Tim, I hope you had a decent Valentines Day and that the snow didn’t mess things up too much. I’m not really a fan of snow. The blizzard of ’96 trapped me in the St. Louis airport for two days and the blizzard of ’03 was one of the factors of my moving back out West. On an unrelated note I can’t recall the last time I didn’t wear shorts and a t-shirt to check the mail.
I’d say something about appreciating the beauty of the seasons and how pretty the world looks covered in a layer of snow, but I just too filled with rage for those sort of pleasantries right now.
Instead, just picture me offering a fake smile and a nod and then walking away.
Links
Eh, maybe next week.
What I Read Last Week
Superman #226 – This was a really strong read. I really liked this issue. Too bad it’s the final issue. I’m going to miss this numbering.
Green Arrow #59 – I really dig Lee’s art. Like this is the best this books looked in awhile. I loved Connor’s hero moment. But I’d really like to read what happens next. I’m sorry this storyline is getting cut short.
Teen Titans #32 – I was so happy to see Nauck’s art! I read the cover and didn’t get too excited, but was slayed when I saw the art. It was nice to see what happened between the pages of Infinite Crisis.
I actually found the art to be a bit disappointedly non-Nauckish. It was not bad, it just seemed like a lot of his style was sublimated/hidden.
Nightwing #117 – What a happy ending. But why doesn’t the cover match the story inside?
Jonah Hex #4 – This is a great book that everyone should be reading. Self contained stories.
Legends of the Dark Knight #200 – Boo, I thought this was a single issue, but it’s really two different issues. The art was pretty solid though.
DMZ #4 – I’m sold on this title. This was a really good issue. But the ending was kind of forced.
Hawkman #49 – Eh, I’m indifferent about this issue. I am looking forward to Hawkgirl next month.
Captain Atom #5 – Nice introduction to the Authority for the uninitiated. I’m really feeling badly for Cap, even though he’s going to end up ok.
Son of M #3 – I love time travel stories. It’s a cool story, but time travel really does wear on him badly. Still, I’m glad that we seem to be done with the Inhumans, at least I hope.
JLA #125 – I couldn’t bring myself to read this issue, because the storyline has been that boring. Maybe I’ll pick it up again on a slow week.
I agree. What a sad way to end this volume of the Justice League.
JSA #82 – This is a nice one off issue, which further reinforces my theory that the storyline currently in JSA Classified was intended to run in JSA, but was too long to take place before OYL.
Supergirl #5 – Finally. Isn’t this issue moot?
100 Bullets #69 – Whoa. Nice to get another look at the flashback, but it looks like Chuck’s not the 7th Minuteman. Damn. And what’s up the Augustus and Megan hooking up? I love this book.
Scavenger did actually place the lyric. Good business.
Scavenger’s (star)heart is broken
What’s the deal with Alan Scott? They made him unique, separating him from the Green Lanterns and making him Sentinel, and now he’s GL again..is his ring a standard GL ring, or the fireheart meteor ring, or just something he focuses his own power through?
Where to begin, where to begin? I guess we would begin with the notion that Alan was tied to the Green Lanterns of the Green Lantern Corps. That idea was pretty much tacked on as an after thought. He’s not down with the Guardians. He doesn’t wear the uniform. Sure he calls himself Green Lantern, but in the history of comics, he preceded and inspired the Green Lantern Corps. So even when he’s “Green Lantern” Alan is pretty unique from “Green Lanterns.”
Unlike Jay, Wally and Bart, who all share a power source, Alan shares little with Hal and Kyle other than a name.
Secondly the whole “Sentinel” idea was an ill conceived one. In a foolish attempt to legitimize Kyle Rayner, DC deaged Alan Scott and had him take the Sentinel moniker, thus leaving Kyle the “one and only Green Lantern.”
I liked Alan as “Sentinel” and dug the slightly altered costume (see below), but I follow your point.
This youthful Alan Scott abandoned his ring, because he found that his powers had become internalized. He updated his costume and went out to deal with menaces of a more mystical nature. He was a member of the Sentinels of Magic (along with the departed Bloodwynd) and even pestered Jared “Fate” Stevens.
