Tim, while doing the column I watched the season premiere of The Office. Personally I think it’s the funniest thing on. It makes me want to get an office gig, either on the show or in an actual office. Is there a funnier show on?
Not for my money, there isn’t. I like My Name is Earl and Scrubs (when it is on) a lot, but, in the end, The Office just has all over them both. How great was Ed Helms losing his mind about the calculator in the jello mold trick? Or that that was a reference to season 1 (see, I am a comic nerd! Even when it comes to TV I love continuity references)? Or”¦well, I could go on and on. Great show though.
Links
Broken Dial is indie-tastic!
Beyond the Threshold doesn’t want to look on the bright side of anything.
The DVD Lounge has reviews a plenty.
Inside Fights is understandably violent.
Machine Gun Funk; possibly the greatest rating system ever.
Moodspins has returned with a glorious bevy of views.
Not a True Ending has tons of game reviews.
Popcorn Junkies has all of your cinematic needs covered.
Primetime Pulse has all of the best real TV shows covered.
Reality Dish has all of your “reality” shows covered.
Oh, thank God. If I miss just a moment of reality television, it would be a tragedy.
Sorry”¦I forgot to turn my sarcasm-o-beam off.
Retro Grading is all about old school fun.
Tailgate Crashers has scores of content.
Also check our our DC Boards where you can debate 52 vs Green Arrow continuity speculate about Supernova and even mourn Booster Gold.
My favorite blog Glyphs has an interesting piece on Amanda Waller and the Suicide Squad.
Tim, care to link anything this week?
Ladies and gentlemen, why not go check out the season premeire of Heroes at NBC.com if you missed it.
What I Read Last Week Recently
Civil War Files – I’ve not read the whole thing, but I enjoyed what I did read. It’s a pretty good concept too.
I love these sorts of things, but they are a needless expense that often leaves me disappointed (see: latter Secret Files and Origins) so I resisted. I still wonder if I made the right choice.
Martian Manhunter #2 – Interesting. I really wish that Lieberman would tell a linear story, without so much time hopping. It was getting annoying in Gotham Knights and it’s really irksome here. I also think that J’onn’s new look would make more sense after he hooked up with his brethren.
The Escapists #3 – What a delightful read. I dug how the romantic moment was interrupted. I loved how the attempt at publicity backfired. This makes me want to pick up the Escapist anthology.
Ex Machina #23 – Great cover. Great art. Great issue. If I had to have one complaint I’d say that Vaughan does too much stuff with dreams in his work. It’s cool in Y and it works here, but it could become cliché. But this issue was a great as any other.
I sort of get where you are coming from, but come on! How awesome was that dog wearing a suit?!
Green Lantern #13 – I really appreciate how Johns allowed the Lanterns to retain a grudge. And while I really hate the idea of Arisa being alive again, I’ll trust Johns to do something interesting with her. If memory serves me correctly Kilowog had a crush on her as well, so this could be interesting. At this point I’m trusting Johns more than I’m enjoying the book.
You are so patient, Mathan. I am impressed with your ability to stick with titles.
Firestorm #29 – I hate that the writing appears to be on the wall for this book. I love this book so much. I loved the stuff between Jason and his father so much. That dialogue rang so true. I’m really urging everyone to pick this title up.
Green Arrow #66 – I really like how Winick accounted for Ollie’s lost year. And despite what happened in 52 I’m sticking with this title as the official events. I really enjoyed this issue.
Green Lantern Corps #4 – I really wish that this had been a Guy solo issue rather than trying to continue the other storylines as well. I enjoyed it. I can’t wait to see who’s trying to set Guy up.
DMZ #11 – I really liked the “insider” look at how the war went down. Seeing Zee’s life “before” was very enlightening. It gives a good glimpse into her character. I didn’t even mind the guest artist.
Shadowpact #5 – I enjoyed this issue as a return to form. I dug the effects of the year passing: the lost housing, the hair growth. I’m interested in seeing how long Rex will be around. There were some things I didn’t like, but I’ll get to that later in the column.
