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I urge/beg/request you all check out my new Words of Questionable Wisdom column called “On Hype.” In part it is probably because I am a rampant ego maniac, but I also think, divorced from how awesome I am, it is a pretty interesting topic and I’ve enjoyed some of the feedback and debate I’ve seen spring up so far. Plus, this column is so short this week, it is a nice way to get all the bang for your buck.

Racing Away from the Storm Front

Alex Sinclair has left WildStorm.

But don’t take that to mean he’s going very far.

The Eisner and Harvey nominated colorist (Astro City, Identity Crisis, All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder) and WildStorm editor has officially left his position at the imprint of DC Comics, and has signed a three year exclusive contract with DC Comics.

See why Sinclair might have gotten tired of the rain at Newsarama

This story is funny to me. Not funny ha-ha, but funny strange. I do understand that Wildstorm is not technically part of DC proper, but I’ve kind of gotten used to the idea of Wildstorm and DC being the same company. Thus, I view them as being more Vertigo than their own entity. So, when I first read this headline, “Sinclair Leaving Wildstorm” I figured he was going to Marvel or Dark Horse or whomever. To have him instead going exclusive to DC just didn’t enter into my mind.

The one question I have about this is is it a good idea for DC to do it. Yes, Sinclair is a great colorist, he does amazing work. However, it is not like he was working for a rival company. He was part of a sister or cousin (or whatever family member) company. So does this qualify as cannibalizing talent? Isn’t what’s good for Wildstorm good for DC? I’m not a business guy, I’m just kind of throwing it out there.

Nothing Sells Like Superman Hitting Things

SUPERMAN #219 and ACTION COMICS #829 the first two parts of the cataclysmic 4-part “Sacrifice” storyline, are now sold out at DC Comics.

SUPERMAN #219 (MAY050213), written by Mark Verheiden and illustrated by Ed Benes, sold out one week after arriving in stores on arriving in stores on July 7; ACTION COMICS #829 (MAY050214), written by Gail Simone and illustrated by John Byrne & Nelson, sold out two weeks after arriving in stores on July 13.

See a certain “dark” hero play the speed bag at Newsarama

Raise your hand if your surprised.

No…put your hand down. Yes, you there in the back. You’re not fooling anyone. File this under: jeez, you think?

Nothing Sells Like Power Girl’s…True Origin

JSA CLASSIFIED #1, presenting the long-awaited origin of Power Girl, has sold out at DC Comics one day after reaching stores on July 20. This issue features the first part of the 4-issue story “Power Trip” written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti.

Now, DC Comics sends the issue back to press for a new printing featuring a pencil version of the cover by Adam Hughes!

Get your mind out of the gutter at Newsarma

A book about Power Girl selling out? Is there nothing this Johns fella can’t do?

Can he juggle chainsaws? Cause, I’m not saying it would make him a better writer or anything but, come on now. The only thing cooler than juggling chainsaws is fire eating. And even then, there basically equivalent.

What were we talking about?

Oh yeah, JSA Classified. Yay DC!

COMING ATTRACTIONS

JSA #76

I’m not even sure what this issue is about (and I’m too lazy to check) and I don’t much care. The last arc revitalized my interest in a title that I didn’t even know needed revitalization in the first place. I might not have liked how the last issue ended (I am probably in the minority but I much would have preferred the downbeat ending that it initially seemed to be driving to. It just would have been more powerful and affecting), but the rest of the arc I thought was great.

GOTHAM CENTRAL #34

Last issue was a revitalizer for this title as well. I’m not sure where “Dead Robin” is going, but I am very excited to find out.

DETECTIVE COMICS #809

This issue kicks off the follow up story to my favorite Bat crossover ever, “War Games.” I am almost literally salivating at returning to such excellent moments as the tortu—

I can’t do this…even I’m not willing to go this far in search of sarcastic humor.

OPINIONS ON THE WORK OF PEOPLE FAR MORE TALENTED THAN I

FLASH #224

I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed by this issue. Why, you might? Well, two reasons.

1.) The Rogues are pushed out in favor of the twin Zooms. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Zooms, especially Hunter, and I enjoyed what Johns does with them here. I just like the Rogues better and wish we could have had more of them.

2.) The appearance of…

Sorry, but here there be spoilers. Move it along if you aren’t interested.

Last chance.

Okay, here we go…

…BARRY ALLEN! Yes, it was organic. Yes, it makes sense in the context of the story. It connects back to Blitz which was the last time Zoom managed to mess with Wally’s life and also the story that spun the book into the direction it has been following ever since. Even as I am writing this, I am realizing, more and more, that there is nothing thematically or plot-wise wrong with Barry’s return.

But I still don’t like it. In some way, I’ve disliked all of Barry’s returns after his demise in Crisis (except “Return of Barry Allen”, but that was a bit different wasn’t it). I know people love him, but it deflates me every time he shows up when the story isn’t a flashback. I think DC should have a rule that Barry Allen can no longer time travel and drop in on Wally and Co. or, really, any one in the present.

So, the book was good, the story was interesting, the Barry Allen return made sense. But knowing and acknowledging that last fact cannot seem to make me love that moment. Sorry.

OMAC PROJECT #4

Yes, DC really bollocks-ed this up by having the Sacrifice story essentially represent OMAC 3.5. That’s a shame. But I’m not reviewing this book as a reflection of DC’s solicitation or release practices. I’m reviewing it as a comic. And as a comic, I enjoyed it. I think it is probably the weakest installment to date of OMAC as this book is all transition from what we thought the book was going to be (JLA looks for Max Lord without realizing it is him they are looking for and Max continues to be evil and such behind the scenes) to what the book is really going to be (HAL-esque computer making all sorts of trouble for our heroes). In much the same way Vengeance suffered two weeks ago, OMAC does to under this weight. It’s still a good story, it’s just not as good this time out.

Another part of the problem, for me anyway, was probably the art. Not the fact that two different artists drew the book; that didn’t actually seem to register to me until I read it the second time. No, the art problem was that Sasha and her fellow captive Knight look way too much alike as they are depicted in the art. This wasn’t the case in the first issue, was it? If it was, I don’t recall it. Anyway, every time I have to pause and figure out which woman with short dark hair was which, I was taken out of the story. Thus, the action flowed very choppily and that’s never a good thing.

That’s it. That’s the end of my incredibly short installment of DC News & Views. Next week, I believe, is Post-Chicago and that means my cup with most likely runneth over with news. I just hope we can all make it until then.

Help one another to survive at the message boards or e-mail at parallax2@juno.com to decry all things brief.

Short Columns Make Un Gajje Go a Little Crazy with Grief