Fortunately that whole “Kyle Rayner is Green Lantern” thing really stuck. Despite the success of the Flash legacy over in The Flash Alan returned to being “Green Lantern” relatively recently (in JSA #50).
But his powers are still internalized. The ring isn’t a standard Guardian issue most powerful weapon in the universe, it’s just something that he focuses his power through for old timey sake.
So, seriously Tim, how does it feel to be cousins with Jared, one of the most widely reviled characters in DC history, and does he ever ask for you to work your revamping magic on him?
You know, I’ve had to change my number five times (five!) to get him to stop calling. He’s not a bad kid, though, he’s just got his head turned around wrong. I hope he pulls it together some day, but until then he’s getting nothing but tough love from me and the rest of the family.
You hear that, Jared? If you are out there, please get some help. Please.
Admiral Snackbar has got a crush on someone’s mom
I’m catching up with some JLA trades, and in Strength in Numbers, Wonder Woman isn’t Diana, but Hippolyta, her mother. If I hadn’t read the captions at the start of the trade denoting each character, I probably never would have noticed. I have a sinking feeling this had something to do with John Byrne’s Wonder Woman run. I know he had her go back to the JSA and become the Golden Age Wonder Woman, but this modern day Wonder Woman thing is news to me. Clarification please? Or am I better off not asking?
Well Diana died in Wonder Woman #125 and she was replaced by her mother. The new Wonder Woman did indeed go back in time and serve as the JSA’s Wonder Woman (which solved some of DC’s continuity issues) but not before she spend some quality time in the present filling her daughters sandals(?).
Tim, do you have a favorite Wonder Woman moment?
Remember when she worked at that fast food place? Yeah, that was pretty great.
Dhaise’s no bear, but he is feeling fuzzy. Suck on that Fuzzy Wuzzy.
I’m still fuzzy on Pariah’s comments to Alex(in disguise) about not being ‘the apex predator on the planet’. If it’s not ‘fake’ lex (who apparently has trumped real lex), then I have no idea who it could be.
I really don’t know, but I’ve got a few theories.
The first is that, much how you don’t play with fire, you don’t play with the Anti-Monitor’s corpse. Somehow that corpse will get filled with the Anti-Monitor’s essence which somehow has been lingering on the edge of the universe.
My second theory is that Superboy-Prime is the apex predator. I mean he dismantled both Pantha and Wildebeest, and those are two beings who could be considered predators. He’s also stronger than the Phantom Zone, and prone to violent rampages. Plus he’s full of that “jealous rage” after the way Alex kissed Power Girl.
My final theory is that the spirit of the deceased Bloodwynd is plotting to wreak havoc on Earth for his mistreatment as a hero (much in the way Triumph turned.) All I’m saying is who’s really got more motive for wanting all of the magic in the DCU gone and who didn’t appear in Day of Vengeance in any way shape or form?
Tim, who do you think the apex predator on the planet is?
Well, the Bloodwynd idea certainly has merit (no, no seriously, it does). However, I’m going to present an unexpected choice… Superman.
I know, I know: Wha?! Hear me out though. Kal-L has trusted Alex for years. The two of them have bonded. He might even consider Alex a son in some ways. He believes in Alex’s mission and knows nothing of Alex and Superboy’s machinations. Now consider his fury when it all lays out exposed before him. Ooo, feel that? That chill was the feeling of witnessing Kal-L…unleashed!
Or, it could be Breach. Because DC owes him something…anything really. Watch out Alex! Here comes Breach and he’s filled to the brim with righteous indignation!
But, it probably won’t be Breach. Stupid DC.
Admiral Snackbar just can’t help but futher complicate an already overwhelming complicated issue
Ok, bear with me on this. There’s two DCUniverse’s that are Post Crisis (on Infinite Earths, that is. I’ll leave the current Crisis alone, it just complicates things).