Deadman #2 – Kudos to Bruce Jones for writing a second issue of a book that I don’t loathe. Anytime String Theory gets some play, I’m interested. This book is nutty and fun to read because my mind is constantly running. I’m very intrigued by the mystery that’s building.
Se7en #1 – I loved the film so I figured I’d give the book a shot. I wasn’t disappointed. I liked how it gave insight into the victims and John Doe. The art and writing really matched the tone of the film. I can’t wait for the next issue.
Ion #6 – Man, this thing is half over? This was a great return to form for Kyle as he was a fun character to read again. I loved the cameo by Radu. I loved the art. I wish the entire run had been as good as this issue.
A lot of people are on your side on this Mathan, from what I’ve heard, but I really don’t see what was so watershed about this. For my money, issue #4 was better written and more interesting than this chapter. This was still decent, but I don’t get that “this title has turned the corner” feeling that so many others seemed to have.
On a more positive side, I think I’m getting used to the art. I still don’t think it is great, but it bothered me a whole lot less this time out.
52 Week Nineteen – I’m way intrigued by Skeets actions, but I’m equally glad to see Daniel go. His introduction reeked of lameness. I liked the reemergence of the Emerald Eye, but the story also had Lobo, which is never good. It was nice to see a nutty Cassie.
I never got the “legacy” vibe from Booster so I too was pleased to see a different resolution of that situation. Plus, it screwed with the Gold man’s fans just a touch more and that’s always a kick.
52 Week Twenty – Way too much Lobo for my taste. I’m torn about the revelation on the Emerald Eye; I’m glad to finally be getting answers, but they seem kind of corny. It seems like a horrible punch line. The stuff with Steel seems to be foreboding about his future. And the stuff with Supernova clearly implies that he’s a good guy who knows about Bruce/Bats.
I was fine with the Emerald Eye revelation, but then, I’m not a Legion fan. If I had been reading about this powerful, corrupting talisman for years and always wondered what exactly its deal was, I imagine that I would’ve found the “oh, it is a skull headed thingamagig’s eye” explanation on touch on the side of “really? That’s it?”.
X-Factor #11 – Well written as always. I don’t really dig the notion of dual art teams, but it’s not that hard on the eye. The glimpse into Jamie’s past was a real treat. The ending was crazy. I can’t wait for the next issue!
Civil War #4 – I’m so glad that they delivered on the promise of the character who was a “symbol.” I loved that it wasn’t Thor but the idea that it was proved nearly overwhelming for the opposition. That was a great touch. I am curious when Reed became as aloof as he is at the moment. It strikes me, a non FF reader, as odd. I also loved the ramifications of the battle; those ripples were much appreciated.
I am so split on this book. On the one hand, there is no doubt that I am enjoying the spectacle/roller coaster ride aspects of it. On the other, every time I read complaints about characterization I agree with them (although, not necessarily their hysterical “dear God, comics are dying before our very eyes” tone). I am sort of preparing for the other shoe to drop (that shoe being “mind control”) and I know a lot of other readers are too. The thing is, I think this might be the lie that we Marvel fans are telling ourselves. I don’t think there is another shoe.
Flash #4 – This book makes me sad. Mota is great, in theory and horrible in practice. The idea of trying to play up legacy while using a character that’d have to strive to be considered obscure is absurd. I used to love both The Flash and Bart Allen, but my interest in both is quickly waning.
As I mentioned before, I truly respect and am impressed with your patience. That said, I’m staging an intervention, right here, right now. Let go of Flash, Mathan. At least for now. I know you two have a deep history and there is a lot of love there, but this is not the Flash that you fell in love with. Don’t hurt yourself anymore.
Catwoman #59 – Pfeifer continues to amaze. His Film Freak is one of the characters that I marvel at. He’s so fully realized. I’m glad that he kind of got a definitive answer about Helena’s paternity and seeing Ted babysitting in his mask was a hoot. This might be the most consistent book in the entire DCU.
