My column sense is tingling. That must mean it’s time for a new column! I had a great weekend. Not only did I actually find some Breyer’s Cherry Vanilla ice cream, but I also got a dozen Krispy Kreme devils food doughnuts! I’m so glad that I have a quick metabolism and I don’t have to worry about gaining weight.
Same here! Thanks to four years of high school wrestling, I seemingly can never exceed 150 pounds and always look like I’ve at least sort of been working out when I haven’t for months at a time! Whoa”¦that’s kind of like a super power! I rock! We rock, M! –B
I also want to thank B for proving to be the stalwart editor. I made some pretty harsh comments in this week’s Ultimate Marvel News, and B printed every last one of them. No censoring, no editing anything out. I commend you B.
You truly blew me away with your work on Ultimate Marvel News & Views, M. I mean, we all went pretty hardcore for that beauty, but you pulled no punches and showed a ballsiness and complete lack of regard for criticism I’ve not seen since a young Jesse Baker; to cut a single letter would have been criminal. I did actually have to cut a page because the column was too friggin’ long for the comicsnexus server, but luckily it was just Jamie and I, so we didn’t lose anything worthwhile. –B
Links
DOL is tops in my heart.
You can find what you’re looking for in TV or Games or Music or Sports or Figures.
Joe and Hayhurst have the answers to all your questions.
The other Joe has tons of news on movies & comic movies!
Witness the ugly side of democracy; yes the outcome of the DC vs Marvel tourney.
B, anything you feel like linking?
Unfortunately I didn’t do a column this week because I was busy churning out the aforementioned Ultimate Marvel News & Views. Luckily, my partner in crime Daron makes sure to cover by bringing back the much missed Missing The Boat, so good on him. Did I mention Ultimate Marvel News & Views? –B
What I Read Last Week
JLA/Avengers Hardcover This book is amazing. If you get the chance you should really purchase this. It is so worth every penny. The extras are phenomenal. The tale of two industry giants who clash over the pettiest of details. The pages from the original proposed series. Plus you get the implication that Rob Liefeld his hard up for cash. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Human Target #14 This is the book that I always sit down and read first, as soon as I get back from the shop. This maybe my favorite book out. Please try this title.
Madrox #1 I’m truly happy that this book is out. Jamie Madrox is my favorite Marvel character, especially when Peter David is writing. I loved this issue.
Identity Crisis #4 Talk about a bummer. I swore Ray Palmer was the guy behind it. I’m bummed out.
I can’t believe you bought that rumor. This issue was a bit slower than the rest, but that’s what happens when you set the bar so high. It was still awesome and my second favorite read of the week (behind the sleeper juggernaut of Cable/Deadpool #7) and Meltzer is scoring big time as well with Jack & Bobby as the second episode was even better than the first. –B
Adventures of Superman #632 Wow. I was blown away by this issue. Clark’s devotion to Lois is beautiful. This was one of the most touching comics I’ve ever read. The fact that Superman basically exposed his secret identity to save Lois is amazing.
Hawkman #32 It has space nazis, how good could it really be?
Teen Titans #15 Finally this story is done. The past few issues have really sucked out a lot of my enthusiasm for this book. And this issue reveals that Gar isn’t the tortured soul B thought he was.
No, it just showed that Gar has many sides to him. Trust me, the tortured part is still there as well, but he’s never hated the being different part of his life, just his friends and family dying and everything. –B
JLA Secret Files & Origins 2004 Review forthcoming.
Well done by Joe Kelly, one of my favorite oft-overlooked writers.
Fraction #6 Read my review.
Wanted #5 Review Forthcoming.
Charles Hargrove correctly placed the lyric at the end of the last column. Here’s his question.
Who is Snapper Carr and why is he important? I seem to have missed him in my comics reading.
Lucas “Snapper” Carr was just your typical cool cat hanging out in Happy Harbor, where he lived. He also had a habit of snapping his fingers. Then there was this alien called Starro the Conqueror, y’know the giant starfish looking bad guy? Anyway Starro had the inhabitants of Happy Harbor under his mind control. Everyone, that is except Snapper. Snapper was immune to the mind control because he had been doing some landscaping that involved Lime. The lime protected Snapper from Starro’s influence. The JLA arrived and saved the day, with a huge assist from Snapper.