What I mean is, there is the pre-Crisis Multiverse, and the pre-Crisis Universe. To put it as simply as possible… (hopefully) when all the Earths became the current DC Universe, history was re-written. And we got the new history, with Man of Steel, (I’ll leave Birthright out of this too!) Batman Year One, Emerald Dawn, etc. Even up to today, we have stuff telling the re-written history, like JLA Year One, Robin/Batgirl/Nightwing Year One, JLA Incarnations, Monster Men, Journey Into Knight, etc. My question is whether or not there is a ‘new’ origin for the JSA, Green Arrow, Flash, or the Titans. Did any of those appear in the Year One annuals in 1995? Or what about the JSA series drawn by Mike Parobeck in the early 1990s? Was that a ‘Year One’ series for the Society, or was that set in the current day?
Wow, this is a complex question. But let me try to simplify it.
Just pretend that the Pre-Crisis Multiverse did happen, only on one Earth and with a few tweaks. For instance all of those JSA adventures with Superman and Batman, did happen, only without Superman and Batman. And the Freedom Fighters didn’t live on an Earth were the Nazi’s won WWII, but rather coexisted with the JSA and the Seven Soldiers of Victory. Basically the Golden Age happened, only without Superman and Batman’s adventures.
The JSA didn’t need a “new” origin, because it’s history remained pretty much intact. Even in the Pre-Crisis Earth 2, Superman and Batman were honorary members of the JSA. So the absence of Kal and Bruce didn’t really have too much impact on those Golden Age stories. Plus any fanboy who wanted to point out the problems with tampering with the favorite childhood stories would have been like 60 and hopefully would have had better things to do with his time.
Oh, if only that were the case.
The examples that you gave for the “Year One” stories are two types; major (Superman) and minor tweaks (everyone else.) Superman and Batman had highly publicized “Year One” events because it was part of the Post Crisis plan for the company and the line.
Emerald Dawn happened only because DC wanted to update Hal Jordan’s character and make him more flawed. It also gave DC a chance to incorporate newer aspects of the Green Lantern mythos into the historical canon (witness how Kilowog goes from being a basically unknown Green Lantern in Green Lantern Corps #201 to being a trainer of Green Lanterns in Emerald Dawn #3).
JLA: Year One was equally minor, in that it tweaked the JLA’s origin, (replacing Diana with Dinah) and also incorporated Post Crisis characters (Max Lord). It existed basically to display how the various characters personalities (which were expanded on by Post Crisis writers) worked as a team. It really did inject personality into that quaint setting.
Robin/Batgirl/Nightwing Year One, again tweaked things. But those are some of the best stories out there for those characters.
Green Arrow really doesn’t need a “Year One” event, because it’s his evolution as a character; from carefree playboy to socially conscious vigilante, that makes his character so unique.
Likewise Flash didn’t need a “Year One” because Barry Allen was dead. The Born to Run storyline did serve as a Wally West “Year One” but that was really Kid Flash Year One.
I think one of the main reasons for the lack of a Teen Titans Year One would be because they would have had to explain Donna Troy being Wonder Girl before there was a Wonder Woman (which was essentially addressed by the two Wolfman penned “Who is…” stories). But aside from that they didn’t need a new “origin.”
As for the JSA title from the 90’s, it was set in the present, but it was more of a welcoming back party. Y’see the JSA had been in a limbo for since immediately following the Crisis. Armageddon: Inferno freed them from that limbo and they returned to the DCU. That JSA book was all about them returning to their former glory.
But back to your original point, yes there are two Pre Crisis continuities, but you should only think of in that regard if you can handle the mind numbing effects.
Tim, do you have a favorite Year One?
Well, Batman Year One and Man of Steal are the obvious responses because they are, in fact, the best of the line. I did, however, enjoy and would recommend JLA, Robin, and Batgirl. Furthermore, although you didn’t ask, I would not recommend Nightwing because, despite the typically potent team of Dixon/McDaniel, the story is little more than fill-in window dressing. Nothing of import or interest was introduced or changed and the pace was surprisingly sluggish for a Dixon penned effort.
Admiral Snackbar longs for reconciliation
JSA: Golden Age has recently been reprinted without the ‘Elseworlds’ Stamp on it. So, in your opinion, is it in continuity or not? (My view is that yes, it is, because it easily fits, AND it’s a great story, but I want to hear your thoughts.)
