Tim, I’m glad to hear that you won your Oscar© Pool, but which ones did you miss and how did you do on the Scientific and Technical Academy Awards held two weeks previously?
I missed Best Actress (I really thought that Felicity Hoffman would upset), Best Picture (I said Brokeback Mountain like it should have been, although I did like Crash), and the three Shorts categories (I didn’t get one!).
As for the Scientific and Technical Awards, let’s say I went, I don’t know, 270 for 300.
Links
IP Music is music to my ears!
IP Movies has post Oscar® news!
IP Games is really fun to read.
IP Figures is very articulate.
IP TV is full of Lost and 24.
IP Sports is full of steroid…news
Moodspins has outrage!
IP Culture has culinary tips.
Our DC Forums has the first response to OYL!
Tim, care to link anything?
This game called Sudoku is all the rage right now, so go here and bone up on what is, undoubtedly, a very useful like skill.
What I Read Last Week
Detective Comics #817 – Wow that status quo has been shaken up. This makes me really want to read 52. Robinson has a real grasp for the characters and Kirk and Clarke make an amazing team. I really loved this book.
A great start to OYL.
I actually failed to mention the art in my review of this book and that was a mistake. Kirk turns in a decidedly different performance then his work on the dearly departed Bloodhound, but is still wholly excellent. The art is a great fit for the book.
I know this team is just to clear the decks before the likes of Dini and Rags and Morrison and Kubert start and I am very excited for that. Still, with a debut this strong, I wish that these creators could be more than a transitional one.
Infinite Crisis #5 – This book had some really great moments. Superboy and Nightwing deciding to save the world. Kal’s L & El battling it out. Lois dying. Plus a cameo by the Tangent Superman. This book rocked.
Batman Annual #25 – I enjoyed this book. I liked how I didn’t really miss Batman at all. I didn’t see the reveal as a cop out. I completely buy Jason’s motivation. I don’t see why people are whining.
I’d agree with you that Jason’s motivation made sense to me. However, I think most people that are whining are actually complaining about the “continuity waves” explanation for his resurrection. Me, it does not bother, but I don’t think those people are wrong to find fault with it.
Aquaman #40 – I’m curious enough to stick around for the next issue. I don’t hate the current direction, but I am sorry they abandoned the previous one. I dig King Shark. I also dig the Geist reference. I’m curious about the dual mysteries of where Orin is and Arthur’s connections to other things.
X Factor #4 – I truly do dig this title. What more can I say, this book is nearly flawless. I don’t even mind the dual artists.
JSA #83 – Yes, finally what fans have been clamoring for; the secret origin of The Gentleman Ghost! Solid issue. I do wish Jakeem had his dreds back.
Outsiders #34 – Kind of slow and heavy. I’m worried about how “deep” undercover Thunder went. But I’m intrigued by Boomer Jr. being on the team. I hope things get fun again.
Y The Last Man #43 – Yes, we’ve made it to Japan. But doesn’t it mean that we’ve got a little over a year left with this book? I’m enjoying how the puzzle pieces are fitting together. This is such a fun book to read, but it’s a beast to wait for.
Ex Machina #18 – I so dug the flashbacks. This is a great book. The Homeland Security/NYPD showdown felt very real. Josh Nicholson rubs me the wrong way, and that hate crime at the end was a bit too brutal. But I did love the issue.
Green Lantern Corps #5 – I liked how everything came together. I like core of this Corps. I am looking forward to their reactions to Kyle’s transformation. I really can’t wait for the regular book to start up.
Wow, our reactions to this book could not be farther apart. For me, it was just a bad issue of a series that became less and less interesting to me with each subsequent issue.
Adventures of Superman #649 – It was interesting to see how things ended up. I enjoyed this storyline for the most part. It was cool to witness “what if” storylines and the artists really gave the book their all. I’m going to miss this title.
One person actually placed the lyric at the end of last week’s column, which means that the one and only Ben Morse gets to ask the first question in the column!
Ben Morse never hesitates to be blunt.
My question is why is Tim selfish?
Let me just begin by saying that Tim has never been anything other than generous as far as I’m concerned. He offered to let me share his hotel room at the huge San Diego Comic Con. He shares this very column with me. In fact the only time he’s declined to share anything with me, it was Janelle, and I was completely out of line to ask.
