Tim, I’ve got a splitting headache. Can you think of any remedies?
Far be it for me to endorse alcoholism, but I think what you are looking for is BOOZE.
Let’s progress and see if my headache will disappear, shall we?
Sounds grand. Sorry about your skull.
Links
IP Music Gloomchen continues to review galore.
IP Movies has huge action a bit of comedy and some drama.
IP Games is enticing me to spend too much money.
IP Figures has 12 inches of power.
So very inappropriate.
IP TV has spoilers and reviews.
IP Sports covers the beginning of football and the end of baseball.
Moodspins is devoid of a lack of opinion.
IP Culture readin’, knowledge and eatin’!
Our DC Forums is deadsville, how about you liven it up?
Tim, whatever will you link this week?
Everybody loves a good hoax, (except the victims, but really, who cares about them?) and a great place to read all about them is < a href= http://www.bighoaxes.com/> Big Hoaxes. The name is a bit spot on, but it is still a good site.
Interested in taking over the world and succeeding where so many failed? Take some advice from Evil Rulers to make your path to conquering so much smoother.
Finally, if you fear the future, especially when it comes to robots, Oliver the Chat Bot should set your mind at ease. That guy has a hard time with simple conversation, I doubt you need to worry about him seizes our nuclear weapons supply and wreaking havoc. Furbies, however, are still very VERY dangerous.
What I Read Last Week
Superman #221 – Yawn. What you hear is the sound of a book about to be dropped. Jimmy Olsen is the focus of this issue. Man, why didn’t he die in Identity Crisis?
First Thunder #1 – Ok, Middleton’s art is pretty solid. I usually don’t dig “hyped” artists, but Middleton is pretty nice. The story is pretty bland. I dug the Billy stuff. I just wish there was an actual plot for the issue.
Son of Vulcan #4 – Dude, I’m loving this book! I so wish it wasn’t just a mini. Everyone should be reading this title. Seriously.
Outsiders #28 – Really decent issue. I dug seeing how everyone reacted to Indigo’s betrayal. Clark’s pencils really work with the title. This was Judd’s best written book this week.
Y The Last Man #37 – Way too much junk, not nearly enough trunk. I like how Vaughan’s fleshing out the world. Tabloid journalism is still alive? Yorick is an urban myth? 355 is going to beat someone down next issue, mark my words.
Aquaman #34 – I’m so diggin’ the Kirk/Clarke tandem. The art on this title makes it a treat to read. I can’t decide if Tempest and Aquaman are in character, but I like the fights. I really want to know what’s up with Geist and the Lorena/Koryak relationship.
Villains United #5 – This issue woke me up. Pariah and Lady Quark really piqued my interest. The revelation that Deadshot was masquerading as Deathstroke wasn’t too much of a surprise. Cheshire’s betrayal wasn’t that big a deal either. I just hope that next issue lives up the build up.
See, the inclusion of the cosmic element was the weakest part for me. Ah well, at least we both still liked it, even if it was for different reasons.
The Guardian #4 – Wow. Man, this issue was good. The Cap 7/ Chop Suzi revelation was tragic.
Agreed.
Nighthawk #1 – I’ve never been a huge fan of Dillon’s art, but I loved this issue. Well, I guess I could have used a bit more actual Nighthawk, but I still really enjoyed it. For a second I thought the clown was going to be Nighthawk’s “Joker.”
I also enjoyed that swerve. It was a cool way to play with our expectations, given who Nighthawk is a proxy for.
Ok, my headache hasn’t subsided yet, so it’s going to be a Reader’s Feedback edition!
WHEE!
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the concept; every week I ask a question at the end of the column. Every few months I compile a column that features your feedback, answers and even corrections. This is a column that lives on feedback, so feel free to send yours or post it in the forums.
(Mike, the only one to place the last column’s lyric, will lead off next week’s column.)
Dan B had some feedback to something we said about Hitman in the 2/17/05 column;
I was reading your current column and I just wanted to drop my $.02 regarding Tommy Monaghan, the Hitman.