100 Bullets #76 – This issue was firing on all cylinders. The majority of the major characters are in play and a face off is on the verge of happening. I loved how Wylie tried to play his hand and it didn’t even faze Graves. I loved how Vic is playing his role perfectly. And I love how Lono is always Lono. This book is like the comic book equivalent of The Wire; it’s that good.
Checkmate #6 – I completely love the rationale for Waller’s actions. Actually I dig everyone’s motivations in this issue. I am curious about Waller’s previous Squad though. This issue was so good that I wasn’t distracted by the guest art team.
On the other hand, that is two guest artists in six issues. That’s a little disappointing.
And yes, ladies and gentlemen, I’m the person that creates delays in books because I would prefer consistent art with (small) delays to on time with constant fill-ins. I AM THE PROBLEM.
Brandon R. wants to make Supes shake in his boots. And not in a Saturday Night Fever sort of way.
This time might be more of an opinion question but maybe not…During the JLA storyarc where Manhunter went crazy and became super badass and it took the JLA, Green Lantern and even The Guardians to enter the picture and really showed what Plastic man could do…
Well when Manhunter first attacks the watchtower Superman makes a comment, something like “I could count on one hand the number of people I am afraid to fight and J’onn tops the list”
Have they ever said who else is on that list and if not what are yall’s guesses
and why?
Kryptonians only have five digits, right? So basically I’ve got to come up with four characters that would have Kal shaking in his boots? Piece of cake.
(In no particular order)
Wonder Woman – Obviously she’s a trained warrior, but she’s also got that tinge of magic that’d make Clark’s skin crawl. Plus she’s darn near his physical equal. One need to look no further than the tale told in Sacrifice so see that a conscience free Superman, who’s holding nothing back could beat Diana. But the Clark that we know, the farm boy from Kansas, would always hold back and pull his punches, even though he knows it could cost him his life.
Yeah, I’d buy that one.
Mary Marvel – Again, since she’s got the power of Shazam she’s a pretty powerful specimen. Add to that the magic edge and Supes is going to be leery of having to face her. On top of that she’s a girl, which is like Clark’s, um, kryptonite. He’s much too polite to put his heart into a battle with a female former contemporary.
You are officially insane. I mean it, just out and out crazy. If you put Captain Marvel here, okay (although I’d still disagree), but Mary Marvel? Christ, why not just suggest CM3 while you’re at it.
Captain Atom – This guy’s powers probably shouldn’t be wielded by a human being. He can cause immense devastation. Plus Superman knows that Cap has a military mind and would know how to attack strategically. Couple that with the effects the brawl would have on the surrounding area and the radiation that’d be released Superman knows that even if he “won” it’d be at a horrible cost.
Huh. I wouldn’t have thought of him, but you’re argument makes sense.
Firestorm – Granted Firestorm has always been a sort of “rookie” hero who can’t really use his powers to their fullest extent, but I think that Superman knows that Firestorm, potentially, would be a serious threat. I mean the guy can alter things at the atomic level, which means he could, conceivably turn Superman’s costume into kryptonite. I think that Superman knows that should Firestorm a) get a handle on his powers and b) go rogue that he should probably let someone else deal with the problem.
I’d be surprised if this guy even flitted across Kal’s mind when he was thinking of five he’s afraid of. No offense to Firestorm. I like the guy, love his book. But he’s not that sort of heavyweight by a long shot.
Former Green Lanterns Who Have Immense Powers – Yeah, I know “but Hal Jordan already went rogue.” Exactly and how many times that Superman try to go head to head with Parallax? Kal was too busy washing his mullet to go up against Parallax. I think his official excuse was “I just came back from the dead, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do in my life.” Ion also falls into this category. Superman’s a chump.
Math has never been my speciality, but I think that that equals five (plus) people, not the four asked for and promised. I’m not saying it completely invalidates your arguments or anything, I’m just”¦
Eh, never mind. Let’s not make this a thing.
Tim, who do you think gives Superman nightmares?