Well I’ve got to preface this by stating that my opinion is not gospel and not admissible in the court of law. My opinion also isn’t a lethal weapon, but is banned in 34 states. While my opinion has never been convicted in a court of law, general consensus is that it was guilty and it was to be culpable in a subsequent civil case. So take my opinion for what it’s worth.
That said, as much as I want the truly wonderful The Golden Age to be an in-continuity story I can’t, because it would completely invalidate the pretty much equally wonderful Young Justice storyline involving “Old Justice.” So it doesn’t fit quite a nicely as you believe it does.
Y’see it’s my opinion that a great series trumps a great miniseries. And you’re really putting me in a tight space. I love James Robinson (the author of The Golden Age), I really do. I love Starman so much that I’ve got a huge Starman Zodiac emblem tattooed on my back. But Peter David (the guy who wrote Young Justice) is one of the few creators that I’ll generally follow anywhere, even to Marvel.
That said, many of the modern characterizations of the JSA members can be found to originate from their characterizations in The Golden Age. So in that regard it kind of is in continuity.
My explanation for the lack of the Elseworlds logo is simply that DC is moving away from Elseworlds tales. That logo doesn’t mean as much as it used to, so it’s been abandoned.
Tim, where do you stand on The Golden Age and Elseworlds?
I think it’s a shame that DC is ditching the Elseworlds tag, mostly because I’ve always dug the idea of having an entire line devoted to alternate world stories. However, somewhere along the way, the tag was used so much that it stopped being associated with “cool” and started to be associated with “sometimes cool, but more often hackneyed, weak, and uninspired” (the Elseworlds Annuals, anyone?). The release of Batman 100 this week did not bear the distinctive seal, so I’m thinking you are right on that score, Mathan.
As far as Golden Age goes, in-continuity or not, it is an awesome story and that’s all I really care about. If they decided to declare official, cool (and I wouldn’t shed a tear for “Old Justice”). If they never do though, that’s fine, too.
Aaron likes the rush of being shocked
What’s the single greatest storyline twist or swerve in DC history? Of course, my predictable choice was at the end of NTT #34 where we all find out that Terra is in cahoots with Deathstroke. Just blew my 10-year-old mind. Surely, there are more modern memories that you have.
Lord Buff can’t help but agree
What is the best “reveal” in comics. I am talking about things like Damages parents are everyone and Bloodwynd is really the Martian Manhunter ( obviously not good examples )
Gee is it time for the moral quandary portion of the column already? Hm, should I reveal the best or greatest reveal, twist or swerve, thus ruining it for those who haven’t read it? Is that right? Is it the proper thing to do?
Dammit, Mathan, when the people ask for it, we do it and we do it with a smile. Now hop to!
Ok, I’m really going to regret this, but I’m going to go ahead and spoil away.
Good soldier!
To me the best reveal, twist or swerve in DCU history occurred the Flash storyline The Return of Barry Allen. (If you haven’t read it I’m going to set it up, so you’ve got time to avoid ruining a great read for yourself.)
Let me set it up for you. Issues earlier we’re treated to lightning striking down and a figure appears, but we don’t see who it is. Eventually there’s a knock on the door and Wally answers to see Barry Allen alive and in the flesh.
Over the course of a few issues we find out that Barry is a bit hazy on what happened to him, is still as swift as ever and isn’t quite comfortable with his nephew taking over the mantle. (The reveal is coming up next.)
Things get downright sinister until Barry reveals himself to be none other than Eobard Thawne – the Reverse Flash, whom Barry had killed years before he died!
I’m not going to go into details about how it came to pass, other than to say that it was flawless, and this is coming from a guy who nitpicked Liar Liar (the wish for his dad to tell the truth, not spontaneously spout off what crosses his mind!) (Oh my god, you have no idea how many times I thought the same thing myself. Why doesn’t he just keep his damn mouth shut!
Ok, so that’s my #1.
However as always I’ve got a few other honorable mentions yet they don’t really occur in the DCU so they don’t really count.
The Watchmen – Sure the reveal has about as much impact as the mystery behind Rosebud, but to have read it before it was saturated into pop culture (or at least fanboy culture) it must have been amazing.
