Well, it is final. I have departed La Hacienda, my farm stronghold in Wu-ington (Newington, if you speak Cracka) for a new location in Middletown (witty nickname to soon follow) that I now christen, “The Citadel”. As such, I am not fully functional technology wise. Therefore, this column might be a bit more brief that I’d like so I can make my deadline and not get fired from my job (where I am writing this right now). A tough ball to juggle no doubt, but somebody’s got to do it.
My piss poor excuses now out of the way, let’s chat about NEWS!!! starting with this sad little piece.
It All Seemed So Fast
When writer Geoff Johns took over the writing chores on DC Comics’ “The Flash” a little over five years ago, he had the unenviable task of following a very well received and successful run by Mark Waid on the title. The title was at its most popular level in years and Johns had some pretty big shoes to fill.
The naysayers who thought Johns couldn’t do it were quickly proved wrong. Johns maintained the popularity of the title and saw readership grow. This began a meteoric rise in the comics industry with the exclusive DC Comics creator tasked with handling a a number of major events within the DC Universe including the “resurrection” of Hawkman, guiding the direction of the “JSA,” bringing Green Lantern Hal Jordan back to prominence and handling the writing chores of DC’s next major event, “Infinite Crisis.” But all good things must come to an end as Johns addressed rumors today that he’ll be leaving the title shortly.
To see the finish line just over the horizon, lace up your tennies and race on over to Comic Book Resources
Five years? I’ve been reading Johns’ run of Flash for five years? My God. I think my mind is blown. I mean, I knew he’d been doing it for awhile, but sometimes it barely fills like I’ve been reading comics for five years period, never mind one title with one writer that long.
There is part of me that wants to weep, “Why, Geoff, why?”, but most of me understands how (to be technical about it) “wussy” that would be of me. Plus, you have to respect his reasons for going. He’s accomplished his goals, he’s leaving the book on a high note before it goes stale for him and the fans, and if he leaves now, this gives him the ability to return to a Flash project (like Rogues which would be so good I think that I just might dream about it tonight) in the future without anyone groaning and saying, “God, I’m so sick of Johns on Flash related projects.”
Still, all in all, it’ll be disappointing to see him go.
The fill-in lineup that follows is hardly to be sneezed at either and hopefully that will make the transition that much smoother. I do wonder what Porter’s future is on the book and who the new permanent team will be (I’ve heard rumors, but very very sketchy ones), but I’m sure we’ll have that information soon enough. For now, with 4 more issues to go, I’m just going to sit back and enjoy.
Batman & Robin Only Get Together Every Six Weeks These Days
Please note that ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER, the thrilling new series written by Frank Miller with art and covers by Jim Lee & Scott Williams, is scheduled to be published every six weeks.
Dig the “fuzzy” math at Newsarama
As pointed out by one poster, these numbers don’t quite work. See, if DC makes its released date for #1, #2 should be out in August. However, it is not supposed to be out until September. So, even if it comes out the first week in September, that gives us an 8 week span before issue #1 and issue #2. Now this could be a mistake in the press release, either the date issue #1 is coming out is later than reported or issue #2’s release is earlier. Chances are though, that it is not a mistake and issue #1 and #2 will be 8 weeks apart and each issue after that will be released every 6 weeks. The cynic in me scoffs at that and thinks that space between issues will grow, not shrink, but that’s a cynic for you, always thinking the worst. Thus, I will bite my tongue and wait and hope that that inner cynic will be proved incorrect.
Paging Dr. Crane
Just how does the young team of Batman and Robin stack up to a deliberate killer like The Scarecrow? Even early in his career, one thing is apparent, The Scarecrow is a twisted individual not to be dismissed or overlooked. Batman and Robin are in for a fight with a villain writer Bruce Jones describes as “inherently creepy.” How do the dynamic duo stack up against this fearsome foe? Jones and artist Sean Murphy know the answer.
Don’t be frightened! Frasier is not back on the air. Don’t worry, there will be no more shirtless Kelsey Grammar. Oh…but I guess the Scarecrow can be spooky too. Well, buck up and face your fears at The Pulse
I don’t know about this book. I want a good Scarecrow story, but I don’t want my hopes built up and then dashed by another subpar outing for the master of fear. My two concerns are a.) Jones’ many mentions of serial killers and b.) the art. I’ll deal with the latter first (for the sake of confusing you, the reader).
