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.

The Power of Nerd Compels You

There's something about seeing an attractive girl read comics on the subway that forces one's inner nerd to surface. I would be lying if I said that this didn't please me immensely, even when I am the target of the questions. This morning was a perfect example of why reading comics on the subway is far superior to reading a plain old book. Unless of course the book in question is about comics; in that particular case books are an acceptable substitution.

I squeezed past the multitudes crowding the doors (why do people insist on doing that?) and managed to find a seat. I took out my stack of new comics and flipped through them briefly, trying to decide what to read first. Brightest Day: Justice League Generation Lost #9 won the first round draft pick and I settled back to enjoy Booster, Bea, Tora, and the rest of the gang's latest attempts to try and stop Maxwell Lord, aka the biggest prick in the world. So far. I am getting right into it when the cloaked nerd beside me stirred in his seat. I say 'cloaked' because he was dressed like a businessman but was clearly trying to figure out a way to ask me what I was reading without sounding dumb and/or nerdy. I continued to read and finally, he poked me. Not a sexy poke, an actual jab-in-the-ribs poke.

I looked at him and before I could admonish him for poking me, he said, 'It's been almost 20 years since I've seen someone read a comic book in public. That's really awesome.' I stared at him. He cleared his throat and asked,' At the risk of sounding like an idiot, what are you reading?'

I showed him, and his face lit up. Apparently, his favorite character is Booster Gold. This guy was absolutely thrilled to see Booster headlining a book that wasn't named 'Booster Gold'. He told me that he had read the entire run of 'Blackest Night' and that he hadn't yet had a chance to catch up on the 'Brightest Day' titles. I briefly recapped some of the titles that were current and suggested he pick a few up. As we talked, he suddenly remembered that he had to get off the subway. As he was leaving, he thanked me for reading comics and for encouraging him to go buy them. His last words to me were, 'I wish my girlfriend was half as cool as you are.'

I read comics in public for everyone to see because I am a nerd, a damn proud one at that, and I will not put away my so-called 'childish' hobbies just because the other girls my age are reading Cosmo and People on the subway. You would think with the influx of comic-related movies and videogames that this would not still be an issue but it is. Comics are apparently a very male thing, both to create and to read. I am certainly not going to turn this into a feminist rant about how women and men in comics should be equal. It isn't that I don't care; I just want to read comics. I do not care about the sex of the people who write or draw them. Just give me my stories and no one gets hurt.

Now if you will excuse me, Batgirl and Supergirl are about to become a midnight snack for a plethora of black-and-white movie Dracula's and I need to find out why.

Comix Are the Best

I have been reading comics since I could read. I read pretty much everything that is printed; Marvel, DC, Oni Press, small press and of course, online comics. Each week, I'm astounded by how much money I spend feeding my addiction. I have an awesome collection of CGC books but my real love is going to my local comic book store and picking up my books. I grab my books, indulge in some nerd-speak and go home to read my selections.

Which is where I am going now. I will let you know what I think when I am done. I am very opinionated and also very correct so believe me when I say when a book is worth reading and when a book is not worth reading. I will tell you honestly what I think of each book as I read it.

Stay tuned. Details at 11.