This week there is so much Superman it threatens to bury me. Also, we’ve got a must-read for H.E.A.T. members, an interview with Ron Marz, and I force you to consider whether or not comics are really for the kiddies. Cause that’s what I do. Make you read and think. I am sadistic bastard, aren’t I?
Superman Hype Part 4: The Quest for Peace
With the “Year of Superman,” as DC Comics has dubbed 2004, already underway with “Superman/Batman,” “Superman: Secret Identity” and “Superman: Birthright,” one might assume, erroneously, that the excitement around the Man Of Steel is due to all the new series. But Superman’s first comic book, “Action Comics,” is receiving a makeover of its own that seems to excite everyone around the DC water cooler. Enter artist Ivan Reis (whom CBR News spoke with earlier) and writer Chuck Austen. In Part 4 of CBR’s Superman celebration, Austen spoke to CBR News about he plans to make “Action Comics” live up to its name with Darkseid and more!
Read an interview with comicdom’s favorite son at Comic Book Resources
Mr. Austen talks with a genuine love for the character of Superman. He talks about Superman with the enthusiasm of a 16 year old being handed the keys to his first car. Regardless of everything else that has been said about him, I have no doubt that he truly cares for the character and wants to do right by Superman, the many storied predecessors on the books, Superman’s fans, and Superman’s legacy. Does that mean the book will set the world on fire, that everyone who vents about Austen on message boards everywhere will be suddenly converted? Well, that’s doubtful. However, I would say that it should at least entitle him to another chance.
By the way, why Gog?
Superman Hype Part 5: Fields of Terror
With all the SUPER-Stars interviews at CBR News (Mark Waid, Ivan Reis, Jeph Loeb & Chuck Austen) thus far, and those soon to come in celebration of the greatest superhero of all time, one can’t forget the driving force behind the Superman comics for the last few years and the man who played a big role in bringing the big guns to the table: DC Comcis Editor Eddie Berganza. He’s faced his share of criticism but has nary a negative word to say about fans critical of his editorial tenure because, quite simply, he’s a fan at heart too and like those reading the comics, he wants everyone to know that Superman is the best. In a rare interview, Berganza spoke with CBR News about his work and why 2004 is the year of Superman.
Come on, you’re a comic fan, you cannot resist a “rare†anything, so just go toComic Book Resources and gobble it up.
As I have not been paying attention to the Superman books for sometime, I don’t know when they ditched the idea that all three to four (when Man of Steel was still around) books must connect to one another. What I do know is that it was a great idea. Crossovers between titles for a while are fine, but for years at a time? Not so much.
I also applaud the attempt to give each book its own identity. From time to time, be it Batman, Spider-Man, or Superman, the editors of characters who support multiple books go to this well. I always like the way it sounds and when they stick to it, I really think it is a good idea. Eventually, unfortunately, (and seemingly inevitably) this approach is abandoned at some point. Still, I do think it is worth try.
Superman Hype Part 6: The Undiscovered Country
Many fans may think the real DC Comics Superman events begin in April, with the exciting new creative teams on the core Superman books. But since January 2004, one of the most acclaimed yet seemingly under hyped Superman projects hit the stands, with the creative team of writer Kurt Busiek and artist Stuart Immonen. In Part 5 of CBR’s Superman celebration, Busiek spoke with CBR News about his Superman mini-series.
Marvel at how an interview can be both Part 5 and Part 6 and how the best Superman book out there doesn’t really feature Superman at Comic Book Resources
This is a rare gem of a book. It has nothing to do with the events of the DCU Superman and yet I would argue that it is the best book out there right now with Superman on the cover. What sounding like a silly gimmick, a real life Clark Kent follows in the steps of his fictional counterpart including being a Superman, a journalist, and marrying a Lois. Each issue also seems to intriguingly focus on a different stage of maturity and human development, be it making it out of your teens, getting a career, or beginning the family. Busiek fans, be they of the Astro City or Avengers variety (that is non-traditional v. traditional stories), would be sorely amiss not to pick this up. Actually, any comic fan would be amiss not to check it out. It has everything that people complain comics are lacking these days and it does not conflict with any established continuity. Pick it up, now, immediately. Seriously, I don’t want to make accusations, but I am pretty sure it is un-American to not pick up this book. So, commie, are you prepared to renounce your citizenship?