M fails to address that following JLA: Year One, Snapper was retconned to be the JLA’s mechanic and the nephew of Simon Carr, the liason to their mysterious financier (Oliver Queen aka Green Arrow) before the Starro adventure took place. So now, Snapper didn’t just happen to be there, he was there because he was fixing something at the Cave. –B
The JLA of course made him an honorary member of the JLA. He got to do cool things, like Monitor Duty (yay!) Of course being an honorary member of the JLA isn’t always fun and games; he’s been used as a pawn to attack the League by both the Joker and the Key.
I have the issue where the Joker uses Snapper to infiltrate the League and it’s an emotional tale that stands the test of time. Joker disguises himself as a motivational speaker standing up for normalcy and Snapper begins to follow him because of an inferiority complex he’s developed due to hanging around with super-heroes all the time. He wasn’t seen much after this and the spectre of his actions continue to haunt him to this day. –B
When the Invasion of aliens happened, and the metagenes were activated Snapper found that he had teleportation abilities. He could travel anywhere he could visualize. He hooked up with some other humans who gained powers during Invasion and they became The Blasters. They had some adventures in space (most notably in the Blaster’s Special and on the pages of Valor.
Next Snapper showed up hanging out with the Android Hourman from the future. With his help Hourman learned about life and even got a secret identity. Over the course of that title we learned why Snapper no longer had the ability to teleport. During one of his adventures with the Blasters, they were captured. Snapper’s hands were cut off. He lost his powers, but thanks to Vril Dox, of L.E.G.I.O.N. fame, Snappers grew some new hands. And thus Snapper was just a regular guy again. A regular guy who tended to hang out with super heroes.
Snapper next appeared on the pages of Young Justice. In that title Snapper tried to pass down his life experiences and wisdom to the next generation of heroes. Sometimes they listened some times they didn’t. I don’t recall seeing Snapper recently.
He showed up in Young Justice because Red Tornado was having personal problems and asked Snapper to fill in for him as the kids’ liaison to the Justice League. The only appearance he has made since YJ ended was an out-of-continuity one in JLA/Avengers #3. –B
Valor, Hourman, Young Justice? Basically Snapper Carr is a mark of a quality book. Wherever you see Snapper you know that book is full of goodness. B, do you care to explain your “Snapper Carr is behind Identity Crisis” theory?
It’s not exactly only my theory”¦I did think of it on my own, but have read it many other places on the net as well. The theory is simply that with his dormant teleportation powers, Snapper could have gotten in and out and committed the murders; he’s also got ties to the League (so he’d know secret identities and would elicit the shock of betrayal the victims have displayed) and a mechanical know how as well as experience running the League’s security system (hence how he could bypass the Kryptonian/Martian/Thanagarian/etc. tech.). He’s got a history of mental problems due to his screwups and could have snapped, or another baddie could be using him as they often have in the past. Just a theory. –B
Joshua F.H. Hoskins you correctly placed the lyric in the last column, but you didn’t ask a question. Fortunately I’ve been saving one of yours for an occasion like that.
My question for the week is this…… In Superman/Batman they showed a pink female Steel, and a dark haired Supergirl. Who are they?
Well the new Steel is really just John Henry Iron’s niece, Natasha. When John was hurt too badly to continue heroing, Natasha took over the role. She has a nifty new suit and a customized hammer. Plus thanks to new technology she as all sorts of powers like the ability to get really big. I hope she gets more time in the Super books, but I doubt it.
I don’t mind having Natasha around and in armor, she’s always been a cool character, but I’d like to get John back as a full time Steel as well. –B
And Cir El was explained in the 8/31/04 column:
Since I wrote that two other Supergirls have appeared. One named Cir-El was a player in the Superman books. She first appeared in Superman 10 Cent Adventure. She was supposed to be daughter of Superman and Lois Lane, but that wasn’t quite true.