Well this might just be crazy me talking, but how about, I don’t know, that guy that killed him once, Doomsday? Sure, he’s come back before to diminishing returns each time. Honestly though, can you argue that Superman’s not going to sweat a bit or have a touch of nerves when he has to go toe-to-toe with the guy that put him in the ground once?
I also imagine that Darkseid would give the Man of Steel pause. Sure, the ruler of Apokolips rarely feels the need to engage in some old fashioned fisticuffs, but when he does”¦look out! He’s massive, built like a wall, and if his crushes blows don’t rattle your cage, he’ll just use the Omega blasts to take you out.
Those two, plus Wonder Woman, Captain Atom, and Martian Manhunter, would be my nominees to give Superman a cold sweat.
Glen D. doesn’t even care about my grief
What is the history of the Tim Trench that died putting on Dr. Fate’s helmet?
I wouldn’t call it “history.” History is something that’s long and storied. Tim Trench is much more of a footnote. What’s the footnote on Tim Trench?
Well he was a P.I. who, in the Pre-Crisis DCU teamed up with Diana Prince during her powerless jumpsuit days. They tussled with Dr. Cyber. He then faded into obscurity.
How deep into obscurity? He showed up in Hero Hotline trying his hand at the mask lifestyle.
I’m guessing that he was killed off because a) he was “name” enough b) because he was lame enough and c) because DC was afraid to kill someone with an actual following, like Booster Gold.
Oh wait.
Tim, do you take it personally when someone sharing your name dies? I’m guessing it’s an experience I’ll never have.
For your sake, I hope not. Every time a new Tim is born, I receive a rush of energy and almost incalculable power for a few days. Every time a Tim dies, I eat a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Chubby Hubby and weep at old Party of Five episodes.
Umm”¦huh. Wow. Can’t believe I just told you all that. That’s one I just can’t take back either. Wow”¦so embarrassing.
Brandon R. needs to develop a sense of proportion in reference to time
What ever happened to Batzarro?
Aren’t we barely three issues removed from Jeph Loeb’s run on Superman/Batman? Don’t you think that it’s a mite early to be pondering “what ever happened to” questions?
Sadly the Joker shot Batzarro in Superman/Batman #24. I’m pretty sure that he’s dead.
But don’t fret; I’m sure that he’ll return at some point given he was one of the most entertaining parts of Loeb’s run.
Tim, you bailed on Superman/Batman right? Don’t you feel like you missed out on Batzarro?
Considering my rather ambivalent feelings towards Bizarro, I can’t imagine that I would consider not having read Batzarro to be an error in judgment on my part.
There is nothing good about who you are or what you do. And no, that is not cutesy Bizarro backwards speak.
On a semi-related note, don’t you hate when writers create similar characters and award them similar names that completely miss the point of why the original character received that name in the first place? Like “mancations”, the “men only” vacations. “Vacations” is a gender neutral term. No one calls all women vacations “womancations” or family trips “familialications” so why throw “man” in front of “acation” and think that that makes sense or is okay to do.
“Batzarro” is the same thing.
Writer: “So I have a character that is like Bizarro but for Batman. Problem is that I don’t know what to call him. Any suggestions?”
Write’s Friend: “Hmm”¦how about Batzarro?”
Writer: “Oh man, that’s awesome. Because he’s like Batman meets Bizarro. Perfect.”
NO!!!!!
Bizarro is not “Suparro”. Thus, there is no need to call Batman’s equivalent “Batzarro”. God, that bugs me.
Anyway”¦
So apparently Aaron lives in a world that is like a year behind ours, comic book event wise.
Was that former ’80s icon Blue Devil, I saw on the pages of “Infinite Crisis”? Dude was with a crew of other freaks. I don’t know why I’m hoping it was him.
Why yes Aaron it was. That crew of freaks is affectionately known as the Shadowpact.
The crew of freaks”¦well”¦freaking out.
I also don’t know why you were hoping it was him either. I don’t know why anyone would be interested in anything related to Blue Devil. I mean he’s blue and a devil. Where’s the intrigue? Where’s the story?