That said Ben, have you ever considered if Tim is an only child? I hear that only children tend to think the world revolves around them and they have problems sharing.
Tim, do you have any idea why you’re so selfish?
Well, first, I’m only sort of, kind of an only child. See, it is true that I am the only child of my (biological) parents. However, they have not been married since I was four. So, since then, my mom has had another boy (my brother, technically half brother, Patrick) and my father married my stepmother Diane who had an older daughter (my sister, technically my step sister, Michelle). Thus, I am an only child, a middle child, the oldest, and the youngest, depending what segment of my family you are evaluating me by.
As far as me thinking the world revolves around me, did you ever think that maybe it just does? Look at the facts. I moved to His Royal Badness, New Jersey from Wu-ington, CT this year. We also have had one of the warmest winters on record in this area of the country. Coincidence? ‘Fraid not. I moved and because of that the Earth ever so slightly shifted and the climate went along with it. As the Earth gets used to where I am now, the abnormal climate should calm down some.
So there you have it. It’s not selfish. It’s not arrogant. It’s accurate.
Soak1313 is WAY into marketing.
What was the ad that got pulled from the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series? Just curious because I only have the trade and there are a load of ads. Did it get reprinted there or is it gone the way of the dodo?
The ad was for a Marvel “feminine hygiene” product. It was a genuine ad, but it was deemed distasteful to DC pulled it. I’m guessing that it wasn’t reprinted, since the issue was shredded. While I don’t have the trade I’d have to assume that the ad was replaced by another vintage ad.
Tim, do you think that DC made the right move pulling ad, even considering what it eventually cost them?
I personally think DC overreacted to what probably would have ended up being a mildly diverting and ultimately harmless joke.
And, to sate your curiosity, Soak, here is a version of that ad (although I cannot promise it is the exact same one that would have been featured in LoEG).
Soak1313 is apparently the founding member of the “Every Issue Deserves an Image Club”
Why were there some images missing when you were summing up the last pages of the Crisis tie in issues? Were there none available or was it a goof? Again just curious because I have most of them and was wondering the same thing as the person that posed the question. I just wanted the images to reference instead of going to find my copies. Yeah, I know back to me being lazy again.
Hey, we don’t mind you being lazy. The reason for the lack of pages from the issues covered it that they weren’t on the Amazing Blog that I found while looking up answers. I knew that I hadn’t read every DCU issue with a nifty last page, so I did some research. The guys who run that blog were cool enough to have images of some of the comics that I don’t read (Catwoman, Birds of Prey) and also images of those that I do read.
We borrowed the images from that blog, thus those were the only ones provided.
Tim, don’t you really feel like we really provided a great service last week?
I tink we did and Soak should shut up the hell up and appreciate that, dammit!
In all seriousness (as in, seriously, shut the hell up) it killed me to not include all the images we were talking about. Unfortunately, however, after an hour of hunting online, I just could not turn them up. It made me sad, but the show had to go on.
I hope we are still cool Soak.
Oh, and an addition to that question last week. If you look at the last Manhunter issue, the second figure in line (behind the Kate of our world) is simply a Darkstar, probably one of the ones that used the suit before her.
Brendan will only speak to the smartest two people in the DCU
In Infinite Crisis #5, Mr. Terrific refers to himself as the third smartest man in the world. This is a line that seems tailor made for you guys, and you’ve probably heard this question before, but I’m going to ask anyway: who are numbers one and two? I figure it would have to be Lex Luthor and… someone else, but the someone else is stumping me.
Honestly I’ve been doing this column for so long (nearly three years to be exact!) every question sounds vaguely familiar.
Mr. Terrific is a genius because, well, that’s always been the shtick of anyone named Mr. Terrific. He’s like Batman, only less intimidating to criminals and more intimidating to Joe Average.
I mean think about it, if you’re Joe Average aren’t you going to feel inferior when introduced to Mr. Terrific? “Mr. Terrific, I’d like you to meet Joe Average.” Talk about your awkward situation.
Yeah, Lex Luthor is up there. He got to match wits with an alien and keep one step ahead of him. He also designs his own weapons and tries to make deals with New Gods. Sadly not even a genius of his caliber can cure his baldness (though cloning a replacement body with a head full of hair does come a close second.)