I read that you never got into the series, and I would like to encourage you to go scavenge it up. Great stuff, funny, action packed but my favorite part has to be the tight characterization. Everyone was true to who they were supposed to be, at all times. That’s a rare feat. But this brings me to the impetus behind my writing this:
“I do believe that Hitman died. In the final issue of the title (#60) main characters were killed off. This had some fans calling Ennis a spoiled child who didn’t want to share (killing off his characters so no one else could play with them.)”
First off, it was his character from inception to death. That’s like saying “Why did he kill off God or Starr in Preacher?!? Now no one else can play with them.” Ah, censored it! It was his characters. You never hear anyone censored “Why did Stephen King kill off Randall Flagg? Now no one else can play with him!” or “Man, censored Alexander Dumas! He killed off Aramis! Now no one else can write about him” Well, maybe it isn’t anyone’s place to write about him but the creator’s. This isn’t old school Marvel where Lee and Kirby created characters for the company to own. But then, we didn’t have the “complex” stories we have these days. We didn’t have the intricate symbolism of Grant Morrison or the allegory of Alan Moore. However, the true heart of my argument is this: Monaghan was always meant to die.
They kept bringing it up all series long, about how you cannot go around calling yourself Hitman and expect to collect pension checks. He was always wondering to himself when his luck will run out, or when he could finally lay down his guns (which was his greatest wish – peace) Until he realized that the only way he will ever get peace is 6 feet under.
Ok, enough rant. Personally, I felt that Ennis was on a roll during that period of his career, with Preacher and Hitman burning on all cylinders. They both happened to be there at the right time and greatly moved/influenced me. Great column, definitely helps me pass time here at work. Take care man.
The one and only Ben Morse chimed in about the same column;
Just about every creator I talk to points to Superfriends as what got them into comics. I had an interesting talk with Allan Heinberg about this very subject the other day and then another with Geoff Johns later in the day.
The guys who are the “hot” creators right now, guys like Johns, Heinberg, Bendis, Millar, Vaughan, etc. these are guys who grew up with Superfriends. Even if they’ve been out of the public eye for awhile, these guys have a childhood attachment to them. That’s why Joe Kelly created Manitou Raven (who died in the last issue of JLE…sorry Tim) and why there will always be people who want to work on Aquaman.
Geoff made a very interesting comment about the characters you bond with in your childhood being the ones you’ll really go to bat for when you make it in the field. That’s why he’s putting so much heart into Rebirth, because he grew up loving Hal Jordan. We were talking about how I grew up in the 90s (whereas he grew up in the 70s and 80s) and how it will be somebody of our generation (my generation) who will bring back the 90s characters in a few years and really make them work because of that childhood love. There is nobody out there right now (with the exception of maybe Robert Kirkman) who is young enough that characters like Venom were “their” characters, for the guys who do a Venom book or a Nova book or a Darkhawk book, it’s still “just a job.”
Anyways, sorry for the tangent, but Superfriends is still a big influence with creators just because of the average age of the current top crop of writers.
The possibility of Venom being one of “my” characters concerns me. On the other hand, the possibility of Darkhawk being one elates me.
And what of Triumph…who’s character is Triumph’s?
Colin also shares his thoughts 2/23/05 column;
Great explanation on the revelations of identities between Bruce and Clark; I was always curious as to how it happened. Just from this answer, I know how Clark knew who Bats was. He flew into the Batcave. He was miles up in the sky, started his descent to the cave, and noticed that he was entering a cave belonging to Batman that just happened to be located directly under Wayne Manor.
Neil posted this feedback from the 2/24/05 column on our very own thread;
Jericho…Mathan, I don’t think you really answered that question. I think it should be put this way “if a retcon goes through that changes Jericho and gives him a better haircut and a better wardrobe, would he have been less of a lame character?”
Man, people are really big on this whole “besides his haircut, Jericho is pretty awesome, right?” thing.