Now Black Lightning, that’s a character. He’s Black? And he can project lightning, in a manner of speaking? I’m sold!
Sadly the same interest doesn’t hold for Black Racer, Black Canary or Black Orchid. I mean those last two aren’t even Black.
Green Lantern is ok, but Green Arrow is gold! I’ve got to admit that a current fave is Red Hood.
Tim, I think that I’ve effectively beaten a joke into the ground, and a lot earlier than usual too. Anything to add?
Nah, I’ll just stand back and watch the ensuing heckling, thanks.
Glen D. expects a back story on a man who has none. Glen D. apparently was never taught to be realistic when asking questions.
Who is this Joshua Coldrake, master of anti magic person?
I searched the entire web, every site. Every single one, yet I couldn’t find a bit of info on the guy. I’m going to pretend that Shadowpact #5 is his comic book debut! Yippee!
But I will tell you what I’d do if I had to craft his back story. I’d make him come from a magical family, where practicing magic was tradition. As he got older his ability to cancel out magic got stronger until it got to the point where he had to leave his family when he reached his early teens.
For a time he was a conman who used his ability to rid people of magical menaces for a fee (naturally the menaces would return when he left.) However he realized that the gig was a finite one and looked for other options. He found one when he hooked up with Dr. Occult to battle an evil entity. At that point he became the “go to guy, yet last ditch effort” for magical threats in the DCU.
Phew! That was fun, and pure speculation.
Tim, what do think about a guy who can cancel out magic?
In a universe as magic-crazy as the DCU (especially with all those “new” magic rules that we keep hearing about that seem remarkably like the old ones) I think it’s a pretty neat power. I wouldn’t mind seeing this guy have a larger role in years to come.
Theoretically, of course. I don’t read Shadowpact anymore so if he was an awful character, please ignore my statement above.
Glen D. never read Willingham’s Robin. Lucky bastard.
Who is this Miss Fell, and her boss Johnny Warlock?
Now this has a definitive answer.
Johnny Warlock was your typical mob thug until the day he bonded with a demonic artifact. Sure, he got all sorts of powers, but he also ran the risk of spending all of his energy, which he eventually did. He was touted as a definitive nemesis for Robin, but that never really took hold.
“Miss Fell” has been known by a few names. She was first known as Darla Aquista. Her father Henry Aquista was a mob boss in Gotham, who employed Johnny Warlock. Darla wasn’t too keen on her pop’s profession. Darla attended the same school as Tim Drake and was the object of affection for one of Tim’s friends. However she had her sights set on Tim.
She tried to put the moves on Tim, but he was like “I’m involved with someone else.” Unfortunately that “someone else” the Spoiler saw Darla kissing Tim and got the wrong idea.
But then Tim (Stevens) favorite storyline; War Games starts. Since the criminals in Gotham were fighting amongst themselves it’s natural that they’d be fighting dirty. Dirty like attacking the car carrying the daughter of a rival boss. Yep Darla got pulled out of her car and placed in danger. Tim got her out of danger and into safety. But not quite safe enough as she was struck and killed by a bullet.
From there Henry did his best to bring his daughter back including traveling the world to get advice from experts. Sadly Johnny Warlock came back into the equation. And as anyone familiar with Newton’s Fifth Law knows; “be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.” Darla came back to life at the cost of Henry’s existence.
To add insult to injury Darla was reborn as Warlock’s Daughter aka Laura Fell. And in your typical superhero quandary Laura loved Tim yet hated Robin. D’oh!
Laura Fell tussled with Warlock and sided with the Shadowpact during a battle for Bludhaven (but not the battle for Bludhaven.) Still she’s a borderline baddie with evil tendencies so apparently the locked her up with other magical baddies.
Yeah, that’s the tale of that.
Tim, didn’t you read Robin? Weren’t you there for part of this saga?
I was there for the first Johnny Warlock arc. It was bad. Not “Batman and Robin” bad, but bad. If I had to put an estimate on it, I would say it was “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III” bad. You know, while you are involved in it, you aren’t hating it, but afterwards you feel sort of queasy and can only ask yourself why anyone would have bothered to create such a less than mediocre work.
