So Tim, I’m completely in love with CNN’s Erica Hill. Like 100% infatuated. I want to do something newsworthy so that she can interview me and I can confess my undying intrigue. What’s really weird is that I have no idea where this crush came from.
You mean Connecticut’s own Erica Hill?
This Erica Hill?
Yeah, she’s cute.
She’s no Paula Zahn though.
But, I guess, who could be?
Links
Our DCU Boards is full of tons of discussion about the nature of Power Boy, Rod Johnson’s heroic identity and revisiting Elseworlds?
Tim, are you linking anything this time out?
How could I possibly follow up a link involving the Package Master himself? Even if it is a reprint of the link we ran last week.
What I Read Last Week
JSA Classified #29 – Tim, I’m completely with you on the art. And the “MT.” I’m just with you 100%. We should brainstorm and try to find Alex Sanchez a book where his art would fit. And wasn’t Arvid Nelson on Head of the Class?
It’s nice when we agree.
Green Arrow Year One #3-4 – Great covers. Great story. I’m loving this mini tons. I hope all of the announced but yet to appear “Year One” minis are this solid. Man, that scene with Ollie’s broken arm was heavy.
I personally was all about him torching the boat. Bad Ass!
Supergirl & the Legion of Super-heroes #33 – Dude, why isn’t Calero the regular artist on this book? I’m loving this stuff here. Bedard is doing a good job of not making me miss Waid. I like how he’s transitioned this book. I’m kind of anxious for the new creative team to get underway though.
Blue Beetle #18 – C’mon how is this not the best title around? It had a Lobo appearance and I still loved the issue. Brenda and Paco absolutely rock! They’re probably my two favorite supporting characters around. Even with two artists the book was still amazing consistent.
Seconded!
Batman #668 – Morrison and Williams III really deserve credit for making this arc feel claustrophobic. Every page feels tight, like there’s not enough room for the action. This such a good read.
I’d say it is a great read. Love the story and I love Williams art. Such a smart idea to render everything in his style but having each individual character show off the inspiration of other artists (Gaucho is a Chaykin homage, the Musketeer is often V-esque, the Knight is McGuiness’s interpretation, Wingman is Graham Nolan Knightfall era, etc). It is a non-intrusive but wholly cool Easter egg.
Green Lantern Corps #15 – I don’t dig the concept of Kilowog having an opposite number from the same sector, but it was better than I expected. And as a guy who’s familiar with the Prophecy, I’m eating this storyline up!
The storyline is good, but what’s even better is that handsome devil who’s writing the articles about it for Wizard’s website. What’s his name?
Countdown #36 – As usual, the Rogues stuff killed and impressed the most. I’ll admit that I’m kind of worried about anyone other Azzarello handling Mr. Orr, so I’m less than enthusiastic about that storyline. But the Mary Marvel story seems to be making huge strides.
UnGajje is that handsome devil
Alright, so since I am supposed to be all expert-y on Green Lantern stuff now, whatever happened to the rings “anti-death” encoding, the whole “protect the wearer from mortal harm. It is the reason John Stewart sent his ring away during Cosmic Odyssey when he was going to commit suicide for screwing up. Yet, Hal’s predecessor died from a spacecraft crash and scores of GLs are dying at the hands of the Sinestro Corps. So…how’s the mortal harm thing work?
Y’know Mr. GL Expert “Abin Sur” is much easier on the keyboard than “Hal’s predecessor.” I’m just saying.
Sure, but doesn’t “predecessor†just sound sexier?
In order to fully appreciate Abin’s death, you’ve got to go back to one if his specific adventures.
While trying to rescue a child who was had survived a crash on Ysmault, Abin encountered Qull of the five inversions. Now Ysmault was where the Guardians of the Universe had contained the Empire of Tears, demons of the purely evil variety.
Various demons tried to tempt Abin. Qull managed to tempt him by offering answers to three of Abin’s questions, free of charge. The first question Abin asked was for the whereabouts of the child. Qull answered and Abin retrieved the child.
Abin then asked about his final fate. Qull told him that his ring would fail him during a critical moment. Qull then went on to describe Abin’s successor.
The final question Abin asked was about the final battle of the Green Lantern Corps. It involved Ranx the sentient city and the Children of the White Lobe exploding a blink bomb in Mogo’s core and the valiant death of Sodam Yat.
Abin then took the child and left the planet. But shortly after that Abin decided to use a spacecraft when he traveled so that he wouldn’t be as reliant on his ring. Y’see, Qull had planted the seed of doubt in Abin’s head, seeds that would prove fatal for Abin.
