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Well, it is a bold new world. Ben Morse has officially departed Comics Nexus for Wizard Magazine. In the wake of that move, this site has been silly enough to give me more power. In addition to my reviews and this column, I will also be editing and adding comments to Mathan’s highly excellent Who’s Who in the DCU and editing whatever else is put up on Thursdays (reviews, typically). So, if the quality of this column dips (I know, how could it possibly get any worse?) owe it to all of my new responsibilities and how drunk on power it has made me. (As opposed to drunk on booze, like our very own James Hatton).

It is a short column this week, but let’s get to it anyway.


Gray and Palmiotti Unleash Their “Experiment”

Superheroes have been the staple of American comics in the modern day. From the humble pulp beginnings of our favorite dark detective to the resident man of steel, the genre of ‘superheroes’ has been the lifeblood of the medium. And in the many years, countless stories depicting various superheroes in an uncountable number of struggles & predicaments have been produced. You might think that with all these countless stories that every story that could be told has… but you’d be wrong.

Originally announced several months ago, The Twilight Experiment finally descends on stores in February from DC/Wildstorm as a six-issue miniseries. Co-writers Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti (21 Down, The Monolith, Hawkman) build their universe and their superheroes from the ground up. This unique collaboration brings together two viewpoints of the genre of superheroes: Palmiotti’s childhood love and adult career in the adventures of superheroes, and Gray’s view from “outside of the box”. Together, they re-discover what makes the iconic ‘superheroes’ so popular and identifiable to readers now and then.

Newsarama sat down with these two gentlemen to find out what’s going on in The Twilight Experiment, and what they’re bringing to the table.

Get a tour of the lab at Newsarama

See, this is an interview handled right by Gray and Palmiotti. I know that no creator ever wants to give away the twists and turns of their book and I would prefer they not spoil it for me in their interviews. However, this desire for secrecy can sometimes lead to maddeningly short/uninformative responses that leave me more confused about a title than interested. To use an example from another company, take a look at all the interviews and press concerning Young Avengers. Beyond repeatedly telling us that this is not Marvel’s answer to the Teen Titans, there is almost no information in those pieces. While Young Avengers has some connections to previously established characters, it is largely a cast of new characters in a brand new team written by a brand new comics writer. Without even the barest scraps of plot available, it is difficult to decide if a title is worth picking up. Many consumers will thus err on the side of caution and not pick up the title.

Here, however, Palmiotti and Gray go just deep enough beyond the solicitation copy to draw me in. Truth be told, the solicitation info left me a bit uninterested. The Twilight Experiment sounded okay, but certainly nothing I was going to go out of my way to pick up. With this interview, though, they have revealed enough tidbits to gain my attention and, in turn, my curiosity. A book that sounded vaguely generic in Previews has gained shape in this piece. I commend both creators while my wallet is more than a little bit miffed at them.


Harras Heads Once More into the Comics Breach

Fans will see a new hero come roaring into the DC Universe with the release of January’s Breach #1 from DC Comics. Breach is story of Major Tim Zanetti, a United States Army officer who is forced to live in a containment suit after events go awry during some Army cross-dimensional research. Finding himself strapped with new powers but locked away within the containment suit, Zanetti may be Earth’s only hope when a dimensional breach threatens humanity. The kicker? Zanetti himself could be the harbinger of the destruction.

Breach is the brainchild of former Marvel Comic Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras who was asked by DC Comics to pitch a redesign for Captain Atom, who hasn’t had a solo regular series since 1991. Keeping only the name, Harras would bring a totally fresh take on the character, something he was sure DC’s top brass wouldn’t go for. Not only did DC love the idea, but they asked Harras to launch the idea as a new DC Universe book.

Be careful when crossing (ahh, I kill me) the street to read this article at Newsarama

This feels weird. See, I grew up a Marvel fan. I know Bob Harras from those days. I remember The Crossing and I remember how it led to teenage Stark in the armor. I remember the strangle hold on creativity enacted on the X books (a tradition that, I believe, proudly marches on). I especially remember a certain editor-in-chief insisting upon the return of Norman Osborn as being necessary and the only way to end the Clone Saga correctly. I remember all of these things. I do.

And I am still excited for this book. Why?

To be perfectly honest, I do not really know. It is just a feeling. I look at this interview, the solicitation info, and the preview images, and it has the same vibe that Chase or Aztek or, more recently, Bloodhound or Monolith or Manhunter had to me. Now, that may mean this is another book that will bow out in 8-12 issues, but whatever. It looks good and I’ll worry about the possibility of it being cancelled when that announcement gets made. Until then, I am going to give it a shot. If I like it, I am sticking with it, poor sales or not.

Not a bold declaration, I know. I am just more than a little sick of the “I won’t buy it because it will probably be cancelled within a year” attitude. First of all, it is an inevitable self-fulfilling prophecy. If it might get cancelled and you do not decide to buy it because of that possibility, you are only making it all the more likely that it will be cancelled. Secondly, aren’t 8-12 issues of a quality comic a good thing, regardless of if it lasts beyond that point? It is to me and I have a hard time understand why it wouldn’t be to anyone one else.


Martin Takes a Trip Into That Breach, Too

Most people came to know artist Marcos Martin for his detailed work on Batgirl: Year One. Now, the artist is returning to the pages of DC Comics in the January debuting series Breach. Martin is working with inker Alvaro Lopez and writer Bob Harras on the story of an enigmatic powerhouse who could either become one of the greatest heroes of the DCU or one of the biggest terrors.

See red and white look better than ever at The Pulse

The other half of the appealing package. The art here is incredibly clean, while still maintain a respectable level of detail. The costume is a bit wonky, but Martin still makes it work.

