Brad Meltzer owns this column this week. Seriously. He swooped down like Ghidrah or Mothra or Rodan or MechaGhidrah, well, really like any of the Godzilla monsters that were known for swooping, and stole this column from all other takers. To mix monster metaphors, he snagged it, carried it to the top of the Empire State Building and has been swatting biplanes away from it for hours.
Yeah, there’s a lot of Meltzer coverage this week.
FREE Stuff!!!
On September 9, retailers will receive free copies of a special new printing of DC Comics’ FALLEN ANGEL #1 (PROM60034), featuring the first story from the FALLEN ANGEL TP (APR040304). This issue, which features the words “This issue free” on the cover, is written by Peter David, with art by David Lopez & Fernando Blanco and cover art by Brian Stelfreeze. The issue also includes a letter to readers from David.
Love the freeness at Newsarama
A very bright idea, this is. At first, I admit, I was a touched confused. “What customer wants issue #1 from god knows how long ago if they missed the boat the first time. Especially, when the trade is available?” I thought to myself. But then, I saw the free factor and the puzzle came together for me. Good to see DC getting behind a critics’ darling with a unique plan.
May 7th: It’s Not a Day That is A Week Before My Birthday Anymore
At today’s Diamond Retail Summit in Baltimore, the date for 2005’s Free Comic Book Day was announced: May 7th, moving it back to the first weekend of May.
More freeness at Newsarama
Glad to see that Free Comic Book Day is still running, very uninterested in the politics of it. I feel kind of bad for DC since Marvel has been lucky enough to have their movies coming out on the weekend of FCBD and DC’s first opportunity to do the same is voted down. Still, it is not like (despite an odd post in the talkback section that seems to indicate he thinks otherwise) Batman Begins needs FCBD to be successful.
The real question is does FCBD need movies to be successful? Has movies made it particularly successful in the first place? Guess this could be the chance to find out.
Levitz Follows Ben and I’s Lead
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund last night announced that Paul Levitz has accepted a seat on its Board of Directors. The announcement came Sunday night during a dinner with members of DC’s retailer focus group (the RRP) preceding Diamond’s Baltimore Retailer Summit.
Go to The Pulse to read this article. That is, unless you hate democracy.
This is great about Mr. Levitz and all. I certainly salute him and congratulate him.
But let’s talk about me. And Ben. And you. And why you seem to hate comics and/or America. Cause I am guessing you don’t belong to the CBLDF and Ben and I do. And Jim Lee says that makes us cool”¦and patriots. But most importantly, cool.
Don’t you want to be cool?
An Objectivist Superhero in Superman’s Court
DC’s got The Question and this November readers can start getting answers when the first of six issues hits the stands. Written by Rick Veitch, The Question and his TV journalist alter ego Vic Sage are brought to life by artist Tommy Lee Edwards. To get into the art mind set for this series, Edwards told THE PULSE he was “channeling Al Parker, Coby Whitmore, Bob Peak, Bernie Fuchs, Austin Briggs, and many more.”
I used my Question pun last week so just look at The Pulse, okay? Sorry I suck.
Everyone always mentions Ayn Rand in connection with the Question because of Steve Ditko’s own belief in objectivism and how he developed the Question in accordance with those beliefs. It has always struck me as interesting as the modern interpretation of Rand’s thinking seems as unlikely as any to advocate an individual taking on the role of a street level superhero.
My Rand is rusty (to say the least) so I cannot comment with a 100 percent certainty that today’s objectivism is a perversion of her ideal, but as it typically goes with ideals, I expect it is. Additionally, the school of thought on objectivism did go through a split in the recent past in which one group declared itself “open” and thus began to talk to and ally themselves with libertarian groups who share similar, but not exactly, the same ideas. The other group said they were closed and due to Rand’s principal that “Reality exists as an objective absoluteâ€â€facts are facts, independent of man’s feelings, wishes, hopes or fears,” they were in the right in doing so. In other words, because reality is absolute and objectivism is reality, objectivism is absolute and thus why bother hearing or considering the incorporation of other ideas.
But that, I suppose, is little more than a nice piece of trivia. What I had always felt odd about the question is that the popular conception of objectivism is very much based on individualism. That is, to use Rand’s own words, each individual “must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself.” Now what is a hero but one who builds a life out of self sacrifice? Similarly what is a (good) investigative journalist but one who builds a life out of self sacrifice? Therefore, to me, Vic Sage always seemed pretty lousy at living up to the objectivist ideal.