Reading the first issue of the “Byrne Era” in Action Comics, Jericho helps defeat a villain who took over Superman’s body. More recently, he possessed Superboy. I think a character’s lameness stops when they are able to control Superman (and to a lesser degree Superboy).
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. What if he possessed a GL? Even Kyle “no one but me, Hal, and anyone with my DNA can use my ring” Raynor would be susceptible to that.
And as far as his demeanor, well it was a perfect counterbalance to Slade’s.
The more I think about it, I miss the old Jericho, at least personality wise. The new one is just too cliché villain for me.
With the Donna/Kid Flash question…I’m leaning toward’s Tim’s explanation. The previous interaction he had with Donna was minimal and probably not warranting a display among his allies…unless it’s a foreshadowing of the future.
As for the Titan’s, I will brush off my old theory:
The JSA are the “grandparents” of the DCU. Even the newer ones are carrying on a legacy, one that inspired both Superman and Batman. As a team, they set the example, best said by Sand at the end of “JSA: Our Worlds at War,” which I’m too lazy to pull out to get the exact quote, but it’s basically “Hey, Luthor we didn’t have any casualties, we’re the JSA.”
The JLA are the parents, as best seen in the early issues of this Teen Titan’s run. They are the most prominent in people’s eyes (which, in most typical families, is true, your grandparents may be a huge influence, but chances are you only see them occasionally and your parents you see everyday). They take what the previous “generation” created and build upon it. But, they are more fallible currently, as the older “generation” made their mistakes and learned from them, while this one has to work things out for themselves. As often is the case with the parents, the younger “generations” often come into conflict with them, especially when both groups feel that their way is the only way.
The Teen Titans are the children, teenagers to be exact. They’ve grown up in the spotlight of the grandparents and of their parents and are getting sick of it. They make the most mistakes, but are also the ones to take the most chances. They have the burden of living up to the previous “generations” and also the will to do better than them.
I guess the Outsiders would be in this tier, but would fall under the more troublesome of the offspring. The Titans are the kids who basically do what their parents tell them to do, but fight them every step of the way. The Outsiders are the ones who say “screw you Mom and Dad, I’m going out and you can’t stop me.” Of course, in doing so, they stop Gorilla Grodd, so it’s all good.
And as for the Legion, well, imagine learning that your family tree goes back 1,000 years to King Arthur…
Who says I’d have to “imagine” that?
Neil again, this time covering the 3/3/05 column;
As for the mini’s, I’m equally anticipating OMAC and Villains United. Both by creators that I like and both with some great ideas for further making the DCU a great place to read about.
Good choices, Neil, good choices.
Neil shares his thoughts on the 3/16/05 column;
Part of my enjoyment of JLA: Classified #4 was ruined by the fact that some of the jokes revolved around Ralph thinking that Sue was pregnant. Which given the revelation in IC #1 seems so sad instead of insanely funny. If I read Classified #4 before IC, the pregnant jokes would have had me rolling on the floor.
I suspect you are right, Neil, it is all a matter of timing. For a lot of people the jokes came across as almost creepy foreshadowing instead of humorous, which was (I assume) the original intent of the creative team. Sorry to hear that it kind of ruined things for you.
Neil also answers the question I posed about what team he’d want to be a part of;
The Green Lantern Corps because I always wanted a GL ring.
Good ol’ Neil provided me with his favorite anniversary issue, per my question from the 3/24/05 column;
Superman #400 (Pre-Crisis) hands down. The best writers and artists in the business at the time got to work on this one. Great stories showing how Superman and his legend lived on for years and years. All were great and instant classics, but the one where the bum in the future finds Superman’s costume and starts to change things in a bleak dystopian future, until he’s shot in the head and causes more people to rise up is my favorite one.
Huh, that does sound very good. That specific tale that you mentioned seems a bit bleak, but I do tend to go in for that sort of thing, so I probably would agree with you.
Chaos sent me an early heads up about Countdown to Infinite Crisis
k’… you know how the comic shops usually get advances on the books that are coming out next week… this week’s previews include countdown and thanks to a tight bond with my comic people I was allowed a peek… and you know, I’m impressed, I never thought DC would have the stones to do the kind of stories they are doing now and gearing up for in the future, and I’m of two minds on the subject.