The only thing that makes me particularly nervous is the combination of Martin admitting that he has a hard time with monthly deadlines and that there is no mention of any number of issues being completed before the book is set to hit shelves. These two facts often lead to late issues (see Kevin Smith on anything but his first 12 issues of Green Arrow, Michael Turner on Superman/Batman, to name two quickly) which, I imagine, can be harmful to a new book with no recognizable characters or the letter “X” in its title. Hopefully, Martin can maintain the schedule and we never have to find out if that is true.


And I Thought It Was When He Took That Talk Show That Space Ghost Sold Out

Two debuts of DC Comics projects have sold out at the publisher: JLA: CLASSIFIED #1 (SEP040308), which sold out on November 19 after arriving in stores on November 3, and SPACE GHOST #1 (SEP040353), which sold out two days after arriving in stores on November 17. Please note that copies may still be available at retail.

To see how Tad is keeping busy when not behind the desk, check out The Pulse. Plus, something about a JLA: Classified #1. Whatever the hell that is.

Kudos and pats on back all around. Whee for selling out books!


Sadly, There is Nothing Funny One Can Write About a Last Name Like Diggle

He’d like to thank Kevin O’Neill, Carlos Ezquerra and his English teacher, but he’s got no time for clothes or swimming. Ninth Art puts the important questions to the writer of THE LOSERS.

I too lack time for clothes. It makes things very awkward at work, but hey, what can be done. Meanwhile, Diggle shouldn’t make anyone uncomfortable with his interview at Ninth Art. Unless of course, you are allergic to talent! (You like that?! I came up with that one last night. My mom says it is genius. Or she would, you know, if she ever spoke to me.)

What’s sad is that I think that whole thing I wrote above may be longer than my reaction to this interview. I am so very self-indulgent.

Yup. I was right.


Mathan! Chiang! EXCELLENCE!

Cliff Chiang is a rising star in the comic book industry. Sharing and alternating art chores with Javier Pulido, Chiang’s work on the critically acclaimed Human Target (Vertigo/DC) has impressed many and built a loyal following.

I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to interview Mr. Chiang. And that interview is what follows.

Check out Mathan, holding it down, at Comics Nexus

Somehow I forgot this interview last week. And it is too damn good to forget about. Read it, buy Human Target, and discuss it on the Nexus Boards. You have no other choice!


Gifts! For Me!

Look the Newsarama Gift Guide Part I: The Phantom Menace
And Newsarama Gift Guide Part II: The Secret of the Gift Guide’s Ooze
Finally, Newsarama Gift Guide Part III: Die Gift Guide Die!

These are the gifts you may buy me: The Iron Giant: Special Edition DVD, Daredevil Marvel Milestones Statue, Firefly: The Complete Series DVD, and the DC Comics Encyclopedia (I’ve got to keep up with Mathan somehow). If you are feeling charitable this year and want to send one of these fine items to me, your dutiful DC News and Views Guy, I would not be opposed to it. Just shoot me an e-mail at parallax2@juno.com and we’ll work out where you can send it.

(Editor’s Note: Wow… Just, wow! You’ve actually stunned ME speechless…)


As Promised, Sales Figures, Sans Comments

October was the third and final month of “War Games” at DC, which continues to affect the Batman franchise. While SUPERMAN/ BATMAN is on another skip month, the publisher manages to grab another spot in the top ten with GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH. Other top-sellers, as usual, are IDENTITY CRISIS and SUPERMAN.

Outside the top ten, DC’s October lineup saw Kurt Busiek’s debut on JLA, as well as the beginning of Ed Brubaker and Dustin Nguyen’s THE AUTHORITY: REVOLUTION and the launch of the new anthology titles SOLO and RAZOR’S EDGE, along with the company’s new attempt at a zombie series, TOE TAGS FEATURING GEORGE ROMERO.

Titles from publishers other than Marvel and DC featured this month include CONAN, SOULFIRE, SPAWN, DEMO, WORLDWATCH and the first couple of Devil’s Due’s new “Aftermath” books, among others.

As always, thanks to Milton Griepp and ICv2 for permission to use their figures for these calculations.

Is it really that time again? Apparently, it is at The Pulse


OPINIONS ON THE WORK OF PEOPLE FAR MORE TALENTED THAN I

BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #59

As predicted last week, I really enjoyed this issue. Morrison makes a smart choice in having Freeze play the part of narrator and leaving Batman as a cipher that Freeze is obsessed with. There is nothing here but a strong one-issue story. Nice to get those every once in awhile, especially after that mess of a crossover, War Games.

FLASH #216

I was concerned about the resolution of this arc. You see, The Top as a lunatic actually made me enjoy the character. Sure, the name was still silly Silver Age, but otherwise he was scary, dangerous, and unpredictable. In returning him to sanity, I was concerned Johns would also be returning him to mediocrity.

Turns out a sane Top is a pretty scary thing, too.

In saving the Top’s mind, we found out that a sane Roscoe is also a brutal, smart Roscoe. No Silver Age silliness lurking there, no sir. Well, except for the name.

There is also a great Captain Cold moment and the last page is a pretty sweet surprise.

GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH #2 & AUTHORITY REVOLUTION #2 (OF 12)

I reviewed both of these already for the site and they are available for your reading pleasure here and here respectively.

That’s it. We are done. As I mentioned above, Ben has taken his final leave of the Nexus, but his final Watchtower will run this Wednesday. My name is sure to be mentioned at least a few times, so if his writing was not reason enough to read it, then that should help too. Daron’ll probably get a few mentions too, but hey, you take the good with the bad, right?

(Editor’s Note: You do realize that Ben’s the only one that left right? I’m still here, and still editing your column!)

UnGajje: The Sean Penn of Comics Nexus