Great news everybody. I’M GOING ON VACATION! Well, sort of. I am actually going to San Diego to cover the Convention, with Ben Morse. That is right, you all have three days worth of constant updates to look for from the two best looking gents at 411. Hot Tim on Ben…umm…that does not sound right. Hmm…hot Tim and Ben writing action. Holla!
Finally, An End to the Rotating Madness
Dreamt of by fans as the heir apparent to the writer’s chair of JLA for years thanks to his stint on Marvel’s Avengers, DC’s solicitations for October made dreams come true – Kurt Busiek would be writing an eight part arc on the book, featuring the return of the Crime Syndicate of Amerika.
But would that be all? Patience, grasshopper.
First off, as solicits revealed, Busiek’s storyline would be spun from threads from JLA/Avengers, specifically, the Space Egg that showed up at the end of the miniseries. Was this some devious plan all long, planned by Busiek to guarantee him work at a later date?
Or, more simply, what came first, the gig or the space egg?
Visit the creative team that got DC to wise up at Newsarama
Before I even discuss the plans that Busiek has for the future of the JLA, let us acknowledge and give it up for DC. First of all, the tapping of the fan favorite, continuity loving (and well utilizing) Busiek is great. Look at his Avengers work, even while he was very very sick and see how good he is at handling large, iconic super teams. Even at the end of the too long Kang storyline that closed his run, there was much to be read and enjoyed.
The other thing DC deserves credit for (and I am sure my good friend Ben feels the same) finally ditching the rotating creator approach to JLA. It was an interesting idea, but it stagnated the title and ultimately hurt sales. Plus, Ben and I weren’t big fans. And really, why would DC do anything that Ben and I didn’t care for? I mean, really now.
As for the plans for the title, SWEET return of the CSA. The Earth 2 graphic novel is one of those things that cannot help but grab off the bookshelf at least once every 2 months or so and reread it. It is so good that I always enjoy it. Love the concept, love the execution. Obviously, Busiek will come at it with a different approach that Morrison, but I am excited to see what that approach is.
The cosmic egg/JLA v. Avengers connection is less of a thrill to me (I enjoyed the series enough on its own that I don’t need to see it connect to either universe) but I do enjoy that something is actually being done with an inter company crossover. And by something, I mean something besides Access. He…well, he blows.
My only disappointment: the Jon Stewart (sadly, not the comedian/Daily Show anchorman) Green Lantern. I like that GL a lot actually, but…I just wish that Kyle would get a chance to return. Silly, admittedly, but that’s just how I feel. I mean, the poor guy has no home, no girl, and very possibly no life or superpowers shortly. Wouldn’t it be nice if he had a brief return to JLA glory before it all falls apart? Yeah, I’m a softee.
A Michael Mann Movie…In Comic Book Form?
One of the things that has attracted fans to DC Comics’ superhero universe- affectionately called the DCU- is the plethora of second tier heroes; heroes whose exploits are never as widely read as Superman or Batman and who never seem to be able to carry their own series for whatever reason. The “Manhunter” character has been a staple in the DCU for some time, but come August, this won’t be the Manhunter you know. As part of CBR’s spotlight on fresh new DC superhero series, CBR News spoke with “Manhunter” writer Marc Andreyko and the scribe provided some background for the all-new, all-different series.
Check out the comic Manhunter that has nothing to do with the movie Manhunter at Comic Book Resources. Guess that means no Day Glo letters or IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA on the stereo. Too bad.
You know what is embarrassing? This is the third or fourth write up that I have done on Manhunter and this is the first time that I realized that the writer in question, Marc Andreyko, also was Bendis’s collaborator on Torso. How the hell did I miss that?
With that realization, Manhunter has transitioned from a “maybe I’ll glance at it and decide†title to a “yes, that will be mine†book. Torso is so excellent that anything written by Andreyko gets a trial run. Provided I am aware enough to realize who he is.
These Are Strange Days We Are Living in Today
Rocket pack. Check. Ray gun. Check. Crazy British writer. Check.
What more could a new “Adam Strange” series ever need?
This September, one of DC Comics’ premier science heroes returns in an eight-issue mini-series by acclaimed writer Andy Diggle (“The Losers,” “Swamp Thing,” “2000 A.D”) and artist Pascal Ferry (“Action Comics,” “Tom Strong,” “Wildcats 3.0”). As part of CBR’s continuing spotlight on DC Comics series that are changing the face of the DC Universe, CBR News spoke with Diggle about the series and explained Strange’s history for new readers.