B.) The art.
I like Sean Murphy’s art style. It is has an energy to it and a similarity to people like Alan Burchett (the Animated Series school of comic book art). My only concern is how well this will work when it comes to capturing the terrifying nature of a perspective distorted by fear gas. Of the artists who employ the Animated-esque style, I’ve only seen Darwyn Cooke draw convincingly scary images (his Batman avatar in Ego). So, while I have no doubt that Murphy’s style will be good for the most part, I am concerned with how well it will sell those moments, especially since no such moments make the preview art reel.
A.) Serial killers, etc
It does makes some level of sense to me that Crane would be lumped together with serial killers. He always displayed some level of sociopathy when it came to his study of fear as a Professor and his crimes later as a member of Gotham’s most dangerous. What concerns me is that by viewing Crane as a serial killer, we may lose something of what makes the character unique. He’s not a simple serial killer and is, point of fact, far more interesting in unpeeling a victim’s mind until he can figure out there deepest, darkest fear than he would ever be in offing them. His thrill has everything to do with the rush of dominance he feels when a strong person crumbles before him and nothing to do with the power of murder. Not to say he’s opposed to murder because he’s certainly not, but there is more important pieces to what makes Professor Crane tick.
Still, despite these concerns, I remain optimistic.
Welcome to the Human Race
Writer Ben Raab describes The Human Race, the seven part miniseries he created with artist Justiniano as “The Kafka-esque story of Ulysses Adams, a high school senior who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed by an alien parasite into an entirely new species. Turns out, Ulysses is the harbinger of the end of humanity as we know it … the central figure in an extinction level event foretold by the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi centuries ago. To prevent this evolutionary cataclysm, she founded the secret fraternity, Delta Chi Delta. Their mission: safeguard Ulysses’s altered genetic code by any means necessary. A feat that becomes easier said than done when the Ωmega Concern – a eugenics laboratory with its own sinister designs on his DNA – finds Ulysses first ….”
To see Kafka-esque used properly in a sentence (as opposed to how all those pompous kids you went to college with used it) you can and should check out The Pulse. Then revisit those pompous kids and shove Raab’s usage on the word into their arrogant faces. BOOYAKA!
I love Raab’s list of pre-eminent superteams because, somehow, G-Force manages to sneak its way on to there. I do imagine that many a folk do enjoy the G-Force, but it is just odd to see them listed with the likes of the Justice League (especially since the Avengers doesn’t make it). It is also odd to see Alpha Flight, but that’s just because they’re Canadian (ah, I kid our neighbors to the North).
Apparently being a member of this Delta Chi Delta team (see, there’s that college connection I hinted at in the teaser above) is not unlike being a Man in Black. Again, nothing to do with anything, just a random observation.
And…I’ve run out of things to say. Oh, except to see that the Nexus’s own Mathan Erhardt really enjoyed the first issue of this book.
OMAC 1.3
A full three weeks before its in store-date of May 18, the Second Printing of the red-hot THE OMAC PROJECT #1 has sold out at DC Comics.
Now, DC offers a new, third printing of this sold-out issue. THE OMAC PROJECT #1 Third Printing will feature a new, variant version of the original cover by Ladrönn, which pictures one of the Omacs in the center of the image.
See the latest OMAC upgrade at Newsarama
Nice new cover. And issue #2 sold out before it shelves, meaning these minis are 5 for 5 on that front. Goodness!
Cause Nothing Packs in the Kiddies Like a Nostalgia Book
JUSTICE #1, the first issue of the new DCU series by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Doug Braithwaite, begins this August!
Now, to make this dazzling debut even more exciting, DC Comics offers a special retailer incentive. Qualifying retailers will be able to order a special JUSTICE: SUPERMAN ACTION FIGURE EXCLUSIVE from DC Direct for just $9.00 net.
Get your toys at Newsarama
I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be cynical in my headlines. I do actually think it is a neat idea. I just don’t see it as being much help beyond the people who were going to pick up the book in the first place. On the other hand, it is always nice to throw a bone to your consistent customers every now and again, I suppose. And by a bone, I mean besides the existence of this book in the first place.
As for the figure in particular…it’s an odd choice. For a man who loves his Silver Age so much, Ross sure is fond of portraying Superman as being frightening. I’d expect this figure to be more in line with Azzarello’s vision of Superman over in Lex Luthor: Man of Steel than this throwback book. Still, it is a nice sculpt.