I was there for Aquista taking a bullet, but had forgot about it. I’m sort of mad at you for bringing it up again. Anyway, that experience was bad like “Sleepers” (the film adaptation) because for most of that issue I was into it. It was probably the best chapter of War Games. Until the end. Then, much like Sleepers, the whole damn thing left a bad taste in my mouth and the previous good stuff was more or less forgotten.
The ending question, by the by, is when Batman comes out of the building and a.) everyone is shocked he’s real and b.) decides that he, obviously, killed Ms. Aquista, not the gunmen that had the building under siege. Brilliant.
As for the final thing, with her coming back and all that, thankfully, I was gone from Robin by that point. However, if I had to guess, I’d think the whole would probably have been “Black Dahlia” bad. You know, nausea inducing.
(On a sidenote, what the hell happened to you, Brian De Palma?)
Glen D. would like to speak to the proprietor of this here establishment.
Who is Eddie Deacon who took over Nightmaster’s bar?
Darn, I was hoping for two in a row. But sadly I’ve got no clue about Eddie Deacon.
Man, that sucks.
Tim, anything new happening with you?
Not much. Thinking about heading to New Orleans in October to see the place and, perhaps, if she needs it (which I doubt she will) help Janelle out with this project she is working on down there.
Glen D. plays everything on evil sleeping giants
What do you think of the idea that the reason Gotham is so dark is that an evil being has been sleeping beneath it for millenia?
Eh, I didn’t really dig it.
I know that Gotham is supposed to be a dark city; that’s part of its character. And maybe if it was an incident that shaped its character (like a certain after movie stroll Bruce Wayne took) I’d possibly dig it. The notion that the earth was tainted because of an act is a kind of cool one. Kind of like bad karma on a metropolitan level.
But to have a bad guy so evil that he exudes it to the extent that he’s given an entire city its tone? Boo. That sucks and is kind of a cop out. It completely rules out free will. To say that people are evil because of a being who’s affected the environment as opposed to the environment itself is foolish. Furthermore it doesn’t make all that much sense; if he’s that powerful then how does any “good” survive in Gotham, much less be homegrown?
I’m sure it sounded good on paper and some of the folks he bounced the idea off on said it was peachy keen, but it was one of the few things that I didn’t dig from Shadowpact #5.
Tim, how do you feel about that notion?
I think it is pretty lousy and, more over, something that has been tried before. Not necessarily with a sleeping giant, but the idea of Gotham somehow being inherently evil has been used, to varying degrees of success, in a couple of Elseworlds and I think even in a Milligan penned story. I know you can tell supernatural stories with Batman and they often work, but this trick never has. An “evil city” always feels hokey to me. I prefer my Gotham hellish because of the people who live there, not because of an ancient curse or the city was built entirely over a burial ground or some sort of demonic ritual made it that way. In some ways, that’s too damn easy an explanation and thus, too damn boring.
You can take Brandon R.’s gun from his cold, dead hands
How many times in his career has Batman used a gun? Both pre and post all crises, Don’t need elseworlds or anything like that, just curious I know he used a gun and silver bullets the first time he fought Monk back in the 30’s and thought about using a gun in Batman: Year Two but beyond that I am curious…
You aren’t the only one. In fact a blogger named Pat has actually assigned himself the task to document the love/hate relationship between Batman & Guns.
I’ll give you a very brief version.
Batman used a gun with silver bullets to kill a vampire in Detective Comics #32.
He also has a holster on the cover of Detective Comics #33.
Detective Comics #35 features Batman with guns literally a blazing.
In Batman #1 Bruce used a Batmobile mounted machine gun to kill a man turned into a monster by Hugo Strange administering a growth hormone. (But it’s ok, as it was before using growth hormones was outlawed.)
After that Batman used guns to wing criminals and to shoot inanimate objects.
But those tales were all Golden Age/Silver Age books. They don’t really have nuance.