Ride the Zeta Beam over to Comic Book Resources.
So if you’re illustrating Superman, steadily, for over a year, what would be your next project?
If you answered “X-Men” or some such top ten series, then that’d be the logical answer.
But if you answered “Adam Strange,” then you’d be artist Pascal Ferry, a man of passion and man who follows his passions. Illustrating the new “Adam Strange” mini series, on which writer Andy Diggle spoke yesterday, is Ferry and he took some time to talk to CBR News about his involvement with “Strange,” as part of CBR’s spotlight on fresh DC Comics series.
Umm…ride another Zeta Beam on over to Comic Book Resources. YEAH!
The direction Andy Diggle is taking Adam Strange in this story while, on the surface might make a die hard fan nervous (the drunk on the streets of Gotham thing, mostly), seems to be smart and faithful. For me, the description of Strange as Indy in outer space with a jet pack instead of a whip nails it. It is a nice Hollywood type of an encapsulation of who Strange is and any comparison to Indy is smart. There is a reason that Harrison Ford still gets role even though he has been showing about as much contempt for his craft these days as Brando did. That reason is Indy. Yes, I know he played other memorable roles, including Han Solo. Still, in no other role did Ford seem to come so alive on screen.
Anyway, where were we?
Oh, right. Adam Strange. It looks to be a cool update that takes the best parts of the older tales while crafting a unique direction of its own. In other words, good.
Now Departing An Age of Magic for a Life During Wartime
Announced at last year’s Comic Con International: San Diego, Books of Magick: Life During Wartime hits this week. The new ongoing Vertigo series returns Tim Hunter, who was first introduced in The Books of Magic in 1990 by Neil Gaiman and John Bolton.
Prophesied to one day be the most powerful Magician seen in the DCU, Tim was taken on a journey of discover in that first miniseries, which then spun out into a franchise for Vertigo. The story continued in an ongoing The Books of Magic series from 1994 through 2000, then into The Names of Magic from 2001 through 2002; and then Hunter: The Age of Magic which lasted for 25 issues, through September of 2003.
The announcement of the new series immediately had buzz about it, as it was also announced that Gaiman would have a role in the series’ direction, helping shape the initial stories, which would then be fleshed out by Si Spencer.
Who?
Don’t worry – we caught up with him for a how do you do, as well as a look at what’s coming in Books of Magick: LDW
Enter the War Zone at Newsarama
This is very good news for the Tim Hunter franchise. Gaiman on as something of a script supervisor (think Joss Whedon on Buffy or Abrahms on Alias) and an accomplished BBC scripter, Si Spencer on for the actual issue scripts is a smart idea. Therefore, I feel pretty silly zoning in on one random quote, but here I go.
Spencer says in the interview, “Tim’s a great character, almost an archetype and one I particularly relate to; the reluctant Messiah.†Obviously, Spenser means he can relate to the character of Tim and, as a side note, that Tim is a reluctant Messiah. However, to be a jerk, (as I known to do) and take Si at face value, Si relates to being a reluctant Messiah.
With a resume like that, how can LDW fail?
DC Catches the Lower Price Fever
Following the success of last year’s offer of THE BATMAN ARCHIVES VOLUME 1 HC (STAR14307) for just $19.95, DC unveils lower pricing on select first volumes in some of its longest-running Archives.
See why Batman and Superman, former pinnacles of justice, are now just cheap at The Pulse
Let’s give it up for lower prices!
Now, let’s give it up for me!
No? Okay…let’s give it up for lower prices again!
NOSTAGLIA TIME (With Special Thanks to VH-1)
Batman #582-607
While looking back at the Hush storyline last week, I was reminded of the Brubaker (and Vaughan fill-in) written and Scott McDaniel illustrated run that had preceeded it. I remembered enjoying it. I certainly remember it being a vast improvement over the previous Hama run that eventually had Batman dressed as the action figure Deep Sea Armor Batman and battling Willy’s cousin, the female Killer Whale looking super villain Orca.
However, like many, I am sure, I quickly forgot about it as I was swept up in the hype of the Loeb/Lee run. So, to be fair, here is a look back at the issues before Hush, or BH as historians call it.