J.G. to Give T.W.O. to D.C.
J.G. Jones, the acclaimed artist whose work is currently featured on the covers of VILLAINS UNITED and WONDER WOMAN, has signed a 2-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. Jones will be working on projects for the DCU and WildStorm.
To have more fun with letters (and exclusive contracts) why not pay a visit to Comic Book Resources
I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who thinks that this a is a bad pick up for DC. I’ve dug Jones since the underrated (in my view) Marvel Boy. However, I do have to admit that I didn’t even realize that Jones was providing covers to Villains United. Now that I know, I can definitely detect his style on the future cover that Resources shows in this article, but I still just don’t see it in the cover (either cover really) for #1. Odd. I wonder why that is?
That being neither here nor there, congrats to DC on snagging this worthy artistic talent.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
SLEEPER SEASON TWO #12
The series took some time getting to it, but the past 3 or so issues have, by turns, brutal, heartbreaking, and darkly comedic. Here’s to Brubaker’s saga going out on a bang.
BATMAN SCARECROW YEAR ONE #1
I’m craving a good Scarecrow story and I’m hoping this’ll be exactly that.
FLASH #222
Great stuff. Plus with the news that Johns’ time on the title grows short, every issue is that much more important to pick up.
OPINIONS ON THE WORK OF PEOPLE FAR MORE TALENTED THAN I
BIRDS OF PREY #82
I’m not sure why, but something about the solicitations for this arc (which began last issue) made me think it was a fill-in of sorts. Believe me when I say that I could not have been more wrong. I love the why that Simone writes the way Canary views the people around her and her perspective on Ted (Wildcat) is particularly engaging. I think it is the first time I am really “getting” his appeal as a character.
MANHUNTER #10
Not sure who the heck Dumas (he isn’t related to St. Dumas/Azrael is he?) is, but I’ve been assured that it is a pretty big deal for Manhunter fans. Besides that little gap in my knowledge though, this was another great issue. The big reveal of the hunter of the Manhunters might not have done anything for me in a fanboy manner, but I do like his cruel, sarcastic attitude towards this month’s doomed ‘Hunter as well as his taunting message to the next target.
On the Kate side of things, it was nice to have her code finally spelled out to us. As Dylan puts out, it makes your head hurt, but there is a twisted sense of logic to it and it is certainly easy to see how Kate would be able rationalize her choices by the criteria offered.
Finally, special mention goes to Kate’s ex-husband and his ultra-awkward phone message. I kind of hope there is no tearful reunion for them in the future (most divorced couples stay divorced so why shouldn’t it be that way with most fictional divorced couples), but I dig him reaching back out to her and not being sure how exactly to do it or what to say.
SEVEN SOLDIERS GUARDIAN #2
Apparently the first arc of this four issue miniseries concludes in this issue with more pirates and a bit more tragedy for the Metropolis Gladiator’s new superhero mascot. Fun, funny stuff without being too ludicrous, this is definitely Morrison in Doom Patrol mode. The stakes are high and serious, but the situations are so off the wall and unique you can’t help but laugh.
TEEN TITANS #24
I’m reviewing this book for Thursday. I haven’t written it yet though so I have no sneak peek to offer. Sorry. To offer a hint of how I felt about it, let me just say that the scene between Superboy, Wonder Girl, and the tree? Wow…
****REVIEWS FROM THE FUTURE****
OUTSIDERS #24
A worthy continuation of part 1 (see Teen Titans review above), this story is essentially a mirror image of what the Teen Titans went through for the Outsiders. The only real complaint I have is how different art is from Part 1 to Part 2. It is not bad, certainly, but it is such a drastic switch in style that it is a bit much to take at first; Especially considering how similar the cover is to part 1. I would have preferred an art with a style more in line with Clark’s efforts in the first issue. Otherwise, I am enjoying this story a whole bunch.
Well, that didn’t turn out to be too abbreviated after all. Yay for me! And, yeah for you. We’re all winners today. Or something.
As always, the message boards are now open and awaiting your precious discussion and my e-mail box at parallax2@juno.com hungers for your missives. Thanks for the time and we’ll see you next week.
Un Gajje, Off the Farm and In Your Face
