Tim, I finally saw both Ocean’s 13 and The Simpsons Movie. I enjoyed them both, but I really, really loved the latter. It was so worth it. You checked them out yet?
I did see The Simpsons and really enjoyed it. Great fun.
Ocean’s 13, on the other hand… See, I was burned so badly by Ocean’s 12 (yes, it is great you guys are having so much fun, but how about letting the audience have some too) and, to be honest, was never a big fan of Ocean’s 11 either (it was merely eh, in my opinion) that I’ve made the decision to wait until I can queue up Ocean’s 13 on DVD. The better than expected reviews have not dissuaded me from this approach.
Links
Our DCU Boards is full of buzz about Jesse Quick and that’s about it.
Tim, are you linking this week?
You know what, I think I shall. And what shall I link? Why I think it’ll be this.
Oh, and of course, the further adventures of Tim Stevens with Wizard via Corps Curriculum. (Dig the new logo!)
What I Read Last Week
Nightwing/Captain Boomerang Jr – I really liked the time that Boomer and Nightwing had. It was good that those two had a chance to talk thing out a bit. I’ll miss Boomer so that’s really one strike against the new Outsiders.
Countdown #39 – The Rogues are the only think keeping this book afloat. I’d love to wait for the trade, but I don’t think there’s going to be one.
It’s okay Mathan… let go. It’ll be our secret.
The Atom #14 -Nice to see Jason cut loose. Plus this issue had a really great Ted Kord appearance. Like, really great.
So, here’s my question. I read and liked this issue, but the Search for Ray is everywhere, right? In Countdown, here, and in a miniseries? But this never felt incomplete. So…does one need to bother with the rest of it?
Nightwing #135 – Right now I’m getting flashbacks from Titans. Not because Wolfman’s writing, but because I’m feeling like I should have dropped this book over a year ago.
The Exterinators #20 – Things seem to be moving fast, too fast, like Oliver is trying to wrap things up before the series ends. I mean things are getting fleshed out way too fast.
Metal Men #1 – Man, I really loved this issue. I’ll gush about it later.
Welcome to Tranquility #9 – Wow, this book continues to impress me. I’m loving how details are unfolding and how the back ups truly support the main story. Gail’s doing some mighty fine stuff here.
Faker #2 – Wow, this is book is getting interesting. I’m hooked. And again Jock’s art in a non action setting is very interesting looking.
American Virgin #17 – I don’t know how I feel about the cover artist, but this book is still solid. I’m diggin how Adam is really finding his place and more about the world. Great stuff.
The tattoo stuff was incredibly well done. The conflict felt way forced, but I’m guessing there is more to it that we’ve yet to see. I hope so at least.
Justice Society of America #8 – I’m disappointed with the explanation for Jesse’s powers. I raged on the forums, but won’t here. I just didn’t dig it.
You really wanted her hooked on Miraclo, didn’t you?
Here’s the thing, it is a cool idea and I would’ve loved to have seen it, but just because they don’t use it does not make the story inherently bad. I agree that the powers from Mom thing was entirely too pat, but I disagree as to why. Johns touched on, but didn’t get deep enough into Jesse’s issues with her mother. Had he gone deeper, it is a great explanation for why Jesse “suddenly†got these powers. She had them all along but because of her denial of the “imperfect†she received to acknowledge them just as she refused to acknowledge her mom.
But then, that’s probably me just falling into the same sort of Miraclo trap.
In any case, it was a decent done in on.
Scalped #8 – Dug the reveal. I love the rationale for Britt’s enthusiasm. I kind of wish that he’d been introduced sooner. But I’m really digging this storyline, because of the character spotlights.
I’m late to the game here, but I am enjoying the ride. Particularly like the dirtiness of the art.
Supergirl #20 – Won’t someone please stop the Amazons from Attacking? Please! Their attacks keep spilling over into books that I usually enjoy reading.
Glen asks a timely question
What did you think of the new Metal Men?
Honestly? I loved it. I loved Duncan Rouleau’s story and art. I loved the twist that Will is trying to prevent himself from traveling down that path. I loved how it fleshed Will out as a character. Ooh, I loved how Duncan really managed to get all of the Metal Men’s personalities to shine. I loved the trips into Atlantis’ past, and I usually hate trips into Atlantis’ past.