She was just a regular Metropolis citizen who was abducted by the Futuresmiths, working in tandem with Brainiac 12. They got some El DNA from a strand of hair and used it to graft the kryptonian DNA to the random woman, thus creating Cir-El. She sacrificed herself to help Supes beat Brainiac.
B, don’t you miss Cir-El at all?
Only when it gets very cold at night and I wish I had bought more copies of Superman: The 10cent Adventure to keep me warm with their wasted potential. –B
Parallax2814, another lyric placer, has a question;
I was wondering if you could give me a complete history on Captain Marvel.
No, but I can give you a brief overview of the character.
Young Billy Batson stumbled cross the wizard Shazam, who bestowed him with the power of Shazam, to become Captain Marvel. Cap became the hero of Fawcett City. He split his power with Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr.
Now Billy Batson is like 16 years old, but when he says “Shazam” a magical lightning bolt strikes Billy and he’s transformed into man sized hero. Shazam is an acronym for the powers that he possess; Solomon’s wisdom, Hercules’ stength, Atlas’ stamina, Zeus’ power, Achilles’ courage and Mercury’s speed. If he say’s “Shazam” again he’s transformed back to Billy.
He left the JSA because of the awkwardness of the adult looking Captain Marvel, flirting with the teen age Stargirl, even though they are much closer in age than they appear. Rumor has it that Cap will return to those pages relatively soon.
FUN IRONIC FACT: Much like Billy has to say Shazam, his little buddy Freddy Freeman aka Captain Marvel Jr. has to say “Captain Marvel” in order to access his powers. Thus, if Captain Marvel Jr. says his own name, he changes back to his kid form; this led him to choose the wretched new code name of CM3. –B
Chaos, do you have another question about a young JSAer?
I know from reading the JSA trades that Star-Spangled brat has some connection with Jack and the Knight family, and it’s obviously deeper than I realize if Jack gave her the freakin’ rod… then there’s that Shiv chick… do you know the secret of their relationships? Is it covered in Starman or some other tome?
Let me say that both books, Starman and Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., are great. I’m pretty sure that in order to understand the connection between the two you really only need to read the first issue of Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E.(#0) and the last issue of Starman #81. The last issue is where the mantle is passed. But I highly recommend picking up full runs of both books.
The M.I.A. JohnBritton asked a question about Shazam awhile back. And since the column’s been missing him, I figured I’d put it in.
I’ve never read much Shazam, but Alex Ross is in love with him. What issues can I pick up that will let me see why he’s considered top four in the DC character pantheon?
I’ll be honest; I haven’t really read too much featuring Captain Marvel. Aside from the JLI and JSA, I don’t have too many books that feature him. That said, here are some selections that either I enjoyed or that I’ve heard great things about.
-I’ve heard that the Power of Shazam is a great hardcover book. It’s supposed to be the definitive Captain Marvel.
-I did read The Power of Shazam and Starman crossover, which began in Starman #39 was very cool.
-I also dug his portrayal in Kingdom Come, but that’s certainly not canonical.
B, care to enlighten us as to some great Captain Marvel on the pages of the JSA?
Some of his earlier JSA appearances came off as him being shoved down our throats a bit too much, but once the writers got used to him, they put out some good stuff. My favorite Captain Marvel stories are the time travel arc that can be found in the recently JSA: Savage Times TPB and his role in Princes of Darkness, which should be released in TPB some time in the next few months, his scenes with Stargirl in that are great. -B
Chaos, do you have a question that’s bugging you?
I’m not sure if you’ve covered this before or not, but what was Power Girl’s relationship to Supergirl in pre-Crisis continuity, and where did Power Girl fit into the mess of it all – and of course how does she fit into the DCU post Crisis (is her cat, what was once Stripesy the super cat?)
I’ve kind of covered it, sort of. As for her cat, man that’s a column in and of itself, but basically it’s not Stripesy.
I wonder if it’s a sort of off-hand homage though”¦wow, never thought of that.
From the 10/1/03 Column
To quote Who’s Who in the DC Universe from 1990 “Few heroes have pasts as confusing as Karen Starr.” That is like the understatement of the century.
WACKY SILVER AGE ALERT.
