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.