Later, Abin and his ship were damaged while battling Legion. Immediately following that, Abin had to navigate his ship via his ring and hit a yellow radiation field, something he was 100% vulnerable to. That and the already existing notion in his mind that his ring would fail him led to the inevitable self fulfilled prophecy.
So that’s why Abin died his death.
Abin Sur’s last moments, an artist’s (odd) interpretation.
As for the scores of GL’s slaughtered by the Sinestro Corps, I’ve got to believe that most of them were rookies who had yet to conquer the “yellow weakness” aspect of the ring.
Back in the old days of the “charge once very 24 hours” GLC, the ring kept a reserve charge that would protect the wearer from mortal harm. Obviously the reserve power could only be used one per charge. And if a GL were stranded in space, the reserve would keep them alive for 24 hours, after which the ring would lose all power and it’s wearer would succumb to the vacuum of space.
But even back in the old days, that reserve charge was vulnerable to yellow.
I’m guessing that the notion of a “reserve charge” still exists in the new fangled era of the GLC sans the 24-hour charge. But a GL might still be susceptible to yellow attacks depending on their rank in the Corp.
Tim, what’s your weakness?
Dames mostly. Dangerous dames with gams that go all the way down to the floor.
Oh, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Love those too.
UnGajje is opposed to rules preventing killing
Is the “no killing” thing new? Because, while it has been reversed, Hal did absolutely barbecue Kilowog. Similarly, while the Lost Lanterns ended up not really being dead, Hal did attack them with murderous intent and yet his ring did not power down, as we’ve seen happen to other GL rings during this Sinestro Corps arc. So, again, what’s up there?
Neil piggybacks on
Or how about how Soranik Natu goes to kill Sinestro in the Corps War and is unable to, but her ring still functions, while Boddika’s ring is shut off for trying to do the same?
Hm, this is a tricky one. I almost want to say that while on Oa, the “no killing” thing is turned off. We all know that Kilowog was killed by Hal Jordan. But in Green Lantern Corps #223 Sinestro was also killed, on Oa, by Green Lanterns.
But let’s go back to Hal Jordan’s rampage. I don’t think it can be argued that Hal attacked the Lost Lanterns to kill them. He wasn’t playing with kid gloves (or even boxing gloves) but he wasn’t trying to kill them with his ring. He may have left them to die, but using his ring he didn’t anything approaching mortal harm.
Now onto how the ring responds to such a demand. I think that it varies depending a) the GL and b) the intensity of the desire. In Soranik’s case I think the ring realized that it was a rare thought and that it was very much a in the heat of the moment desire. But Boddika’s ring shut down because by her very nature she’s a warrior. Boddika probably felt backed into a corner and her natural response would be to fight to the death. And given those were the kind of thoughts she was having the ring shut down completely.
Tim, when was the last time you had murderous thoughts?
Well there was one time recently, but Janelle has forbidden me to speak on it. Apparently, the particular institution this occurred at can be opening and affirming while constantly searching the internet and exiling any who dare to make jokes about one of their less pleasant members. I disagree about the probability of such a thing, but what can you do?
Prior to that, it was probably the woman at the rent-a-car counter who repeatedly insisted that she could not do something that both the coupon I was holding and her boss said she could.
I think I may have murderous thoughts too often.
Kirk wants to teach the children well
With back to school coming, I was wondering if there were any Graphic Novels you would recommend for a grade school level classroom. We’re talking grades three to six, here.
So, what you’re saying is no Sandman Mystery Theatre?
Can I just say that I’ve got no concept of age here? I don’t know what age we’re talking about or even what kids of any age are like now. I relate a lot more to Uncle Scrooge than I do to Huey, Louie or Dewey.
That said here are some trades that I don’t think push any buttons in terms of content.
The Atom: My Life in the Miniature – This is a really fun book. It’s kind of “out there” but that’s how comics should be, right?
Batgirl: Year One – The ladies (or is it “girls”, I’m still confused) must be represented. It’s a fun story and a very “Bat” tale.
Blue Beetle: Shellshocked/Blue Beetle: Road Trip – The current Blue Beetle title is easily one of the best books on the rack. Plus it’s got a youthful hero that kids can probably relate to.
JLA: Year One – Sure it’s impact on continuity is in question, but it’s packed with icons before they were icons.
Flash: Born to Run – It’s like Wally West: Year One. And again it’s character in right in the demographic your looking for.
H*E*R*O: Powers and Abilities – Ok, so the topic of suicide plays a part in this tale, but I think the “everyman” aspect of the trade might spark some imaginations.
Impluse: Reckless Youth – I love Impulse. It was my favorite fun book of it’s era. Pick up this trade and get a taste of the greatness.