This is the type of fun, high concept book that I end up really digging. Grant Morrison planted a heck of a seed and Duncan Rouleau is the perfect guy to help it grow.
Tim, did you pick up Metal Men #1?
Funny story there. See in the shop, the front copy is sort of the unofficial readers’ copy. So I always snag the second back when I decide to purchase an issue. I did this with Metal Men. However, upon getting home, I pulled out my comics, laid them out and began to put them in the order I was going to read them only to discover…I had taken home a copy of Ms. Marvel?! Dear God, what had I done? (Actually, it was okay. A comic featuring Sleepwalker and Ellis’s version of Machine Man can’t ever be wrong.) Apparently, though, Metal Men was done to the last issue and someone accidentally put it on top of the Ms. Marvel stack. Or, someone hid a Ms. Marvel in the midst of the Metal Men issues. Either way, I’ll be trying to hunt it up this week.
Firestorm left without saying goodbye to Julian L. Smith
What happened with the Firestorm series?!? I was loving it and then FZAM! It’s gone…again. Is Firestorm just comic book poison or what?
Jason belatedly reacts to his cancellation.
Well Firestorm is a difficult pill to swallow or numerous reasons. Firstly the guy is just too powerful.
Let’s take Ronnie Raymond, for instance. As much as Ronnie loyalist hated on Jason being Firestorm it was really the only way to make the book compelling. Unlike, say a Green Lantern (who probably rivals Firestorm in the “he can do anything” department), Firestorm doesn’t really have the rogues gallery that Hal Jordan has, so it’s hard to come up with villains to catch a readers attention.
Wait…Hal Jordan has a good rogues gallery? When did this happen?
Also part of the allure of Firestorm was that he wasn’t all that powerful because Ronnie was a kid who didn’t have full mastery over his powers. Well, given how long Ronnie’d been active in the DCU, he’d have to be brain damaged to not be pretty skilled with his powers, thus making it even more difficult to find hurdles for him. Thus, we get another rookie, Jason.
I don’t think it’s really fair to call Firestorm comic book poison. I mean this book was besieged by those Ronnie fans, who probably rivaled H.E.A.T. in their badmouthing of the book. Seriously, you should check out the Firestorm threads on DC’s site, it got ugly there, often.
You’ve also got Dan Jolley and Chriscross leaving the book prematurely. Then just as the book was hitting its stride Infinite Crisis arrived, knocking it off course. And then OYL happened, giving fans even more reason to jump off.
Firestorm is a visually interesting character and he’s one of the better-known characters in the DCU, so I don’t think that we’ve seen the last of the guy. But I imagine that the next time the guy gets a solo launch is with a big name creator attached.
Tim, why do you think Firestorm ended and will we ever see him again?
I think you nailed it pretty well. Firestorm, Ronnie Raymond edition, had a small but loyal fanbase that, for the most part, resented Jason’ ascension. Thus, they yelled and shrieked and, I think, drowned out the fact that it was a good book. So you had those who didn’t pick it up because old Firestorm didn’t appeal to them and those that might’ve gotten it dissuaded because of how bad the book was getting verbally trashed.
Also, crossover fever hit the book in a big way every few months and that never helps.
Mark wants you to meet the new status quo, same as the old status quo
Let’s jump in the way back machine to the pre-Infinite Crisis DCU. I seem to remember reading interviews with Didio and Johns hyping Infinite Crisis as the darkest hour of the DCU which would lead to a brighter light or some such. Other Batman being less of a dick do you think this has really been accomplished?
Y’know what? I really do.
Sure we’ve got Bart getting stomped to death, but I think that things are rather brighter in the DCU.
I mean look at books like Blue Beetle which manage to be uplifting and fun without being cheesy.
(Speaking of cheesy, have you tried Burger King’s new Cheesy Tots? Those things rock! They are like an amazing taste explosion!)
Dude, no. I won’t have you shilling fast food in this column, especially for BK.
Now if you want to sing Red Robin’s praises, on the other hand…
But back to Blue Beetle the book is fun and lighthearted, yet still full of heart. It’s probably one of the best DCU books and one of the most consistent.
You’ve also got The Atom which is really like a modern day Hourman. It’s got a wacky setting and a reluctant hero who’s just learning the ropes.