The work unfolded over 25 issues and several storylines. Thus, a different beast than Hush, obviously. However, I am creature of habit, so again I’ll be using the time tested (stolen) approach I used last time.
What I Liked
A lot. A whole lot, actually.
First, Brubaker’s Batman felt multidimensional. Of course he was still consumed with his quest, (do we really want our Batman any other way?), but Bats showed sides beyond that. We got a brief look back at his life before and after the killing of his parents and how that effected his relationship with his first crush. We saw him re-embrace the identity of Bruce Wayne. We saw him deal with the loss of a friend’s life by tearing apart Penguin’s as Bruce and Batman and deal with the loss of Gordon, in a particularly stirring scene that finds him, alone, in Gordon’s backyard waiting for counsel that never comes from the former commissioner. In the post Murderer/Fugitive world, Brubaker was the one Bat writer that made it seem as though Batman truly had regained something in reclaiming his civilian ID. Great characterization of the Dark Knight.
Of course, as always, a hero is only as interesting as his villains, and Brubaker (and Vaughan) delivered on this front as well. Penguin’s increasing frustration with the twin attacks of Batman on his illegal operations and Bruce Wayne on his legal land holdings is palpable. It even gives rise to the best issue of the “Batman Dies†fiasco in which Cobblepot, in a darkly hilarious daydream, imagines the deaths of his rivals and getting away with it scott free. Deadshot and Cain also get some moments in the spotlight, most notably when they face off to see which of the two has the bigger death wish, with Batman and a fleet of GCPD stuck in between.
Brubaker also introduced two new villains in the form of bodyguard Zeiss and the vengeful Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a solid one storyline villain who showed a path that Batman might have taken and reminded Bats why Wayne was such an important part of who he is. Zeiss, on the other hand, is still kicking around the DCU, most notably in Brubaker’s Catwoman work. Many have not found much to like about him, but I enjoyed his arrogance and bizarre moral/loyality streak. A nice addition to the Bat rogues as there are very few who can really go toe to toe with Batman and hold their own.
Even Vaughan’s fill in issues did a good job with villains, taking the often laughable Ventriloquist and centering him as the lead villain in a story about shattered identities. As Batman battles his own fragmentation, the Ventriloquist is a clear example of the dangers that traveling down that road can bring. Plus, Vaughan as Nightwing guest star without the benefit of a crossover or excessive hand wringing about their relationship. Hey, I like a good hand wringing as much as the next guy, but sometimes it is just nice to see why Dick and Bruce made such a great team in the first place.
But the key to Brubaker’s run, to beat a horse one last time, was characterization. Although this was the “superhero†book of the Batman set, the action never eclipsed the narrative. This was not a book of overblown action and cheesy out of character one liners, as it was in Hama’s hands. The action was there, but thickened by heart and substance. Action does not mean anything if we don’t care who it is happening to or why. Brubaker made sure we did.
What I Didn’t Like
Two things hurt this run. One was crossovers. Sadly, the DCU, (and the Bat portion in particular) went crossover crazy at this time so Bruce Wayne: Murderer, Bruce Wayne: Fugitive, Officer Down, Our World at War, and Last Laugh all butted in at random moments. The most frustrating part came during Murderer and Fugitive when some issues were included in the crossover, some weren’t. If Part 1 of a two-parter was a Fugitive crossover, well, there was no guarantee that 2 would be, even though both contained the same amount of Fugitive moments. Why? Why not!
The other was the fact that it ended. As covered last week, I very much liked Hush. However, the stuff here was great and, freed from those constant crossovers, the Brubaker/McDaniel collaboration could have been even better. Sales wise, the ending of this run was a perfectly logical move. Still, I wonder what might have been.
Bottom Line
Great Batman stories that were too often interrupted by excessive crossovers and ended too soon by a mega-creator event. If you like your Batman as smart force to be reckoned with who still manages to have a personality beyond one dimensional brooding, these issues are worth picking up. There’s even some humor. In a Bat book! Weird, huh?
Our time together is oh so short, I cannot help but be saddened. Oh well. Check in towards the end of the week for our Convention coverage and dig my wit just a little more often. Que bueno, no?
Un Gajje loved the 90’s too. He’s just not sure if it is too soon to reminisce.