The Golden Age – Hey, weren’t we just talking about this story? Notice how I didn’t spoil it then, I won’t here either. Suffice it to say that if you’ve not read it yet, you need to pick it up as soon as possible.
Superman: Red Son – Ok, so this one isn’t really a reveal, but this tale has one of the coolest endings ever.
Human Target – Whether it’s the Cliff Chiang-less mini series (which has a doozy of a reveal) or some of the regular series (my fave was Human Target #10) that book has plenty of twists.
100 Bullets – This is one title that’s full of swerves.
Arkham Asylum – Ok it’s not a twist, but the reveal of what Mad Dog’s done with Arhkam’s family is twisted.
I’m sure I’m leaving out some other cool reveals, but I don’t have unlimited time to put this column together to mentally comb over every comic I’ve ever read.
Tim, I know you’re going to reveal your favorite twists or are you going to throw a swerve and not reply at all?
Bruce Willis was dead all along! The woman’s really a guy! Verbal is Soze!
Ahem…sorry.
Here are some randomly selected choices from me, across company lines.
-The Thunderbolts True Identities (Thunderbolts #1)- I do not care who you are, there is no way you saw the end of this issue coming. It propelled what initially appeared to be an uninspired Avengers knockoff book to the top of my monthly reading pile.
-The Runaways Traitor Stands Revealed (Runaways Vol.1 #17)- Him?! Really?! Shocking and yet, entirely sensible.
-Batman Defeats the KGBeast a Different Way Than You’d Expect (Batman #420)- Batman shows that he is not willing to screw around and crossing a line you might be surprised to see him cross. And he does it without blinking.
-How or What is Hyperclan (JLA #3)- Grant Morrison’s prototypical Batman as badass moment gains this one a spot on my list. I think I guessed it before the book told me (if I remember correctly) but it was a genius idea and nothing beats the Hyperclan’s Batman analogue swinging from the ceiling with a sign around his neck reading “I know who you are.” Awesome.
-Jason Todd is Hush?! (Batman #617)- Yes, it turned out to be a lie when all was said and done (or is it true again?). It was still jaw dropping.
This by no means is a list of all of them or even the best ones. It’s just a list of twists that sprang to mind. What are some of your favorites, people out there in internet world?
Az has a qu…oh…well, just take a look for yourself
I read a rumor that Bruce Wayne was dropping the mantle of the Bat to the Question…is this true? and if so…please tell me its just a long drawn out mistake that will be fixed sooner or later.
Y’know before I answer this, I’d really like to get my props for correctly predicting that The Question was going to play a prominent role in 52. I called that months before it was announced.
But onto your question; DC is pretty hush hush about what happens during the year that happens before One Year Later, but we do know that Batman isn’t taking care of Gotham for a year, which means that Gotham needs a protector.
I don’t think that The Question is going to taking Bruce’s place in the cape and cowl so much as he might be taking Bruce’s place as Gotham’s protector.
Like I said, we know from announcements that when James Robinson, Paul Dini and Grant Morrison being their stints in Gotham that Bruce is Batman and Batman is back in Gotham. So don’t fret too much.
Tim, does your excitement over Grant Morrison taking over Batman cancel out your disappointment over Judd Winick leaving the title?
It’s hard, it is. I really have enjoyed Winick’s run despite my indifference/boredom for the Scarebeast story and my general opposition to the idea of bringing back Jason Todd. I will miss him. Morrison’s arrival, though, does ease the pain a whole lot. And for that, DC, I am grateful to you.
Az gets enmeshed in a domestic disturbance
I read that The Bat has some ‘strained relations’ with his extended family.
What happened there?
I think they were upset that they were left out of Thomas’ will. I mean the guy left everything to Bruce? The kid was like six years old. And Martha’s kinfolk were salty. They thought they’d hit the big time when she married that fancy Gotham doctor. It was going to be doublewides for everyone! But he left all the wealth to some snot kid?
Oh wait, you mean his “extended family of sidekicks and hangers-on.” That was my fault.