On one hand, I’m impressed with the level of story and caliber of subject they’re injecting into their line. This is incredible stuff, not sweep under the rug stuff, big stuff, that is quite probably going to have actually lasting impressions. Bendis will be hard pressed to make House of M have even a fraction of the level of universe branding that the coming months from DC will have. The concepts that will stem from this, Identity Crisis and all of their offspring has a found of potentially ripe intense lore waiting to be tapped (or abused depending on the talent)/
On the other hand, to get here, DC is destroying a concept that still has huge selling potential and in these darker more intense level of stories, they are destroying a concept that could really be needed to have a colorful reflection in the bottom of the inky pit. Don’t get me wrong, I’m stocked on what the future holds… but to get there we are seeing irreversible damage to characters who made up the cornerstones of care-free superheroics, big time heroes who don’t take themselves so seriously. But now Elastic Man will never again have his Sue, Sue will no longer add her two cents, Blue Beetle will never play the straight man to Booster’s now insanity without a focus, and Max… Max, the only type of character who could make something like the JLI, or SuperBuddies thrive… well… Mathan, ever wondered who sat as King for Checkmate?
R.I.P. – I can’t believe there’ll be no more Justice League.
I think the Justice League will live on, but I get your point. It stinks whenever something you really enjoyed is irreversibly altered. Thankfully, I have been relatively lucky in my comic reading time and managed to dodge that bullet. There have been hiccups along the way (War Games/Crimes to name a quick one), but in general, any time I stopped reading a title it had more to do with creative teams coming or going than it did with wholesale changes to the character(s).
That being said, the good news is this: the pendulum will swing back. We may never have another JLI exactly, but humorous superhero books will return in full force soon enough. Will it sate the thirst left by JLI absence? Hard to say. What once was is often more powerful than what is. However, rest assured, those types of books will return.
Moonknight25 also shared his thoughts on Countdown which is exactly what I asked for in the 3/30/05 column and the 4/6/05 column;
I think Countdown lived up to the hype big time! Ted’s death was heartbreaking!
Talowolf 12 wanted in on the action;
As far as Countdown. I read it three times within an hour. Set it aside and then went back and read through bits and pieces. It felt almost like a big commercial for the other miniseries but I did get one thing out of it…Blue Beetle could have been one the best heroes out there…if some of the other heroes didn’t exist. Ted Kord was a genius, but he was no Atom. He was a brilliant inventor, but he wasn’t Mr Terrific, he was a good fighter but no Batman and definitely no Bruce Wayne in business. He was a good looking guy, but he was no Nightwing. He was the average, the every-man with a good heart who wanted to have adventures and make a difference if he could. It also showed me how callous and self interested the 1st string of heroes (except Wonder Woman) had become. If Identity Crisis was meant to show the human flaws of superheroes then it looks like Ted was the ultimate victim. I’m hoping to see some remorse in The O.M.A.C. Project. Maybe a little of the “Don’t know what you got till it’s gone” effect hit some of those who denied Beetle their help. Overall a strong solo story with a few commercials thrown in, not earth shattering but heartbreaking and worth a buy. Max Lord huh? Don’t know if I’ll be able to enjoy JLA Classified now.
One last thing and I’ll shut up. (You’re welcome). Anyone else, who is still reading it, notice how in Superman #214 Mr. Orr mentions the One Man Army Corps in regards to a certain priest now contained in a giant tube with wires and goo running through him?
I did miss that, but then again, I don’t really read Superman. I wonder how that all syncs up or whether it might just be something to banish from our collective minds.
As far as Blue Beetle goes, I think you hit the nail on the head as to why DC chose him to be the sacrificial hero. It’s tragic in not just as “They killed one of my favorite characters” but also in an almost Arthur Miller sort of way so that those of us who didn’t grow up with or grow enchanted with the JLI could still appreciate the significance of his demise.
