Here it is. Completely and totally back. That means perspectives on the just released solicitations for January, reviews, anticipated books for the week to come and, of course, news and views. Oh and letters too. You’ll notice the letters have a new logo (as opposed to the “text only” it used to rock) and I hope to transition all my “special” headers, like Welcome to the Revamping and Tim’s Tirades, to this format in the weeks to come. If you have any suggestions on images I can use for them, please let me know at parallax2@juno.com.
For now though, let us just get to the”¦NEWS!
EDIT: Looks like I was lying about those reviews. Peak next week for them.
When Two Terras Just Aren’t Enough, Who Do You Call?
Sure, she’s relatively new, but in next mont’s Supergirl #12, the girl from Krypton meets someone even newer to the DC Universe – Terra.
Yeah – Terra.
But wasn’t she dead? And wasn’t there another one? Good questions.
No, Newsarama is not running some sort of bizarre comic related foursome phone sex line. That would be something though.
I’m”¦unclear on the decision here. Is the way to make Terra more understandable and appealing really to introduce a third Terra? Especially when there is a very much living one still running about. Unless, of course, she died in IC and I missed it. In which, please pay no attention to the comments that came before or follow here.
I guess for the “new” or casual fan, it won’t make much difference. So, in that way, I’m okay with it. What I won’t be okay with is a.) the legion of Terra (original recipe and/or II) complaining that this new Terra means their favorite is getting short shift and/or is guaranteed to be killed or cast off into obscurity or b.) the inevitable attempt by the mini series or some future writer to reconcile this Terra with the Terras that came before. Sometimes that can be great (see: the Flash legacy) but sometimes it is crazy complicated, annoying, or unnecessary.
Justin Gray likens the whole situation to the Golden Eagle thing in Hawkman. However, with that, Golden Eagle was dead, so there was no danger of two Golden Eagles running around. Also, the character who was Golden Eagle was, in fact, just posing as a resurrected Golden Eagle so there was a knowing shell game being performed. I guess the same could be true here, but I’d hate to see Gray and Palmiotti repeating themselves.
I know a new character with a recognizable name sells better than a new character with a new name, but is Terra really going to carry with her a huge sales bounce if you are making her an all-new except in name and abilities character? I don’t know, my instinct says no, but that’s pure guesswork on my part.
By the way, what of this new costume? I can’t decide if it is way too generic or I’m all right with it. Any opinion?
Next Raffle Item: A Golden Helmet for One Lucky Fella or Lady
Currently in the hands of Ralph Dibny [the Elongated Man] in the pages of 52, the helmet (and eventual mantle) of DC’s premier practitioner of magic Dr. Fate will find a new host early in 2007, but not before taking a ride around the DC Universe January through March in a series of five 32-page The Helmet of Fate one-shots leading up to a new Dr. Fate ongoing series
Buy your tickets at Newarama
This makes me nervous. I’ve been burned by an interest in Doctor Fate before (damn you Hector) so my first instinct is not to care about this whole thing.
On the other hand, these one shots involve both Black Alice AND Zauriel. And I love me some Black Alice and Zauriel. Especially Zauriel since the poor guy does not get nearly enough panel time post-Grant Morrison’s JLA.
What am I going to do? Do I dare cherry pick and only snag two of the one-shots and perhaps completely avoid the ongoing? Can I be oh-so decadent? If I do that, what will others say, what will others think of me?
This has nothing to do with anything really, but I get a kick out of how Tad Williams is credited as a writer/author in the solicitation copy. As though those items were mutually exclusive. Goodness, we are all very embarrassed by comics sometimes, aren’t we?
Infinite Revisions
Awhile back, it was reported that DC was going to be doing a number of “corrections” on Infinite Crisis for the hardcover collection. Well, last week, the collection was released, so, courtesy of everybody’s pal, Paul Newell, and another poster named constant, here are the corrections that were made.
Somehow, Comics Should Be Good keeps track of them all.
First, I have to say that I think this whole thing is sort of weird. I do get the need to fix that all red double page spread in #7, that was a mistake to shortcut on that.
However, the bulk of the rest of these changes? It feels like Oliver Stone going back and recutting Alexander twice. The people who liked it in the first place might still like or they might not, but chances are better than good that those that did not like the original are not going to change their mind for this redux.
But, that said, let’s take a closer look, shall we?
Actually, first, here’s that redone series ending splash page, broken in two so you can see it better.
Okay, for real now, let’s start.
The changes in #1 are largely inconsequential, although it was probably helpful to clear about that Wonder Woman scene a bit as the original did make her seem pretty murderous.
I sort of resent the change in issue #3 concerning Batman and Kal-L’s Dick Grayson conversation. I liked the original’s succinctness and ambiguity. This one feels like it is talking down to the audience.
Issue #4’s autopsy scene changes”¦eh.
I’ll glance through the hardcover to see the new church spread. Sorry I missed that one.
Arrgh to #5 and #6’s opening the door on Earth-2. That really changes the whole thing if you think about it. Plus, I just don’t want Earth-2 back. Unless we are talking the Morrison CSA Earth (which, in actuality, is Earth-1 and the “real” DCU is Earth-2 according to the heroic Luthor in that story).
Again, I’ll flip through to see the new fight in Metropolis spread in #7. I bet it looks gooooooood. Bane’s monologue seems quite silly though.
The whole of Batman versus Deathstroke and Batman with the gun is of interest as well.
Ugh”¦more Earth-2 stuff. Booooo.
Lots of changes, but most feel unnecessary. What say you?