Plus the Metal Men mini is off to a great start.
And that’s not even including Action Comics which has gotten become much more enjoyable thanks to Donner and Johns. Oh and Detective Comics also features a Batman that feels much less burdened than he did prior to Infinite Crisis.
I’d hate to read a comic line that didn’t have it’s dark corners or aspects and DC’s got those. But the DCU also has some much brighter spots now than it had prior to Infinite Crisis, which I think is what Didio and Johns were aiming for.
Do you think the DCU is a brighter place now, Tim?
In a word, no. Mostly because I don’t think that Infinite Crisis, et al, ever achieved that darkest hour moment. I think there were patches of light before just as they are now. I think Batman was portrayed as dark but compassionate in some cases and a raging ass in others, just as he is now. I think people died in violent ways in Johns books then and now and the net whined about it just as much.
Essentially, we’ve overestimated how dark things used to be and have underestimated how dark they are now. Sort of a total tonal shift in the DCU (which ain’t coming) I remain fairly confident that it will be as it almost always has been. Dark and light. People will just acknowledge one side while ignoring the other to prove whatever particular thing they are arguing for or against in that moment.
Julian L. Smith made up a pretty cool name
Whatever happened to Muhammad X and the other unseen Heroes of Harlem (I made that name up).
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Muhammad X, he’s a hero who appeared Superman #179. (And has appeared in this column no less than three times and probably more. We love DC’s characters more than they do, evidently.) It was his only appearance.
Basically he was created to as a tool for Superman to explore the notion of race and specifically the racial divide between Blacks and whites. It was such a powerful subject that it got an entire issue devoted to it. A whole issue!
And I don’t now which is more insulting about the whole thing; that the issue ends on a cop out or that Muhammad X has never been seen again. I mean the guy’s made more appearances in this column than he’s made in the comics.
Look at that, great minds think alike.
Um, but let’s just say that Muhammad X is hanging out with Bloodwynd, Onyx and El Diablo.
Tim, do you think that we’ll ever see any of those guys again?
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll…
No.
The Shade’s lucky number is 13
With Traci 13 appearing in Blue Beetle do you think there is a place in the current DCU for the rest of team 13?
I’d love it if they could return.
Actually I don’t know I want them around. I mean I’d like them to be around, but I’d be afraid for their inherent greatness to be tainted by having them interact with the DCU.
I mean could you imagine if, say Marv Wolfman, wrote a Team 13 ongoing? Not that he’s a bad writer, but he’s no Brian Azzarello.
You’d really need a writer who can look at the DCU with a skewed vision. I think that Grant Morrison would probably do the team justice, but outsider of Azz, I don’t think many would do the team justice.
And I really don’t think that the book would be the same without Cliff Chiang on the art. And since he’s going to be the artist on Green Arrow/Black Canary…
So I guess that I’m cool with the team existing, but not necessarily appearing. Let’s pretend that they’re hanging out with Muhammad X, Bloodwynd, Onyx and El Diablo.
Tim, are you hoping for Team 13 to return or stay in the shadows?
It’s a delicate thing, but I believe it could be done. They just couldn’t interact with Superman, Batman, etc. They’d have to be way on the outskirts of the DCU, from much the same area that they were plucked from in the first place. But if you could do that and stick to that mission statement, you’d have a really great book.
That barrel of monkeys? Way less fun than this.
Julian L. Smith can’t find his voice
What is the final fate of Mal Duncan/Herald/Vox?
He’s been doomed to obscurity by linking up with the Doom Patrol.
As a result of going out into space with Donna’s Team during Infinite Crisis Herald got all twisted up with Red Tornado parts and ended up with an artificial voice box.
Sure his dandy new voice box can open portals and fire sonic blasts. But the poor man can’t whisper sweet nothings to his wife, Bumblebee. Nor can he guffaw at movies in the theater. The guy’s got it hard.
Plus he’s stuck with the Doom Patrol. As a result of his nutty new body he decided to link up with the misfits of the Doom Patrol rather than those dreamboats in the Teen Titans or those nutjobs in Titans East.
Since we’ve not really seen the Doom Patrol since relatively early in the OYL, I’m guessing that we won’t really see them any time soon.
As in, “My schedule is so very open right now. Won’t someone please hire me? Anyone?