On the other hand, the first principle, that of the absolute of reality, also gave rise to the idea of an absolute right. Now this makes sense in the context of the Question, especially under Ditko’s direction. Obviously, subsequent years and creators have muddied up that idea, but an absolute right remains a very strong concept on which to build a superhero.
A Full Preview of King James”¦The Non-Biblical One
Sniff, sniff. Smell that. It smells like cross promotion at Flava 23
Welcome to the Meltzer Corner of the World, Please Enjoy Your Stay
Three issues, two corpses, and the body count’s reportedly not done climbing. At his website, Identity Crisis writer Brad Meltzer has posted the cover of Decembe’s final issue of the miniseries that, for better or worse has had virtually every DC fan talking this summer.
Look at these covers and tell me you didn’t fall in love with comics all over again at Newsarama
Like you thought you were going to be able to escape the week without another speculation-fest on Identity Crisis. Sure, while writer Brad Meltzer may be kicking back watching the premiere of Jack & Bobby on The WB, you’ve got three pages (6,7, and 8) of next week’s 40-page issue #4 to chew on.
Mmm”¦tasty preview pages at Newsarama
Superheroes die all the time. Superman kicked the bucket a few years ago but was back in no time soaring through the skies. Batman’s sidekick Robin also bit the dust once. Capes fall and refill again, a new story begins, and crimefighting goes on … So after that, what’s the worst thing that could happen to a fantastical crusader?
Ahh, the AP wire. Always last to the comic book party. Check out their coverage at Yahoo News
Comics aren’t Brad Meltzer’s only game.
But you knew that, right?
Sunday night at 9:00 pm, Meltzer makes his latest media jump. Having started with novels, Meltzer came to comics, following Kevin Smith on Green Arrow for a spell, before writing this summe’s DC crossover series Identity Crisis, which has been perched atop the bestselling comics list since its debut issue.
But on Sunday, Meltzer takes on television, with the premiere of Jack & Bobby on The WB, an hour-long drama about two teenage brothers, one of whom will grow up to be President of the United States. And no, despite the name, it’s not a historical series. Jack and Bobby’s last name is McCallister.
So, Meltzer is a best selling author, a best selling comic writer and the creator of one of the most well reviewed new shows of the fall season? Read about the poor bastard at Newsarama
Brad Meltzer is a best-selling author of novels and comic books and now has a TV series, Jack & Bobby he co-created with pal Steve “Scoop” Cohen set to debut this Sunday on the WB. With the success of Identity Crisis and the promotion the WB is doing for Jack & Bobby it seems as if this is Meltzer’s year! The story features two brothers. One is destined to grow up to become the President of the United States – to hold the fate of the free world in his hands, but right now he’s just a teenager living with his mother and brother.
More TV coverage here at The Pulse
It occurs to me, as I look over all these links, that basically every comic related website out there (and some that have nothing to do with comics) had Meltzer coverage in the past week. Except us. So, give it up for us, huh?
I was going to link to Ben Morse’s review of Jack & Bobby as he was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of the pilot episode (even before AOL did!), but I can’t seem to find it on our site. So, either I’m no good at surfing the web or Ben got really busy.
Either way, undoubtedly, both of these events are my fault. (Actually, straight from the man himself, Mr. Meltzer is holding his tongue until the end of Identity Crisis). I apologize for the lack of Meltzer coverage guys. But the good news is, there are copious links here for you folks to read to ease the pain of me being no good at my job. Enjoy them at my insistence.
Now don’t say I never gave you anything”¦ Ben’s Jack & Bobby Review. – The Overlord
OPINIONS ON THE WORK OF PEOPLE FAR MORE TALENTED THAN I
BLOODHOUND #3
Well this sold me. Issue #1 got me mildly interested. Issue #2 told me that interest was not a mistake. This issue places the book on my pull list.
It just worked. From page the first to page the last, the story was well crafted, the dialogue fit the characters, and the art meshed nicely.
The only complaint I have at all at this point is minor, but needs to be said. I am disappointed to see Bloodhound fall into the cliché of an excellent tracker/profiler who essentially only finds the villain when the villain announces himself. Clevenge’s speech earlier in the issue refers to the idea that always those who want to be found ever really are and that is well and good with me. Still, that implies an element of searching and discovery of the villain. Most profiler-type pieces, and Bloodhound here in particular, don’t actually show us this side, instead having the killer basically show up on the hero’s doorstep.