Turner, Godfall Sales Cannot Be Stopped
ACTION COMICS #813 (JAN040222), ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #626 (JAN040223) and SUPERMAN #203 (JAN040224) are sold out at DC Comics. These issues feature chapters four, five and six of the “Godfall” story arc, along with special back-up features.
ACTION COMICS #813 sold out on March 18 after arriving in stores on March 10. ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #626 sold out on March 24 after arriving in stores on March 17. SUPERMAN #203 sold out on March 18, two weeks before its in-store date of March 31.
See the folly of my predictions at Newsarama
Okay, for the record, I doubted DC’s approach to the brand new Superman teams. To have a Mr. Majestic storyline followed by an imaginary (?) tale of Superman on Krypton before you bring in the new guys seemed vaguely like they were, I don’t know, toying with Supes fans. As if they were saying, “Sure, we’ve got a spectacular reboot on the horizon, so close you can almost taste it, but first, you damn well better buy three months worth of stories that will most likely forgotten within 3 years.†And from a sales perspective, well, it seemed lacking in planning as well.
As it turns out, I was, at the very least, wrong about that second part. Be it Turner or the back-up stories or a general renewed excitement, this storyline is tearing it up. Thus, I stand corrected. I don’t get it, but I admit I was wrong. Although I do maintain that DC is teasing us with the new teams like one would torture a dog with a chew toy.
And Now…More Mr. Majestic
As announced this past weekend at Wizard LA. Mr. Majestic will be returning this summer as a four-issue limited series by the creators who reintroduced him in the pages of Superman earlier this year: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, & Karl Kerschl. What makes a hero a hero – and just how is the factors that equal heroism different on the DCU earth than its WildStorm equivalent? That’s one of the questions answered in the August debuting mini.
Watch me eat more crow at The Pulse
Remember earlier when I said that I didn’t expect the Mr. Majestic fill-in Superman issues to have any sort of future ramifications? Yeah…so…I’m a massive tool.
Marz Plans a “Homecomingâ€, H.E.A.T. Readies Their Pikes and Torches
You’d think that Kyle Rayner would be thrilled to be back home—after all, he’s been away from Earth for more than a year, engaged in a series of cosmic adventures and confronting brutal, life-threatening menaces. But while Kyle was doing his superheroic thing, our world kept on turning… and Green Lantern is about to become painfully aware of just what it’s like to be out of circulation…
“Homecoming?,†the six-part story arc that begins in Green Lantern #176, bears a doubly appropriate title—for not only is Kyle Rayner making a homecoming, but writer Ron Marz is coming home as well, returning to a character he wrote for several years… and in the case of Kyle Rayner, a character he introduced and elevated to Green
Lantern after Hal Jordan’s fall.
Help welcome back Marz and the Emerald Warrior at Newsarama
So is Marz returning just in time to see his creation eliminated and Hal Jordan returned to his glory? Not sure, but Marz will not be the one doing it. If this does turn out to be Kyle’s last hurrah, it is kind of fitting for him to go out with the guy he came in with, but that is the only possible upside I can see to it.
I have before expressed my respect (can you respect a comic book character?) and enjoyment of Hal Jordan. It was something my father passed down to me as Hal (and Thor) ranked at the top of his list of comic book heroes. That being said, I think it is incredible waste to chuck some 11 plus years of stories to return to the Silver Age icon. What made Emerald Twilight acceptable and (more importantly) compelling to me was that DC was taking risks and moving forward. To regress now, after much of the anti-Kyle rhetoric has died away, is an odd and disappointing choice.