What hasn’t happened? Batman’s an emotionally complex character. He’s also an emotional powder keg. Wait, that doesn’t quite work. He’s an emotional black hole? Does that work better? He got kind of distant during the whole Cataclysm when he tried to do everything himself. Things got even worse when Bruce Wayne: Murderer happened and some of them actually believed he was capable of killing his ex (Babs, I’m looking at you.) Regardless here’s how he stands with his various straggling vigilantes;
Nightwing – They’ve got plenty of good times to fall back on, but Dick still feels like he’s got to live up Bruce’s standard which can make things tense at times. They even came to blows in Bruce Wayne: Murderer
Robin – Tim’s a whiny turd. He got cranky when Bruce told The Spoiler that Tim Drake and Robin were one and the same. He also doesn’t always dig how Bruce pulls rank. They’ve seen better days.
Huntress – Bats nominated her for JLA membership, but they’ve never been the best of friends. He’s usually pretty suspect of being part of his fam.
Oracle – Tim don’t you read Birds of Prey? Perhaps you can explain how things are so chilly between the two now.
Leslie Thompkins – Batman got irked when he found out that she let Robin IV (aka The Spoiler) die. I think he’s making too big a deal and that Leslie’s was making a valid stand.
Even if you don’t think Thompkins is a raving sociopath (which she is) do you still really think that Batman is all that wrong to be pissed that Spoiler died and she did not necessarily have to?
The Joker – He crippled Barbara “Batgirl” Gordon, tortured Jim Gordon, killed Jason “Robin II” Todd, killed Commissioner Sarah Gordon, and oh, wait, he’s not part of Batman’s family. (But in his defense, Jason Todd’s not dead anymore.)
Tim, was it wrong for me to completely ignore Batgirl just because I refuse to acknowledge her existence?
Yes, yes it is. Not Leslie Thompkins bad, but still bad.
Why the Batgirl hate, by the way?
Aaron appreciates true genius
Force of July…one of the greatest bad gimmicks of all time. No argument there. I heard they’re all dead, though. Details, kid. And, not your usual flippant, “they just dead”. Details, I said.
“Greatest bad gimmicks” Aaron you blew my mind. I tried to wrap my head around that and my mind literally blew off its gaskets.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Force of July, they were a group that operated under the auspices of the American Security Agency. They were charged with eliminating things that were deemed to be not in the best interest of the United States. This brought them in to conflict with Batman and the Outsiders for some reason that’s probably moot at this point.
Eventually The Force of July realized that their boss wasn’t so great, because he was using a satellite to spy on people. Fortunately Batman had yet to construct a satellite of his own, so the Outsiders had the moral high ground.
I guess this is as good a time as any to actually delve into the members of the team itself. The team consisted of:
Major Victory was a guy who’s slick and sleek battle suit gave him enhanced strength and endurance, y’know like your typical leader.
Silent Majority was another guy, only he could replicate himself (very much like my favorite Marvel character Jamie Maddrox.)
Mayflower had a green thumb in that she could not only control plant life, but make it grow super fast.
Lady Liberty had energy manipulating powers that were focused through her “torch.”
Lastly was Sparkler, a mere kid whose powers “made him a human fireworks display.”
The rest of the Force of July’s history reads like a typical drug store romance novel, circa the Cold War; they were captured by Russians (and saved), used as pawns yet again and finally faced off against the Suicide Squad.
And when I say “finally” I mean final for two members; Sparkler and Mayflower who were killed while battling the Suicide (Homicide?) Squad. The rest of the Forcers joined up with the Squad. They faced one of Kobra’s cronies. Silent Majority and Lady Liberty didn’t make it back.
Major Victory stayed with the Suicide Squad. However he did have the unfortunate fate of appearing in Eclipso #13 where every costumed character who could possibly pass as a hero was slaughtered by the titular villain.
But Aaron, since you’re such a diehard Force of July fan you’ll be happy to know that a team bearing that name will be battling for Bludhaven in the pretty near future.
Tim, do you think that the Force of July would be beyond even your revamping skills?
Beyond my skills in that they don’t need my skills. Because they are already great. Very, very great.
Sadly that brings us to the end of the column. But don’t worry next week will be much better.
My question for you this week is; What DC character would you like to see appear on Smallville?
“I ain’t doing my thing, I ain’t doing a thing.”