I think you’re missing the most obvious character; Batman. Batman is the answer to every question relating to the DCU. If there’s a category in the DCU, rest assured Batman is at least Top Five in it.
Don’t believe me? Try it out. Top Five Worst Acts Committed in the DCU, Bats is there. Top Five Greatest Costumes, Bats again. Top Five Animal Lovers, oh you know Bats is there.
Ace the Bathound!
As for the Top Three Brainiacs in the DCU, I’m going with 1) Lex 2) Bats and 3) Mr. Terrific.
I’m sorry you had to find out like this, but yes, I am smarter than you.
Tim, have we covered this one before and don’t you agree with those three?
I think we might have done a top 10 smartest people before, so, basically, yes, I think we have.
And do I agree? You bet!
On a side note, isn’t that just like Lex Luthor to clone himself a new body to cure baldness? All he needed to do is reverse engineer Propecia and fiddle with its chemical structure a bit and viola! A more effective version. And you know he could pull it off, too.
Instead, he clones himself a new body. That man always has to make things more complicated.
(And yes, I know why Lex really cloned himself a new body. The joke wouldn’t work though if I acknowledged that).
Glen Davis needs a Fodor’s for Earth-8
In Infinite Crisis #5 Alexander Luthor reveals that Breach was supposed to be the Captain Atom of Earth 8 if the original Crisis had never happened. Other heroes populating that world would have been Kyle Raynor, Helena Bertinelli, and Jason Rusch.
Who else would have been on that earth? How would it have been different from Earths 1,2,3,4,C,S, and X?
Ooh, a question that require me to stretch my imagination. I do ever so enjoy those questions.
Well first off, we’ve got to set parameters. In Wizard Geoff Johns said that every character created post Crisis would have been on Earth 8. So we’ve got a real time timeline of everyone since 1986.
But even with that, there’s still a grey area; does anyone really think that Jack Knight would have been on Earth 8? Of course not because he’s so deeply rooted in, what would have been, Earth 2. So with that you’ve got to exclude characters who have strong ties to Silver Age or Golden Age characters.
(Bear in mind, this isn’t a complete list, it’s just who I came up with while browsing my references.)
Let’s start off with those characters that I love who have canceled books; Resurrection Man, Aztek, Chronos, Chase and Anarky. I’d also like to think that Azrael Orpheus and Hitman would have been heroes in that world.
In terms of teams, you’ve got all of Ray Palmer’s Teen Titans, the Team Titans, the Power Company and the Elite. I’m also going to toss in the Justice Experience. Yes, they were inspired by the Justice Society on our world, but I think that on Earth 8 they’d have made more of an impact and might not have ended so tragically.
And now for some random characters; Agent Liberty, Black Condor, Crimson Fox, the current Hawk & Dove, the current El Diablo, Gangbuster, the current Ragman, the Blasters (excluding Snapper Carr), Booster Gold, Bloodwynd, Supergirl, Will Payton, Mr. Terrific, and L.E.G.I.O.N.
Now let me make the case for these characters being on Earth 8;
Booster Gold – Booster’s mission of going into the past and making a name for himself would make more sense on a less hero populated Earth 8. Booster probably would have fared better on Earth 8, because of a lack of competition.
Supergirl – I know that it doesn’t make to much sense, but I really believe that Linda would have been better served on Earth 8. She would have fit right in. Leesburg would have rocked on Earth 8. She was technically inspired by Kal-El, but she was equally technically from another dimension, not our Earth. She might not have been called “Supergirl” but that character would have been there.
Starman – Will Payton would have been a big deal on Earth 8. His immense power and ability would have made him top dog. Sure the Starman legacy might have suffered a bit, but his star would have burned much brighter, much longer.
L.E.G.I.O.N. – DC didn’t really introduce too many space concepts Post Crisis, so we don’t have too many to work with. Part of the joys of L.E.G.I.O.N. was that we were witnessing a precursor to the Legion of Super-Heroes. Well in the Earth 8 universe the Legion would patrol the galaxy and would give fanboys a “what if” the Legion existed in the present not the future.