Tim, do you care if you see the Doom Patrol again?
Honestly…not really. I have the Morrison trades and that’s all I need.
Fun fact though, pre-Crisis, Mal Duncan was Guardian! But that was all erased and now no one talks about it.
R. Hardin accuses DC of being a 13 year old at a high school party
Is it just me or is DC “trying too hard?” What I mean is, are they just throwing a ton of ideas (miniseries, weekly series, tie-ins, revamps, etc.) on the wall and seeing what sticks? I’m not saying I don’t enjoy what I read, but it just seems that a lot of what they are putting out right now is just very “random.”
Dude, who are you telling? DC has so many new books being launched in the next few months that it’s almost causing me to possibly consider a budget. Maybe.
Here are some of the more high profile books that should be coming out shortly.
Salvation Run – This mini sounds so great that it can pretty much only disappoint. I mean more than six villains, together, seems like a good idea, right? But man this book has me so excited that I’ve transcended excitement and ventured into worry.
Right there with you, old chum.
Tangent: Global Decree – A Tangent tale that’s actually in continuity? I’m so there. But I’m a sucker for these guys.
Crime Bible – Yet another mini that I’ll be picking up. I dig Renee so I’m going to support her. Plus her and Rucka make a great couple, despite her being a lesbian.
Wait…does that make Rucka her beard?
Lord Havok & the Extremists – Ugh! I’ll also be picking up this mini. While I’m not one of those JLI crybaby fanboys, I really did dig when the Extremists came to play. I’m interested to see how they’ll be as stars in their own mini.
Really? You’re buying this? It just looks awful to me.
Infinity Inc – I dig Steel. I dig Peter Milligan. I’ll be reading this book.
Ditto.
Countdown Search for Ray Palmer Wildstorm – There is just so much going on in the title itself I can only imagine what’s going to happen on its pages. That said, I don’t know if I’m going to pick this up. I might, I might not.
Countdown to Mystery – Finally we get the new Dr. Fate. But who really cares? If anything, I might possibly pick up this up for the Eclipso component. But I doubt it.
Countdown to Adventure – Yeah, I’m not going to pick this up. The space storyline was the storyline that I enjoyed the least in 52. And I’m really curious what would get that bunch of characters together, again. I’m not down for this trip.
And that’s not even counting the various minis for Black Adam, Metal Men, Suicide Squad, the various “Year Ones” or the Sinestro Corps War one-shots.
But I don’t know if DC is “trying too hard.” I think that they’ve just got a ton of ideas that they think are worth exploring. Clearly Grant Morrison is full of ideas and DC is trying to explore as many as they can. And the Multiverse, despite being composed of only 52 Earths, is pretty vast. And that’s why Booster Gold, Lord Havok and Donna Troy are all exploring it.
I do know that I’m holding my breath waiting for the other shoe to drop. I mean DC can’t have all of these books coming out without some books getting the axe, right?
Tim, how do you feel about this DC explosion?
It makes me nervous because a.) implosions tend to follow explosions in the DCU, b.) it can lead to overfishing (that is, people get so burned out on the number of titles that no one reads to good ones and just decides that DC is in a fallow period), and c.) it might be a sign of the middle breaking apart. In other words, DC is throwing up anything to see if it sticks because they’ve lost a clear mission statement and have become rudderless.
It could be a very exciting time creatively, but I am nervous.
Julian L. Smith returns to the well
Whatever happened to Tempest (Josh Clay) and Celsius (Irani Caulder) from the once-reincarnated Doom Patrol?
More Doom Patrol? Who’d a thunk it?
Well Julian, I’ve got bad news for your; they’re both dead!
Celsius, the wife of the Chief, lead the second incarnation of the Doom Patrol that included Tempest. Celsius died during Invasion! in Doom Patrol #17 just before Grant Morrison took over the title.
Then things went crazy for the Doom Patrol, especially when Niles Caulder returned from the dead. He claimed that he was never actually married to Celsius. Of course we don’t know if we can trust him because he actually killed Tempest (in Doom Patrol #55).
Now I don’t know too much about “leadership” but I’m pretty sure that killing someone who looks to you as a leader falls under “bad leadership.”
But yeah, Julian, both of those characters are dead. Unless Superboy punched them back to life.