It is similar to the feeling I had about the return of Oliver Queen. Both heroes lost their mantles and/or shuffled off the mortal coil in stories (Emerald Twilight and Final Night for Hal and Crossroads for Oliver) that had a scope and grandeur befitting of them. Then, their replacements were given more than enough to become established and become heroes in their own right, not just stunt replacements. Sure, I’ve loved the relaunced Green Arrow series, but I long for a return to solo Connor Hawke stories once more. He is a fighter on par with Lady Shiva and he is playing second fiddle to Ollie? That just does not seem right to me.
DC has tried for years to appease Hal fans in some way, any way, be it his heroic turn in Final Night or having him become the new Spirit of Vengeance (or is it Redemption now?) and the community has found such efforts wanting, (for the record, for me, the last issue of Final Night, the tie-in one shot, and the funeral in GL were great, while the Spectre issues were…regrettable). If the rumors are true, this may make an entire legion of fans pleased once more. But at the cost of progress? I refuse to accept that we cannot do justice to Hal without hitting some sort of Silver Age reboot button. I refuse to accept that DC need eliminate the last vestiges of its modern age recastings (with the exception of Wally who, thankfully, is here to stay) to do the right thing. Return Hal to past glory? Absolutely. But do it right, not just to do it. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Excuse me while I but in here for a second, Tim, but I completely agree with you. When I first started reading comics, I’ll admit I was a Marvel Zombie. My first real exposure to the DCU was the Death of Superman/Reign of the Superman. Within that story I was introduced to Hal Jordan. I started reading GL right then and there and was instantly hooked. When a few short issues later, Hal went nuts, killed the GL Corps and all, I was amazed. I couldn’t believe DC would make such major changes to one of it’s most iconic heroes. This solidified my reading of this title, and my affection for the title only grew when Kyle was introduced. To me, Kyle IS Green Lantern. I know a lot of Silver Age fans would love to see Hal brought back as a GL, but I have to agree with Tim and ask why regress. Why not continue to move forward. It seems though that this is the popular trend in the industry though now. We have 6+ Spider titles, roughly 20 X-titles (with Rob Liefeld back on X-Force?!?), Ollie back as GA, and now possibly Hal back as GL. Well, Tim, count me as one fan who will be done with GL if this is indeed the road we’re traveling.
Because I Can’t, Pulse Breaks Down DC’s Sales
What’s up, what’s down? THE PULSE examines DC’s comparative sales for the month of February 2004. Figures for Marvel can be found here. Many thanks to Milton Griepp and ICv2 for permission to reprint these figures.
Crunch those numbers at The Pulse
Reading the sales info can be a most sobering experience. Take, for example, Monolith. I was very pleased to hear issue #1 sold out and thought it boded well for the series. But selling out meant selling under 17,000 copies. That is not enough to cover the population of my town and any other in the immediate area, heck it barely covers mine. So, here I am thinking one of my favorite series is perfectly okay and now…I am less sure of that.
Still, there is some good news in there. As we all know, Superman is on the upswing, books with the name Loeb or Johns continue to sell consistently well, and Hush is an unstoppable force of comic book selling magic.
However, my favorite thing about reading these figures is picking out the titles I didn’t even know were being written. The highlights of this one are: SANDMAN PRESENTS: THESSALY: WITCH FOR HIRE, THUNDERCATS: HAMMERHAND’S REVENGE, and LOBO UNBOUND.
As for the actual dissection of the numbers, read the article. They do a better job of it then I can do, even after reading the whole thing.
Morales Interviewed By One of Our Own
Last week I had the good fortune to interview DC’s new go-to artist (Rags Morales) about his big upcoming project Identity Crisis, art supplies, and his famous sense of humor. It’s a short interview, but good things arrive in small packages.
Support all 411mania enterprises at The Best Website Ever
Always happy to shill for one of our own (except Daron, he shills for himself like 8 days a week. Go ahead Daron, mention Kevin Smith here, I dare you) and especially happy when the product is quality. The entire interview is worth reading, but Kevin gets a shout out in this column because he mentions the Day of Judgment issue of Hourman. That issue ranks on my short list of comics that I can read at any time, in any mood, and enjoy on its own. Nothing is funnier than Scorcher trying to resist the sweet, sweet sin of cheesecake and failing.