Mr. Terrific – Yeah, he’s a legacy character and yeah he’s leading the JSA, but he’s really squandered there. On Earth 8 he could really come into his own as a character, much like Hal Jordan became his own Green Lantern in the Silver Age. He’d certainly be more prominent a hero on Earth 8.
Bloodwynd – C’mon, this guy would have been “the man” on Earth 8. He also wouldn’t have met such a tragic death.
Since the last two characters I named happened to be Black, it occurred to me that Earth 8 probably would have featured a more racially diverse cast of characters. I think it certainly would have incorporated some of the Milestone and Tangent concepts (most notably Static and Superman.)
I think that the world probably would have sprung up in the late 80’s. Actually it probably would have utilized a set up similar to the Tangent Universe, but set in the present. Starman would be like the Superman. Off the top of my head I think that Anarky and Orpheus probably would have made a “dynamic duo” in Gotham. Chronos would have been used to explore that world’s history. But I don’t think the history would have really differed too drastically from what really happened.
(You also might be curious to see what some Nexus Readers pondered Earth 8 would have been like.)
Tim, care to critique my Earth 8 and theorize on your own?
I think both yours and the various ones at our message board are all really great. Even being opposed to the return of multiple Earths (see the next DC News & Views for a Tim’s Tirade on the matter) I would probably enjoy an Earth-8 that appeared the way you and the message boarders have imagined it.
That said, the characters that would end up on Earth 8 are often too intertwined with Earth-1 people. Thus, either Earth-8 would be bereft of several of them (because they’d have to stay at Earth-1 to exist) or their origins would be greatly altered.
For instance, how does lazy, irresponsibly artist Kyle Rayner end up a GL without Emerald Twilight? Because even if Hal Jordan does go all twilight-y, why would the last remaining Guardian head to a completely different Earth for a new agent? Or, if he did, for whatever reason, Kyle would still have to go to Earth-1 to do any good.
Or take Connor Hawke, who would also be an Earth-8 denizen. If he’s not the son of Oliver Queen, than who the heck is he?
Finally, what of Bloodwynd? Without having ever run into J’onn, Bloodwynd would have eventually fallen victim to the dark side of his jewel and ended up evil.
Also, if we are to be honest with the multiple earth reality, Milestone and Tangent concepts would also have their own planet to play on. Call them Earth-M and Earth 9.
In other words, no, I don’t really have any Earth-8 ideas at this time. Even if it would an earth with Aztek.
You know the earth I’d really be pulling for, though? WISTC Earth…What if Stan Lee Created…Earth. That planet would be, as the kids say, off the chain.
Cory H. wears his sunglasses at night so he can, so he can watch the blue and orange
What is the hidden agenda with Nightwing’s newfound alliance with Deathstroke, and when did he get granted immortality?
The hidden agenda was that Nightwing was trying to convince Slade that he wasn’t the goody goody hero Slade thought he was. Nightwing was trying to broker a deal that would keep Bludhaven relatively crime free. The storyline was shortened because of Infinite Crisis so we didn’t really see Nightwing and Lex make the deal. Nightwing also wanted to try to sway Rose from the bad influence of Slade.
It was a pretty solid storyline. I enjoyed it (even in it’s abbreviated form) though many fans blasted it and attached Devin Grayson relentlessly.
As for Slade’s immortality (a topic I know we’ve covered before) it’s just another side effect of his enhancements. He not only has a great healing ability, but he can literally return from the dead. Naturally, immediately after the resurrection he’s a bit of a psycho, but he gets better as time progresses.
Tim, any thoughts on Deathstroke?
A few. Like, how does he make blue and orange look so badass? Or why do all DC folks with immortality always go a bit nuts after a resurrection?
These are the things that keep me up at night.
The difference between you and me? I make this look good.
Cory H.
Who are the Top 10 fighters in the DCU? 1-10, and why? Because the Marvel guys have a top 64 fighters bracket coming soon, and is it possible for a DC version?
Man, I know we’ve answered this one before, but I can’t find it anywhere. I remember being really happy with that response too. Anyway here’s what I’m coming up with this time around;
Shiva – I’m making her #1 because it’s always a big deal whenever she turns up. If she pops up in Richard Dragon it’s huge (Well, huge for an issue of Richard Dragon, anyway.). When she popped up in Batgirl the exact same thing. If she wasn’t such a threat it wouldn’t be such a big deal, hence she’s #1.