Tim, can you explain the flurry of Doom Patrol related queries?
I don’t believe that I can. It is, one might day, a mystery.
Unless…you don’t suppose…Julian is just Niles Caulder in disguise!!!!!!
Neil wants to catch up with good ol’ JJ
Question Mathan, in the tradition of asking you about crappy titles I did not bother to read, what’s the deal with J’onn J’onzz? I used to really like the character from the time he was in the JLI to the JLA and his solo title. Now, however, he’s all intense and anti-human (but he still shows up in group gatherings, like Bart’s funeral?)
So what happened to him from World War III to now? And don’t you think the League needs him more than the Outsiders? Especially since every iteration of the League has had J’onn with them (even when he was Bloodwynd).
Better 1 or 2?
Well I don’t know if he’s really “anti-human”, I think that it’s more that he’s just tired of making his appearance more appealing to human eyes. I mean that’s why he covered himself in costume as opposed showing off that sexy green Martian skin.
I mean look at Miss Martian. She’s a real looker. Those long green legs. Those alluring eyes. Those luscious lips. We won’t even get into her Charlies, but let’s just say that I wouldn’t mind being the first man on that Martian!
Oh, dear god.
I’m sorry, I was distracted by the hotness of M’gann M’orzz.
But we’re here to talk about J’onn. During World War III J’onn did the whole mindmeld thing with Black Adam. And of course Adam, being the pessimist that he is, had a mind full of negative images. Plus Adam had kind of slaughtered quite a few people so he was full of bad things.
Anyway, J’onn was shocked by what he saw in Adam’s mind and withdrew from humanity. He had to rethink his role and relationship with humanity. Thus we got a fully clothed and funky looking J’onn.
Which would be true if, by the end of the miniseries, he hadn’t had his faith restored in humanity. So WWIII does not actually explain anything.
And I don’t know if I think that he’s a right fit for the Outsiders. I mean maybe I can kind of get that he’s much more interested in getting his hand dirty and playing rough. But I’m of the mind that his presence on the team would make them a tad too powerful.
However, just because I don’t think he belongs on the Outsiders doesn’t mean that I’m endorsing him joining with the JLA.
I don’t think that just because he’s always been on the team is a good rationale for him being there. Why not just change the title of the book to “JLA featuring J’onn.” I mean what would he add to the team? We’ve already got Red Tornado to give us that disassociation from humanity. He’d add absolutely nothing to the team dynamic.
Personally I think that J’onn should go sit somewhere in a quiet corner of the DCU and think about his recent changes and if they were really worth it.
Any thoughts on J’onn’s future, Tim?
Given his presence in both the villains teaser for Countdown (the one that’s arranged like the Last Supper) and in the ads for Outsiders, I believe he is going to be an undercover operative for the Outsiders. He will be, I am guessing, working with whatever Catwoman is also featured in both.
Colin goes stream of consciousness on us.
As an aside, how cool would it be if Green Lantern, Space Sector 2814 was a certain Martian? J’onn’s powers combined with the ring would be insane, and isn’t he over his fear of fire?
Well first off J’onn isn’t completely over his fear of fire because psychically significant fires can hurt him. Y’know psychically significant like flames of passion or suffering.
But I guess it would be kind of cool for J’onn to be the GL for the sector. I mean to have an actual green Green Lantern might be interesting.
However I think it that we’d probably get half of the action. I doubt it’d be as cool as you think. We’d either get half of the ring slinging and less of J’onn using his powers.
Plus you’d really also have to question why the Guardians would allow J’onn to be a GL and have that much power when they were the ones who gave the Martians their weakness to fire in the first place.
Tim, where do you stand on J’onn the GL?
Green Man beat him to the green Green Lantern title.
Me, I just want to J’onn to be well written again. If needs to throw on a ring to do it…so be it.
Well I guess this is a good a place as any to end the column.
As usual, we’ll return next week with more pure Q&A greatness. Maybe well discuss the Justice Legion A or perhaps Norman the Doorman. Or we might even answer your questions, provided you sent me some.
And if you’ve got a question that you’d like to see answered just email it to me or post them our thread!
Before we go, here’s my question to you (actually a holdover from last week); are there any creators or characters that you’ll never read?
“I’ll be some next man’s other woman soon.”