Back on Earth 2’s Krypton (does that really make any sense?) Jor-L’s brother Zor-L took his advice on Krypton’s impending doom. So he decided to build a craft to save his family. Unfortunately he wasn’t a rocket scientist (Zor-L was actually an expert on the sciences of the mind) and he didn’t really have much time, so the craft he made was only big enough to carry his daughter Kara.
The rocket took off, but it didn’t take the same route as Kal-L. Instead it conserved fuel and aided in Kara’s mental development. Not only that but it also slowed her aging down so that while the trip took 60 years, she only aged 20 years. She landed and became Power Girl. But then the Crisis happened.
Y’see in the post Crisis DCU there was no Earth 2 ergo there was no Krypton 2 ergo there was no Jor-L ergo there was no Zor-L ergo there was no Kara. Yet Power girl still existed. How could that be you ask?
HOKEY POST CRISIS EXPLANATION FOR A VICTIM OF PRE CRISIS CONTINUNITY AHEAD.
Apparently around 50,000 years ago Arion (Atlantis mage) hooked up with Lady Chian and has some kids. One of those kids, grew up and had Kara. Magic was coursing through Kara’s veins, after all Arion was Lord High Mage of Atlantis. In an effort to better other Atlanteans, Arion had Kara undergo experiments to increase her strength. But as is usually the aces the 2-year-old Kara became possessed by Garn Daanuth’s spirit, who happens to be Arion’s evil brother.
To save Kara Arion placed her in a crystal chamber in another dimension where time flows slowly. The chamber took care of Kara mentally and physically. She ended up on Earth in the late 20th century. Since Arion was such a whiz at magic, he cast spell over the chamber to find a suitable candidate to explain Kara’s presence. Thus she believed herself to be Kal-el’s cousin. But the truth is she’s really Arion’s granddaughter.
Or is she? IN JSA #50 Arion confessed that he was just kidding, they aren’t related at all. So alas Kara is again without an origin.
So there you have it. Basically in the Pre Crisis Multiverse Power Girl was the Supergirl of Earth 2. She fits into the Post Crisis DCU because no one is really asking any tough questions or thinking about it too hard. Rumor has it continuity clean up wiz, Geoff Johns is going to tackle her origins, but who knows when that’s going to happen. Hey B, you talk to Geoff, when is that going to happen?
Allow me to channel Geoff while doing my best impersonation of him: “Wait and see.” Seriously, Geoff has said a few times that he’s got the story all planned out, but other stuff that he needs to tell first keeps coming up. My personal estimate would be that we’ll see it sometime next summer or fall. -B
Jon, do you have a related question?
Anyway, I’ve got sort of a two-part question based off of a Jusitce League Unlimited episode. First off, who exactly was the faceless conspiracy theorist helping out Super Girl and Green Arrow?
Usually I have at least some idea who people are in JL, but this one just has me stumped. Second, was the Super Girl clone supposed to be Power Girl? Compared to most DCU heroes, I know little about the whole Super Girl status outside what I’ve read in your column, so is there any connection between Super Girl and Power Girl or was it just the writers taking liberties?
Sadly I didn’t catch that episode. However based on what I’ve read and what you’ve described that faceless dude is none other than the Question, a hero who I will cover in a few columns (when the miniseries debuts). From what I’ve heard about the episode the clone was wearing Power Girl’s costume, but it wasn’t really Power Girl. As you can see by the previous answer there is a link between Power Girl and Supergirl. The creators were probably just tossing in an Easter egg to fans. Now if I happen to catch the actual episode I’ll give you a much better answer. Unless B saw that one and can help us out.
Luckily for you, I did catch that episode. The girl who looked like Power Girl was a character named Galatea, a clone of Supergirl aged to adulthood by S.T.A.R. Labs. She had PG’s attitude, her costume, Green Arrow made a comment about her cleavage and PG is essentially an older, sexier, sassier Supergirl, so the inference was pretty clear to comic fans watching the show. –B
Ryan A, do you have a follow up?
What do you think of the new Justice League Unlimited series on Cartoon Network? I dislike lit due to lack of character development and also due to the lack of Captain Marvel, Spectre, and also the fact that we no longer get to see the Flash or Manhunter do anything on the show.