BEWARE THE FUTURE’S AWESOME MIGHT
Get excited (or mock) at home with Comic Book Resources
Batman #662– You know, I’m already pretty annoyed about this whole 4 issue fill-in thing, even if DC could do far worse than another Ostander/Mandrake production (Hey, DC, when will you finally collect the whole of their Spectre run? Between this fill-in and Tales of the Unexpected, the iron is hot. STIKE NOW!). But to put this cover
with a four issue fill-in arc? That’s not right. Because that thing”¦that thing is quite ugly.
Detective Comics #827– Bat offices, what’s the point of having Robinson clear out some villains during “Face the Face” if you are just going to reintroduce them anyway? Don’t get me wrong, I like Ventriloquist and Scarface and was sorry to see them go. But if you are going through the trouble of offing them, to bring them back (be it as a “legacy” or as the real deal) seems a bit wrong. Plus, certain villains can be legacy guys. People like Black Spider who are little more than random thugs in costumes are great as legacy villains. But the Ventriloquist? How do you improve on a nebbish balding guy who can only express his inner power fantasies through his split personality who must be channeled through a wooden doll? My guess is you can’t.
Robin #158–
Gleason’s first disappointing cover for the book. Oh well, the salad days never last forever.
52 Weeks 35-39– So, on first look, this
is one weak Jones cover. But taking a closer look at the large flame just above Lutho’s head. That flame is obscuring”¦something. Something that definitely appears to be human (or given that this is the DCU, humanoid) so I’m willing to bet that this is not a final cover.
Also, a variant for a 52 cover? What up with that?!
Atom #7– Ooooo, Mike Norton getting work. Excellent! No idea if it will fit with the Atom’s world given its current style, but it is always nice to see Norton get work.
Birds of Prey #102– Who is Misfit?
Firestorm: The Nuclear Man- Reborn TPB– Huh. A trade solicited for the title, but no regular issue. That could be a bad sign. Not saying it is, just saying it could be.
Ion #10– Ion’s Twilight? Already?
On the other hand, Tangent Universe! I mean, I never read a lick of the Tangent U (I did not have much of a disposable income when that stuff came out) but it always seemed like a neat idea to me.
Green Arrow #70– Anyone who knows me knows I love Scott McDaniel. Which is why this hurts me so to say this. However, say it I must.
Scott,
What the heck happened here?
JLA Classified #31-33– Is this book really so popular as to need 3 different issues of it in one month? I have my doubts. (See also: JSA Classified/Hawkgirl)
Justice Society of America #2– I gave Alex Ross a hard time about the stiffness of his first issue cover, but this cover is just great look.
Very simple and really more of a pinup than a cover, but it’s striking enough that I can let that go. I just hope every issue is not a simple one-shot.
JSA Classified #21-22– Wait”¦I thought everyone was hating Simonson’s Hawkgirl? So why essentially make JSA: C a Hawkgirl spinoff title this month? Isn’t giving an unpopular comic three issues in a month generally not the best idea? (see also: JLA Classified)
Manhunter #27– This
i s a very mean tease. I like it, but DC should be aware that it is toying with the emotions of some very vulnerable individuals.
Mystery in Space #5– Did Shane Davis really draw this cover?
It looks nothing like his style. Starlin’s maybe, but this Comet with his Hulk-esque hair is just not Davis.
OMAC #7– Does this strike anyone else as just being really, really dirty?
Or do I just possess one filthy mind?
Outsiders #44– There’s a good chance I’ll actually be buying an issue of Outsiders, given this mont’s solicitation. Boy, that’s weird.
Omega Men #4–
Isn’t Firelord a Marvel character? I’m just saying.
Tales of the Unexpected #4– I bet the good doc and his daughter TOTALLY make out this issue.
Or, you know, not.
Teen Titans #43–
When did Teen Titans become home of the most static covers ever? Seriously, every cover since OYL is like 2003-era Marvel at work.
Also, an unrelated question: Is Sun Girl an alien and thus does not have nipples? Or did she make the unfortunate choice of a fabric color exactly the tone of her flesh for the starburst effect? And, if the latter, what happens when it is summer and she gets a tan? Does she have a costume with a starburst effect with that fleshtone for that time of year?
These are the important questions, folks, believe it or not.
The Devil Does Exist Vol. 9– Wow”¦what a cheery title.
Fables #57– Allred’s drawing a couple of issues of Fables. Good fit, good pickup.
From our message thread (please visit it) comes Talowolf, the biggest DCNV fan EVER!
Glad your back.
While I don’t disagree with anything you said, I don’t think I see 52 in the same way you do. 52, to me, seemed to be first and foremost an experiment in trying to do a weekly comic, beyond that it also seemed to be a way of trying to cultivate more parts of the DCU than had been used before.
I think people went into 52 expecting another big event. I see it as a character study and quite frankly it showed how malnourished a lot of characters have been. Would I put Ambush bug or Fire Hawk on the JLA? *&%$ NO!! But I do find the idea of them there amusing and can take comfort in the fact that they won’t be for long.
So I guess as an event I also find 52 as pretty good. But as something that gives me a wider broader look at some character I knew of but not about I think it is pretty DARN good.
-Talowolf
I appreciate your perspective, Talowolf, but I have to say that if characterization is the goal, 52 is not delivering. For me at least. As a means to promote new or obscure characters by having them appear? Sure. As a character study? At this point, they haven’t gone deep with any of them to achieve that designation.
I do like it and I do like the characters of focus (for the most part) but there is not a lot of depth to their portrayals, in my estimation.
Running WAAAAAAAAAY behind, so I think we’ll call this a wrap. Please don’t hesitate to drop me a line at parallax2@juno.com (or use the address link below) or visit our message thread(s). I appreciate the feedback, truly do.
Un Gajje Truly Does