Meanwhile, Identity Crisis keeps sounding better and better. I hate to be part of the hype machine but I cannot help it. I think this is actually going to be a crossover event worth the cover price. When’s the last time that happened? (Hint: It was NOT Genesis).
font color=purple>Just for that, I’m not going to shill anything in your column this week…so there!
Machinehead Was a Great So…Oh, Enginehead…Sure, that Ruled, Too.
Amid the Spider-this, the Super-that, and the X-apalooza this spring, something new is chugging along – Enginehead in April by Joe Kelly and Ted McKeever. He’s a little of everything and a like a whole lot of nothing you’ve ever seen.
The short version as to what he is, and what he’s about, Enginehead is a new character set in the DCU, created from old. As for what he does, well…he keeps the world spinning.
Really.
Forgive that lame Bush joke and check out Newsarama
Ahh, they are a tricky group, Kelly and Keever are. They mention Enginehead in the same breath as Aztek and Monolith. Now, I am basically powerless to do anything but buy the damn thing. Oh yes, you are a crafty bunch.
Thankfully, the concept sounds pretty cool too (although not, as they point out, kewl), so it is not as if I am being coerced into buying eye burning horror.
The Monolith comparison, beyond the timing and non-traditional superhero bend, is actually a smart one. In some ways, if Enginehead plays out in a manner consistent with this interview, then he and Monolith are complimentary pieces. Monolith can only see good and evil and is entirely unable to reason beyond that. Evil is evil and must be punished. He cannot even contemplate the consequences of that.
Enginehead, on the other hand, can see all of the consequences and is stuck with a system of morality that it (he?) must reconcile with the events that will be set off by any good deeds it might perform. He knows all the bad that come from doing good, but is still compelled to do good. Monolith essentially lacks the gift of choice, Enginehead’s cup runneth over.
So yes, Keever and Kelly, your character name dropping has coerced me, but at least you had the decision to coerce me with quality.
Hawkman…Just a Guy with a Metal Lollipop?
As CBR News has learned over time, there’s not many ways to faze writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti. No question is too tough or too inquisitive. But when CBR News sat down with the duo to discuss their new job as writers of DC Comics’ “Hawkman” series, CBR News learned one thing: don’t ask them what “Hawkman” is all about.
Get in touch with your inner reincarnated warrior at Comic Book Resources
It is late while I am writing this and I don’t want to give some sort of half assed assessment of this interview and pretend I gave it my all. So, instead, let me just say that my headline is based on one of the funnier lines from the article and that Palmiotti and Gray demonstrate a true enthusiasm for the character. They talk a great game and seem to have the commitment to the subject matter to back it up. There we go. Short, but sweet.
This One Is Dedicated to Eric Alexander…and…Danny Elfman
It’s tough being a hero when the entire world’s kind of at peace and there aren’t any supervillains to fight. Seaguy can’t give up though. He still thinks there’s a neat for heroes – or, at least, a need for him to dress up as a hero and try to find some signs of evil. With his faithful companion, Chubby Da Choona, and writer Grant Morrison and artist Cameron Stewart, Seaguy hopes to make a splash in the sea of comics sameness.
Chubby Da Choona is a fish and he smokes a cigar and that is why you must visit The Pulse Do you really need another reason?
So why is this dedicated to Eric? Well, a few weeks ago, he wrote me to ask what had happened to Cameron Stewart and Darwyn Cooke, the former Catwoman artists. Well, as he is no doubt aware, Cooke is writing and drawing New Frontier. And this, this is what Stewart is doing. And I say good for him.
Yes, it does seem like there are bits of Morrison’s trademark “weird for weird’s sake†stylistic tics (bearded lady, anyone?), but they are being done with a sense of fun and weird for weird’s sake when done with a sense of fun is usually a sure bet for entertainment. Plus, it is Grant Morrison, comic’s resident mad genius. I am incapable of drawing and if he called me and asked to draw his next comic, I’d seriously consider it. Eternal shame would be the result, but hey, I could always say I worked with him. So, on the whole, I think I’d end up ahead of the game.