I promised Don Mercer that his voice would not go unheard;
I don’t expect this to see print. I had to write this, and your column asked the following question, which just happened to coincide with my need to express myself.
*Did /Countdown To Infinite Crisis/ live up the hype?
*I turned to the last two pages, and didn’t want to read further. I literally closed my eyes, and almost put the book down.
My first comic book was Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spiderman (#4, I think; Spidey vs. the Vulture). I think I was about 11. From there, I got hooked. Collected comics until I started college, and then religiously started collecting comics. *Really* got hooked when I found Jim Starlin’s “Dreadstar” #30, and spent about ten years collecting every stinkin’ Dreadstar book and story ever made. Dreadstar caused me to get into “Blake’s 7,” the British sci-fi series that absolutely rocked. Seven rebels against an entire universe; what more could you ask for? Then I caught the final episode of Blake’s 7, and I cooled off and literally quit buying comics, until about three-four years ago when “Rising Stars” #7 caught my eye on a grocery store comics rack, and I got hooked again.
Back when I was 11, and being introduced to the world of comics, I found a box in a friend’s garage. I found E-man, Captain Atom, and yes, Blue Beetle. And I loved them, especially Blue Beetle. Blue Beetle was Spiderman without the powers. He cracked jokes, he lived up to a responsibility, but more than anything, he represented an ideal: That we mere mortals, without powers or special abilities, can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people who have god-like powers and fight for what’s right–and win.
DC picked up Blue Beetle, and he became a vehicle for comic relief. I really did love what they did with Beetle and Booster in Justice League, and collected the first hundred issues mainly because of those two. Saw Beetle take a pounding from Doomsday, and eventually work back through it. Through it all, Beetle continued to represent an ideal: That we mere mortals can triumph over evil, sometimes even saving those that are oh-so-much-more-powerful than we are. An indomitable spirit, a willpower, that said “keep going.”
So a few minutes later, I opened my eyes, and I read that second-to-last page, and I knew Beetle was going to say it: “Rot in hell, Max.” Because that’s the Beetle I know, the Beetle that influenced me so greatly when I was younger, and caused me to believe that we have to stand up for what’s right no matter the odds, no matter the consequences. And then I turned the page, and what I expected was going to happen, happened.
And then I went back a couple of pages and read what the DC editor wrote in his editorial: “…his death will have a lasting effect on the heroes for many months to come.”
Well, screw you. To hell and back. I loved Blue Beetle. His death will have a lasting effect on ME for months to come, forget your fictional-not-real “heroes.” Because, just possibly, you’ve taken the one character that I could identify with, could see a little hope in the gloom by saying, “There’s a guy just like me, who tries to make a difference and succeeds, especially against people he shouldn’t be able to hold a candle against,” and intentionally or otherwise, you’ve shown that in the end, he couldn’t hack it.
Maybe I’m the only one that ever thought this way. Maybe, to everyone else, I’m simply overreacting because I was the only one who really thought that Beetle was more than just a way to throw a laughline into the comic books. But what I know, what I KNOW, after reading this book, is that it affected me in ways the short-sighted Mr. DiDio may never, ever understand. Is that the mark of a good book? When it elicits reactions and emotions like this?
If it were for a positive result, a method of raising awareness and evoking people towards doing something worthwhile, yes, oh yes, that’s a good book. The Spiderman issue where Peter Parker takes off his mask for a boy, and on the last page we find out the kid was terminally ill, THAT was a good book. But what happened here? They took a “second stringer,” someone that was expendable, and they expended him. To advance a storyline that didn’t really involve him. For what reason?
It was meaningless. And the only philosophical message that can be drawn from this is that unless you’ve got real powers, you don’t stand a chance.
Yes, this book elicited an emotion and a response. Just like so many years ago with Blake’s 7, when Avon was given the chance to give up, to live and maybe fight another day, and he just smiled and raised his weapon anyway, I’m struck with the same emotion and response.