The only episodes that I’ve seen were the decidedly lighthearted episodes. I’ve seen the one where the Leaguers were turned into teens, and the one where Wonder Woman was changed into a pig. I’ve also saw last week’s episode. My thoughts on the series are that the producers did want to lighten things up. They made it a half hour format so that they could have more fun. The introduction of other heroes in the DCU makes it more fun for comic fans, because they can see their hero on the show, but the half hour format isn’t really conducive to character development.
It’s a fun show, but I wouldn’t discount the lack of development. In Saturday’s episode we saw the return of Amazo and Lex Luthor, and both characters picked up right where they left off the last time we saw them.
My problem with the show is that it doesn’t come on when it used to. I used to catch the Saturday night repeat. But now it doesn’t repeat on Saturday night. And I have a problem with trying to track down the repeats. So if I catch it, I catch it. If I don’t, I don’t. I also kind of miss the epic action and feel of the one-hour format. B, what’s your take on the new JLU?
It’s a very different show than the Justice League cartoon, but I like both, for different reasons. JL was a clever and adult take on the League ala the Batman animated series and it was really well written. With JLU, it is more lighthearted and it’s harder to get attached to the characters, but the key element of good writing is still there; and the sheer number of characters make JLU designed to keep any fanboy happy. Last week’s episode with Luthor and “Amazo” was my favorite so far. Nonetheless, I do miss the hour long episodes and Saturday night timeslot as well.
Chaos, do you have another question about a relic of Earth 2?
I was wondering if you could do a quick comparison of Huntress pre
and post – Crisis… I know she was originally the daughter of Batman and Catwoman, but I’ve been confused on what her role was then and what it’s being built up as now – I noticed, in Hush especially, a lot of allusions to the old daughter of batman that she used to be…
Well the old Huntress was the daughter of Catwoman and Batman back on Earth 2. Both of her parents were killed, which made her bitter, so she became Huntress. But she also had an active public identity; Helena Wayne was a successful attorney. She also had the support of Earth 2’s Dick Grayson, who was also still Robin (the man wonder?) Since she still operated in Gotham she fought more of the costumed foes than the regular bad guys.
The current Huntress had no ties to Batman. She is Helena Bertinelli, the daughter of mob boss. Her family was killed on a mob hit. She survived the attack. Then she trained to protect herself and eventually adopted the role of the Huntress. She is much more driven than the Pre Crisis Huntress. She’s also more brutal. She attacks, often with viciousness.
While she originally operated independently of Batman, and his cronies (she originally battled regular baddies, like drug dealers, serial killers, and assassins) she has since become more integrated into the Gotham backdrop. Now she’s part of the Bat fam. They wanted to show that she didn’t have any ties to Batman, but essentially the similarities between the two characters proved too strong to ignore.
Basically the Pre-Crisis Huntress was more of a Silver Age hero, while her Post Crisis version debuted when comics were darker and grimmer. I actually just picked up the last half of the Huntress series from ’89, and I’m loving it. The art is amazing and the stories hold up surprisingly well. I would recommend that people check out that book, as well as the first Huntress miniseries. As for the rest of her books, I can’t comment I haven’t read them, yet.
Chase, you correctly placed the lyric, so what’s your question?
Who do you think is behind Disassembled if it is indeed an Avenger traitor? I know, lame question, but I couldn’t remember what I wanted to ask…
I’ve got to say that I think the traitor is Iron Man. Let’s face it that guy is bad news. He was a bad guy, then some heroes had to go back in time and get an uncorrupted younger Tony Starks to replace the rogue one. He’s got a bad heart, and if that isn’t a metaphor for evil, I don’t know what is. Plus if he can beat Green Lantern, he could easily take out the paltry Avengers. B, why isn’t Iron Man your pick for the traitorous Avenger?
Uh”¦what column is this? Jim?
Column is done. I’m tired. Trust me when I say that next week will be better. Y’know where to post or send your questions. My question to you; What do you think that DC is going to do to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Crisis?
“I’ve got the smile of a local man, who’s got the loneliest feeling.”