Batgirl – I don’t read her title, so I don’t know if she’s still alive after her last issue. That said, Cassandra has that nifty ability to “read” people and communicate in body language which is something that she alone pretty much possesses. This will give her the edge against everyone else. And that’s why she’s #2.
Deathstroke – He uses 90% of his brain. And he’s pretty skilled as a fighter. I remember Batgirl going toe to toe with him in Nightwing, so while he may be faster, I’m still giving her the edge, placing him at #3.
Richard Dragon – He’s #4 because he’s no joke. Deathstroke’s speed will give him the edge, but Dragon has such skill and finesse that it would be close. The reason why Dragon is so high is because he’s going to have trained the majority of the rest of the list.
David Cain – I’ll be honest, I really don’t know too much about his guy. But I do know that he’s Batgirl’s father and that he trained her. I also like how I’ve alternated “good guys” and “bad guys” thus far so he’s a shoe in for #5.
He also trained Batman.
Connor Hawke – He’s #6. Sure he’s supposed to be the best in the DCU, but that was years ago. That’s like saying the Bulls are still the team to beat because of Michael Jordan. Connor was #1 back before Batgirl was introduced, before Deathstroke took out the JLA, and before Richard Dragon busted skulls in his own solo title.
Batman – Batman is very skilled, but he spends a lot of time mourning his parents and lost “Robins.” He’s also a bit of a crimefighter, whose martial arts skills might be a tad rusty. He’s does have connections with everyone on the list thus far and sadly that places him at #7. (Plus he’s got a habit of having his ideas used against fellow heroes, which kind of makes him “bad.”)
Nightwing – I don’t really know why he’s here. I just couldn’t think of anyone to come between Batman and Nightwing. So he’s #8.
Bronze Tiger – The only reason he’s so low is because I’m pretty sure the last time we saw him he was in the hospital in Richard Dragon. If I was convinced that he was 100% he’d probably have been ahead of Batman. Anyway, Tiger (apparently) trained Dragon, but the student has since become the teacher. Unfortunately Bronze Tiger is #9
Robin – Apparently Tim Drake is supposed to be a decent fighter. I don’t know, because I don’t read his title. But I’m just telling you what people are saying. Thus he’s #10.
As for a tournament; never.
Tim, what do you make of my list and does yours differ?
Yours is okay, but it is not without fault. The most glaring of them is Tim Drake in the top 10. Drake is an excellent Robin, but they have always gone to great lengths to explain that his true talent lies in detecting, not fighting. He’s a good fighter, having been trained by Batman and Shiva, but he’s not a top 10 one. Witness Jason Todd taking the Boy Wonder to the cleaners a few months back in an issue of Teen Titans.
The next issue I have is the term “fighter”. It is way nebulous. By including Deathstroke so high, you seem to say that best fighter equals he or she that wins most. However, if that’s the case, Batman should be much higher (because he’s smart enough to find a way to cheat to win) and Prometheus should be on your list since he has almost everyone on the list already programmed into his helmet (except maybe Shiva) and thus can do what they do.
I’ll narrow it down instead to those with a natural talent for fighting. Thus, Deathstroke falls back to around Batman’s ranking, Black Canary probably enters the list (especially after recent training with Lady Shiva), and Connor shoots up in the list to #2 or #3 (he’s better than Batgirl, Cain, and it is still unresolved whether or not he or Dragon are the best male fighters in the DCU).
Otherwise, good on you.
Soak 1313 is the Joan Rivers of superhero fashion
I was wondering if there is any significance to the armor that SB Prime is wearing at the end of the newest IC? I have read or seen that it is anti monitor armor. What all does that mean if anything?
It means that someone is in for a world of hurt. It means that we should all be worried. It also probably means that Prime (like Alex) is less than happy that the touching love story that is Brokeback Mountain lost the Best Picture Oscarâ„¢ to Crash.
(Let’s be real, Prime literally moved planets for Alex. Is there a greater symbol of love? Not that I know of.)
The armor is Anti-Monitor inspired. I don’t know if it’s something that Prime whipped up or something that someone gave him. I don’t know if it means that he’s possessed by Anti-Monitor or if means that he’s inspired by Anti-Monitor. I am pretty sure that this means Prime has read (and took too seriously) the Qward Eye for the Straight Guy that we did a couple years back.