Perhaps I’m too idealistic, and that’s why it affects me so hard when those ideals are assaulted in such a manner. In a time when the comics industry is offering and being asked to offer more stories focusing on the humanity of the characters, DC just killed one of its most human characters ever. Ted Kord’s death, for me, was the day the idealism of comics died, and I just have to wonder if the writers and editors of this book ever thought it would elicit this reaction from anyone, or if they simply thought they needed to kill off a character to further this storyline that will supposedly affect the entire DC universe and hey, here’s a character no one will really miss….
My name is Don Mercer. I don’t expect this rambling prose to be printed anywhere ever, but I had to write it. I’m about to turn 40, and I’ll probably never buy another comic book again.
Don, I hope, at the least, you are still checking our column every now and again because we did see fit to print your letter (plus, I get paid by the hit).
I’m sorry that Beetle’s death hit you hard enough that you are walking away from the table. I won’t tell you that you are wrong or right because obviously, it is your choice to make. I ask only this: please remember that there are other books out there, other characters, other companies. If comics have brought you as much joy, pleasure, and excitement over the years as it seems they have, I’d hate to see you have to give it all up because one company did something with a beloved character. In other words, don’t let Beetle’s death ruin comics for you. Want to be mad at DC, drop all their books? By all means, do so. But comics are a big universe and there is bound to be some book or some character that can still make your eyes light up like Beetle did. That’s my hope anyway. Don, wherever you are, I hope these words reach you and you give it a serious thought.
DB also had thoughts on Countdown;
I’ve been reading all the hooplah surrounding Countdown, and frankly, I don’t get it. I LOVED Giffen and DeMatteis’ run on JLA, probably the second most fun I’ve had reading comics. (Hitman takes #1) However, I just don’t understand what’s the beef with Countdown? I mean, sure, it wasn’t Sliced Bread #3 or nothing, but it was a solid story, a good beginning. Why are people saying that it disrespected the JLA? I mean, seriously, it’s not as if G & DeM. treated them with any more respect. They were a joke, they were always a joke and that’s how they were always written. Hell, that’s kinda how they felt about themselves too, with about 1/2 the members being embarrassed to be there. And that’s ok! That was the joke, that was the fun of it. I loved that take on a super team, a fairly original one. Booster Gold was ALWAYS a joke, even (hell, especially) when Doomsday knocked down a tree with him, then slammed a door on his head. Booster was filler for Superman to arrive. That’s respect? Further, the rape of Sue Loring. Completely doesn’t affect my perception of ICBINJLA. If anything, she’s a stronger character to have come out of something like that and still be happy-go-lucky.
I’ve also heard people moan about how DC is trying to kill of G&DeM’s legacy. Which is precisely why we got two minis with that team in a year? Do you know of many creative teams that get to come back and play with their past characters outside of continuity? I think it’s a great honor to get not just ONE shot at the team again, but TWO?!? Has that happened anywhere outside of Claremont? Finally, the beauty of comics is that the level of reality you want to portray is malleable. If they wanted to do another Superbuddies series with Booster and Beetle, it would be ok…hell, they can even throw in Barry Allen if they wanted to. There’s no rule that says you can’t set a book in the “past” or anything of that nature.
Sorry if I was ranting, but I just don’t see why people try to put so much weight on something that we have always considered fun. Unless your idea of fun consists of having an aneurysm. Just chill, enjoy the ride, and see where it goes. It may just surprise you. I personally, am curious to see where it goes.
You know, I actually own Sliced Bread #3. It’s good, but man, it is way overhyped.
Gaz has something to say;
In response to ‘Anything else about Countdown to Infinite Crisis you want to vent about?’, the thing that bugged me the most was J’onn’s attitude towards Ted at the Watchtower. On one hand, DC have been feeding us this whole nostalgia-fest, giving us FKAJL and the lastest issues of JL:Classified, reminding us of my absolute favorite era of the League, in which the team, underpowered as they were, truly were a familiy, at which J’onn was the much loved head of. Then we get this scene in Countdown, where Ted is recovering from an attack on his life, and J’onn virtually tells him to get off of the Watchtower, paving over years of history in a few panels.