As for the Elfman dedication? What, are you too good to show the former Oingo Boingo frontman some love? Yeah, I thought not.
Focus the Spotlight on Pleece
Warren Pleece is one of the talents working within the DC Focus line. Pleece is drawing Kelley Pluckett’s Kinetic series. It’s got more drama than most WB shows and shows real people dealing with real powers. If capes don’t excite you, and Vertigo is a little too out there, check out this newest addition to the DCU.
Read the sadly too short piece at The Pulse
I hate to say this because I am usually very pleased with the Pulse’s output, but this feature piece is just too short. I know the man is relatively unknown and Kinetic seems unlikely to make a huge sales impact, but there is so little about the man or the book that I question why put it up in the first place. Even if it was not direct quotes from Pleece, some background on him or Kinetic would have done wonders for rounding out the piece and lent it some weight. Unfortunately, as it stands, I’m just not receiving enough information about the creator or the creation to have anything to react to. No reaction typically equals no interest, which is too bad.
Scratch is About a Werewolf. Don’t Get Nervous Though, Batman Shows Up Too
Sam Kieth is probably best known the creator of “The Maxx” and is fondly remembered for his work on Marvel’s “Wolverine,” and then there’s been more recent projects like “Zero Girl” for DC Comics. This June he’s hoping you’ll take the time to get to know his latest creation, “Scratch.”
Because a werewolf and Batman cannot be ignored, you must go to Comic Book Resources
Batman, DC’s go-to guest star. His dozen or so books are not nearly enough to contain him so all new titles are contractually obligated to have him show up sometime within the first year. Little known DC bylaw.
You know Marvel and Image have one of these bylaws too, Wolverine & Savage Dragon respectively. Bet you didn’t know that.
Ladies and Gentlemen, PAD is At Your Mercy
WE WANT YOU … to interview PETER DAVID! That’s right readers, here’s a new feature at THE PULSE that allows you to ask a subject the questions, and he or she’ll provide the answers! Plus the best question will get a special prize. Up first is Peter David.
Throw The Pulse a little love at The Pulse
So I’ll be asking for your participation in a little while on a debate and right now The Pulse needs it too. Between the two choices, I say my request is more important. But the Pulse is cool, too. Perhaps you could do both? Just a thought.
Are Comics Really for Kids?
There is a strange, creeping conservatism that’s coming into comics since the end of Preacher. Somehow, it seems to have to do with the best of the UK authors getting their filthy perv mitts on Stan and Jack’s characters over in Marvel-land. Sure, cripple Barbara Gordon in the 1980s! Publish Watchmen to critical acclaim that made comics be taken more seriously by the non-comics mainstream than before! But, when you’re talking MY four-colored comics, some fanboys seem to feel, you’re going TOO FAR! Superhero comics are for kids, they yell as justification for their anger… That Mark Millar with his treating characters who are over 18 in their fictional worlds as if they’re actually adults is too much! Mark Millar has become a main focus point for this “I want comics to be like they were when I grew up” fan rage.
Prepare for the debate at Silver Bullet Comics
I am putting this up for two reasons. The first, it is well written. The second is, more importantly, to incite debate. The fact is that for as long as I can remember the debate has been that in order to save comics we must return them to the children. But what if they were never for kids in the first place? Go to the 411mania boards and check out the topic on it and espouse your feelings. I will try to get the Roundtable to dissect the issue as well. Read the article, think about it, and then write your feelings to me at parallax2@juno.com or on the message board. I think this topic is ripe to be truly analyzed and who better to do than the fans.
As promised, here are the winners of the “Best Comic Book Experience†Contest, in no particular order: John Britton, Marcus Mebes, RA Goodard, Matt Heywood, and Robbie Doldan. Please e-mail this week if you are one of these fine folks to let me know that you are okay with me reprinting your entry next week and to give me your delivery info so I can send you your free comics.
The Un Gajje, He Giveth, and He Taketh Away