It does appear that the question of who the Apex Predator really is has been answered.
Tim, what do you think that Prime’s Qwardian makeover means?
I think it means excitement. A fresh new look for a well seasoned symbol. Something that is new and bold, but respectful of the old. I don’t think SB Prime is looking to hurt anyone. I think he’s just so damn excited about his new threads that he burst out of the speed force shouting his excitement. Because looking good means feeling good and right now Superboy must feel great.
Or it could mean lots and lots of dead bodies. These things can go either way.
Dhaise knows that kitties can be scary sometimes
Whatever happened to Rampage? I lost track of her around the old starman (will payton) run.
I’m really glad that you clarified, because for a second I thought you were talking about “the last boy scout”
For those of you who don’t know Rampage, she was a Kitty Faulkner, a scientist at Star Labs. She was working on clean energy sources when she was transformed into Rampage. She absorbed massive amounts of energy which caused her to increase her size and strength, but sadly she lost her intellect.
(Rampage was pretty much a skim Hulk, with the major differences being she was female, mango colored and sported a Mohawk, oh and she didn’t change because of her anger, it was the absorption of energy that would trigger a change.)
She eventually got to the point where she would retain her scholarly intelligence as Rampage, though she did become more uninhibited in that state.
Rampage had the misfortune of being part of the Superman cast before a creative team change and becoming a regular on a canceled title. Much like the Newsboy Legion from last week’s column Rampage has faded into obscurity. She was once pretty prominent and now I’m pretty sure that the last time we saw her was in Adventures of Superman #587. Satanus had actually split Rampage from Kitty Faulkner. But they were reunited and it feels so good.
Tim, I’ve got to say that Rampage seems to like a good candidate for your Revamping.
Really? You think so? I don’t know…a “skim Hulk” seems like something the DCU could do without. I’ll ponder though.
Also on that note, this coming week is the requested revamp of Mirage! Check it out in DC News & Views on Tuesday.
Cory H dares question the sacred principle
Does Batman ever lose (besides sidekicks, a few girlfriends, and his spinal cord usage)? He beats Superman, alot…he has protocols on how to defeat not only the JLA but every other Superhero in DC, he defeated (vote-wise) Captain America, and on Some other site he has defeated the likes of The New England Pats, Menopause, The Ocean, the Great Pumpkin, the Atkins Diet, Child Protective Services, Galactus, The IRS, Communism, The Imperial Army, Jessica Alba’s No Nudity Clause, the History of Psychiatry, and…omg….The Sun. What is he incapable of doing? ahem:::Wolverine:::cough, cough
First off, losing sidekicks, girlfriends and mobility seems like a lot to me. But maybe that’s because I’ve lost the first two.
As I pointed out earlier, Batman is the best the DCU has to offer. Batman, not Gillette, is the best a man can get. He’s pretty well rounded (not completely well rounded because he’d have no idea how to compose a mixtape for that special someone), (You don’t think so? I bet a mix tape from him would be tight! Lots of Depeche Mode, the Cure, Oingo Boingo, probably a healthy dose of the Beatles (come on, everybody needs a healthy dose of the Beatles, and, of course, Prince. BATDANCE FOREVER!) so he’s always going to be pretty prepared for every situation.
Oingo Boingo, the necessary element to any mix tape, according to Batman.
Bats is pretty much capable of doing things that aren’t necessarily impossible, but no normal person could do, like appearing three monthly titles and JLA or having a 200 issue run of a book featuring stories that take place early in his career.
Batman has lost. He lost his parents. That’s a pretty big deal. He loses friends left and right. Maybe that’s why he’s so hard to beat in other areas. He’s capable of doing a lot, possibly even killing.
Tim, help me out. Can you make Cory see the light about Batman?
Here’s an easy equation. Batman= the Jack Bauer (or the Jack Bristow, depending on your Jack of choice) of the DCU. You get it now?
I think we’ve answered enough questions. Email me more.
My question to you this week; Is Superboy’s pounding on reality a copout or completely acceptable?
“Been out haunting the neighborhood and everybody can see I’m no good.”