My only hope that this was intentional, and that J’onn is working with Max (yes, turning J’onn into a villain, but that too would be interesting) After all, J’onn has read Max’s mind several times in the past, and look at the screen that he is looking at as Ted enters-it looks like the same one Ted is viewing at the OMAC project, and has the Blue Beetle symbol in the top left corner (and is that Atom’s symbol above that? Where has he been since Identity Crisis?)
Good news, bad news. First the bad. J’onn’s not a villain. He’s not going to be. I’m about 99% sure of that.
Good news, according to Geoff Johns when he was speaking in San Diego, this issue will get some play, exploration, and possibly explanation. Not sure if it will be a satisfying explanation or not, but it is coming.
Jeff H responded to my question about a couple of deceased villains I referenced in the 4/25/05 column;
While I’m not happy about Copperhead getting offed, let’s face it, this wasn’t Copperhead. this was “Underworld Unleashed” Copperhead, who along with Charaxes (Killer Moth) and the half fish Black Manta are some of the worst revamps in comics history.
As Marc Andreyko said on Geoff Johns’ bb “They may be dead, but the name doesn’t have to be”
Personally I also liked the authentic touch of the “power level” to the Monocle, but I don’t weep for the guy. He should have been offed instead of Captain Boomerang (seeing as the Rogues and Suicide Squad are my two favorite groups)
Christos Gage had some good answers on the DC BB about the villains in Deadshot, whether they survived the meeting with Floyd, and, in the case of Javelin and Deadline, how they came back.
Apparently, the Joker venom Deadline had in him when Warden Wolfe “killed” him also healed him.
Really? I guess that…makes sense. Eh, works for me either way.
Oh, and I’m totally on board with you about Charaxes. That was, truly, the suck.
John Babos responded to the same topic which is good because I essentially called him out on it;
And Mathan (in response to your column comment), yes, I like Manhunter. Am I for killing in comics? Not especially, but it’s an element that’s been in comics for a while. And it can be done well and logically. Look at the old Suicide Squad as an example.
My issue with the Blue Beetle move by DC was that their entire marketing strategy nowadays is to turn their heroes into villains or kill them to add “depth” to the DCU. THAT is not creative.
The way death has been handled in Manhunter was been in-character and in-tone for Manhunter. Did I like the death of Dan Richards? No. However, Marc has earned my respect based on his previous work so I’ll continue with it and see where the story goes. That’s my same approach with post-Blue Beetle DCU event minis.
Yeah! So there Mathan! In your eye!
Neil has some thoughts on the 4/28/05 column;
Re: Crisis. I have my theory that the events in issue #12 sent shockwaves out into the DCU and brought changes with them. I mean at the end of Crisis, it’s made clear that Batman remembers Earth 2 Huntress and Robin, Superman mourns Supergirl at his Fortress (complete with the big key), Wonder Woman is around years before she should be, etc.
I figure that knowledge of the Crisis was wiped out as these shockwaves passed over things and changed (read: retconned) things. I still hold that Harbinger, Pariah, and Psycho Pirate would remember the Crisis no matter what, but the others had their memories erased at some point.
Interestingly, I believe that Hal Jordan learned/remembered a bit about the Crisis when he, as Parallax, absorbed some latent energy from the Crisis (which I would consider left over energy from my theorized shockwaves). Waverider learned of the Crisis at this point too, though he was a Linear Man at the time.
Makes sense to me. I wouldn’t hold my breath on that being explored though. Especially the Hal part since his Parallax days are over and I doubt DC has any interest in dredging them up.
Thanks to all of you for reading. Next week I’ll be tackling various questions. My question to you Who do you think is going to die in Infinite Crisis?
As always, a big thanks from me as well. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, it is awesome getting a chance to edit this column and add my two cents to it week after week. Thanks to Mathan for letting me do it and to you, the readers, for not complaining too bitterly about how I roll.
“I don’t want to be a chump, you think I’m a fascist pig.”
