply as White Canary and being double-crossed by the Penguin. This issue the tables are turning around fast and furiously and heartbreak is in every line. From the whole situation with Savant and Oracle to Hawk receiving brotherly advice from beyond the grave, this book is full of 'moments'. Black Canary had fought White Canary to a standstill and it looked like she had won; Dinah is given a choice and decides to leave Gotham, and the Birds, behind for good. This does not sit well with Huntress or Lady Blackhawk. They decide to go after Dinah and end up in a confrontation with none other than the Black Canary herself. Chilling end to a seemingly solid friendship. Dinah turns her back on everything she has worked so hard for in order to run the same brotherhood she defeated years ago. I don't think we've seen the last of her even though the last panel shows her in the White Canary costume sans mask.

I have been loving the Brightest Day series and this issue is no exception. Black Manta comes for his son who completely thumps him and escapes, and it's revealed that his mother is none other than Mera's sister, Siren. Mera and Arthur go their separate ways seemingly to divide up the work they need to do to make sure Black Manta does not find his son, but Arthur is very clear that he also needs time to process the fact that his beloved Queen was sent to kill him. During his 'alone time', he finds Black Manta's son and the boy's surrogate father (whom Mera gave the child to years ago to raise as his own) and comes up against Black Manta himself, which is one fight I am dying to see. Ever since this series started, I have been very impressed with the 'new' Aquaman; he is being written much better and more believable than I've seen in a while and I am enjoying every panel he is in. Remember issue #1 where he is saving the kids on the ship and calls forth the sea creatures to aid him? Remember the dead sharks and octopi he raised? That's what I am talking about. Is he really back from the dead or is the Black Lantern still inside him, waiting for the right moment to strike?

Speaking about Black Lanterns just waiting for the right moment, ummm. . . Firestorm??? What the hell? Holy crap, I did not see that coming. I knew he was having trouble with the fact that the hero himself cannot separate; that the entity needs both of the boys in order to function, but geez! That coupled with the fact that it's just been revealed that he could be the most powerful hero on the planet makes this book one of my faves. I wasn't really a Firestorm fan until this series. Seems like I am rethinking my positions on alot of heroes lately.

It seems as though some of the most solid things in the DCU are beginning to fray. From Black Canary leaving BoP to Green Arrow reverting back to his 'Longbow Hunters' persona, this series is one of my favourites because it is exploring different facets of these characters ina way that I haven't before. It is an exciting time to be reading comics!

Don't even get me started on Batman and Robin.That is a whole other post.