What is here is great, I was just hoping to actually see a tracker track down a killer for once. Instead, the killer outs himself and I only have the characters’ words to prove the Clevenger is legendary good at what he does.
GOTHAM CENTRAL #23
It is nice to check back in with Montoya and Allen as they are two of my favorite cops on the Gotham police force. That is not to say I don’t enjoy Rider and Co. because I do. However, these two I have known longer and have, thus, developed more of a connection to their characters. It also allows us a chance to revisit plotlines from the Half a Life story which was the high water mark of this comic so far (although Unresolved was pretty damn close).
The Black Spider (who I haven’t seen since the days of Kelley Jones and his extra long Bat ears) kicks off this issue, but he is only the catalyst for the story, not the focus. That’s a nice change of pace from the Joker and Mad Hatter storyline in which the villains were very much the center piece. Here Spider only figures into a story that has more to do with police politics than it does with the crossover madness whipping through Gotham these days.
Figuring into these politics is Corrigan, from the corone’s office. But you thought that Corrigan was the deceased alter ego of former Spirit of Vengeance, The Spectre? Well, so did I. And while this issue does not reveal what one might have to do with the other, we are getting a better rounded portrait of him which is only serving to get me more interested.
Did I mention that you have no excuse for not buying this book?
Tim, do you mind if I jump in here and second that? Yeah, I didn’t think so, READ GOTHAM CENTRAL!!! What like you didn’t expect to see me when Gotham Central was being discussed”¦please! – The Overlord
GREEN ARROW #42
Mia’s return to costume is welcome as is Conno’s continuing role of ego to Oliver Queen’s fast decision making id. There is a nice moment of shocking violence that more effectively shows the cold blooded nature of Brick than anything else he has perpetrated to date.
Besides those three moments, this issue feels a bit like it is marking time. Strong dialogue and art lessen the blow some, but the story displays little forward momentum in 22 pages. Not bad, but certainly not the best Winick has to offer.
JSA #65
Tyler has returned, let us all rejoice. It is a good time to be Tim Stevens reading JSA as Sand returned to the team last issue and the android Hourman has homecoming here. Two of my favorite characters from the opening issues of this series coming back leave me just tickled pink.
But lest you think that character returns are all that recommend this title, let me point out that just isn’t so. Doctor Mid Nite (another favorite of mine) is given to shine in his “day” job as he rushes against time (under an hour) to save the life of Rick Tyler, the second Hourman, from the injuries he sustained during Princes of Darkness. Hourman talks cryptically about JSA/JSA and Courtney’s (another favorite”¦are we sensing a theme here?) important role in said event.
All this, plus Solomon Grundy (he was born on a Monday you know) causing all sorts of damage and hitting on Stargirl. Pretty cool.
NIGHTWING #97
Very disappointing.
War Games has ground itself to a bit of halt the past few issues and this one, despite what would be considered a big reveal, is sadly no exception.
The big reveal is a good one and one that makes logical sense considering it has been being built to long before War Games even came up. However, the art fails the subject matter as it portrays the figure as hulking (and not in an artistic conception sort of way) which this character very much is not. Additionally, towards the end of the issue there is a scene in which a gangster brandishing a golf club sees the face of the big player and falls apart, “no, it can’t be you,” style. Again, this just doesn’t match the character. He is not a physically threatening individual and while he might be intimidating in a manipulator sense, there is nothing in the characte’s past to suggest Senor Golf Club had any reason to fall apart so thoroughly.
The real problem with this issue occurs in the final three to four pages in which it feels as if DC left out the real pages and replaced it with an incongruous splash page of Dick kicking people. It is a disruptive choice and serves to undermine the two events that were converging at that moment.
TEEN TITANS #15
That little storyline that could concludes. Despite my copious faith in Mr. Johns, I really had no interest in reading this arc when I read about it in solicitations many months ago. Now, the three issues done, I am man enough to admit I was wrong in my indifference. There isn’t anything mind blowing here. It is just a well told story. Nothing wrong with a comic that does that.
That’s it. I’m out. Hope you enjoyed our Brad Meltzer Special and we’ll see you next week.
Un Gajje: Protector Of Liberty