Batman Year Two, which last I checked wasn’t in continuity, contained the powerful moment when Bruce Wayne was going to kill his parents killer with the gun he killed them with. That is a moment. I could pretty much forgive Bruce for using a gun in that instance. I think that he’d spent his life getting to that moment and to rob him of it would be cheap.
Oddly enough that’s what The Powers That Be did when they took the tale out of continuity.
Where do you stand on the Batman/guns debate Tim?
Well, I’m pretty much on the side of “he shouldn’t use them”. However, I like that he has trained himself (and his Robins) in how to use them because, regardless of his feelings on them, it was important to know and understand guns and what they can do; not just from the victim or potential victim side, but from the one firing the gun perspective.
I do recall one Dixon penned Detective arc that involved Batman shooting a gun that ruffled a lot of feathers. It happen in ‘Tec 708-710 and culminated in this cover.
Before you freak out, no, Batman never fires a gun nearly that cool looking. He does, however, get himself in a jam where his only choices are a.) to let a guy die or b.) to fire a sniper rifle at this would-be killer. Being Batman, of course, he manages to disarm the baddie from that insane distance without killing him. This, however, was not good enough for some folk. Their Batman would never have ever touched the gun. He would have found another way. I know, I know, “but what if there wasn’t another way?” you might ask. And then they’d answer, “He’s Batman, he could find another way,” and you probably be tempted to push the issue, but really, there’s no point. This is the sort of cyclical argument that both sides will never reach an agreement on.
If you like Batman with gun stories, do yourself a favor and buy Batman: Ego. The gun issue is a very small part of it, but it is a very awesome book and well worth a look. Another good one is Cosmic Odyssey. Sure, the gun in question is a space gun, but Batman still uses it to blow a big hunking hole in an alien. AWESOME does not begin to describe it.
SuperJ’s got too many Zods on the brain
Just how many Zods are there (post-crisis)? There is the one that Superman killed with kryptonite, the Polokistani Zod, supposedly from the Phantom Zone, and the Azzarello Zod who could be from either the Phantom Zone or the original Zod. Am I missing one? Please help me guys!
Calm down. We’re going to work this out. Just take deep breaths, hold my hand look into my eyes. We’re going to take good care of you. Everything is going to be fine.
Let’s begin with the Pocket Universe Zod. It’s a long story, but needless to say there was a Pocket Universe created and it had its own Krypton and Earth. A Superboy lived there and trapped within that Universes Phantom Zone was a General Zod. He got out and wreaked havoc. Superman arrived, saved the day and stopped Zod by killing him with green kryptonite. It was either that or run the risk of having the possibility of Zod making his way to the DCU and causing destruction there.
The Pokolistani Zod was actually Russian and conceived in space. He was much more of an anti Superman in that he was weak under a yellow sun but powerful under a red sun. He heard a voice, which many believed was the Pocket Universe Zod, who urged him to seek power and battle Superman. He died during a battle with Superman.
The For Tomorrow Zod is probably the Zod from Kal El’s Krypton as he was in DCU’s Phantom Zone. He was exiled to the Phantom Zone by Kal’s pop, which lends credence to the idea that he’s the “real” Zod.
Oh wait, I almost forgot about yet another Zod; the Zod from the alternate reality created by Brainiac 13. He existed on the version of Krypton that Brainiac 13 created and Superman visited. He was a bad guy. But he was defeated by the one/two punch of Kal and Jor El. Good times.
The only Zod you need.
Tim, is there such a thing at too much Zod?
After reading that list, yes, I believe there is. Especially that last Zod. Boy, does that sound like a lousy story.
Sadly that brings us to the end of yet another column.
Just when I was truly reaching my apex of unpleasantness, too. What a shame.
But we’ll be back next week for tons of more fun, possibly including Vandal Savage. And of course we’ll answer your questions too, provided you send some in or post them on our neato thread!
Bur before I go, here’s my question to you; what do you think of the new look of the Nexus?
“Throw your arms around my neck and whisper softly.”