JLA: Tower of Babel – This is probably the coolest JLA trade out. And it will completely justify why every kid who reads it loves Batman.
Plastic Man: On the Lam/Plastic Man: Rubber Bandits – These two border on “silly” but stick mainly to funny. A book that shows not every comic needs to be dire should be rewarded.
Robin: Year One – Great Robin tale. Perhaps this will make some kids take the Tim Drake approach of wanting to be Robin and not Batman.
Man of Steel – While not “in continuity” anymore, this trade will probably earn Superman some cool points with a generation who’s probably disinterested in him as a character.
Static Shock: Trial by Fire – This book was to it’s era what Blue Beetle is now and what Spider-man was in it’s heyday. One of the best teen hero books, ever!
Teen Titans: A Kid’s Game – Oh, remember when I used to love Teen Titans. This trade will remind you of those days.
Tim, surely you’ve got some trade suggestions that I missed, right?
There are some good ones in there, Mathan, nice job. You mentioned Spider-Man, so I’d point our illustrious questioner toward any of the Ultimate Spider-Man trades. But being as that is Marvel book and this is a DC column, I can’t legally do that.
Legally, I can recommend any of the Astro City trades for your more literate students in the sixth grade level. A lot of it still might be a bit out of their reach, but it will be like reading the Phantom Tollbooth or the Dark is Rising was for me back in the day. As you grow, these books you loved reveal new things that you missed because you were too young to really get it then.
Also, I’d recommend any of the Batman or Superman Animated Series inspired titles. They are well written smart intros to the characters that meet kids at their love without talking down to them.
Otherwise, on the DC side of the equation, I’m coming up a little blank. Maybe the whole Preacher series? That’s age appropriate, right?
Kirk is doing a background check
Holly Robinson. Who is she, how did she get hooked up with (and eventually became) Catwoman?
Holly grew up in a bad home. Well, that’s not quite right; she didn’t “grow up” there because she actually ran away. She survived on the streets in Gotham’s East End doing whatever it took to survive.
When Holly was 13 she met up with Selina Kyle and the two became inseparable. Holly’s been around since before Selina was Catwoman and actually witnessed Selina grow into that role.
However Holly grew tired of the life on the streets and she went to a convent to get her life straight. At the same convent was Selina’s sister Magdalena, who was a nun there. Holly wasn’t really content with that life so eventually she and Maggie left. Later Holly ended up back living the street life (drugs and prostitution.)
However kismet brought Holly and Selina back together again and Holly cleaned up her life. She began acting as Selina’s eyes and ears in East End, so that Catwoman would have an ear to the streets.
Given the types of people that Catwoman came across, Selina decided that if Holly were going to be a “sidekick” that she should get some sort of training. So the two of them went on a road trip with Ted “Wildcat” Grant. Holly learned tons.
Holly became Catwoman when Selina “retired” after finding out she was pregnant. Deciding that East End still needed a protector Holly stepped up to fill the void. However because Holly took up the mantle, she’s wanted in connection with the murder of Black Mask, which Selina committed. Thus Holly is on the run in Countdown.
Don’t forget the murder of the cop who was obsessed with the Black Mask case in the first place. He was slain by Sickle, but the crime was pinned on poor Holly.
Tim, Holly’s not even enough to get to keep on with Countdown?
The moment she showed up for the first time with no introduction and in a completely different place than she was in the Catwoman title with no hint or direction on how that happened, I lost interest. So no, she couldn’t keep. Not even after rolling all over the floor with Harley Quinn.
Glen is green in the ways of Ollie’s origins
Green Arrow: Year One, yet another reimagining of the hero’s origin. How many different retellings of the origin has Green Arrow endured? I remember Dixon’s and read Kirby’s. How does this latest one compare with the others?
Dude, I’m so not the Green Arrow expert on the site. And as much as I’m sure that I could have asked Starman Matt for help on this one, I’ve got to admit; I love when he writes response columns to something I’ve written. It’s fun.
So, near as I can tell Green Arrow hasn’t had too many different origins (not counting stuff like Green Arrow #0.) He had his original origin. Then he got a revamp with Mike Grell’s Green Arrow: The Wonder Year and now he’s got Green Arrow: Year One. That’s not too many origins, is it?
I think that a lot of people feel that when Denny O’Neil got his hands on the character in the 70’s he got a new origin. But he really didn’t, he just underwent some pretty severe character change. And with good cause; he went from being a rich playboy to broke. But it didn’t have any impact on his origin.
As for how this one stacks up with the previous versions; I don’t know. First off, since it’s not finished yet, I think it’s too early to tell. But probably more importantly, this is the first GA origin that I’ve read.
My first impression of Green Arrow: Year One is a good one. I like the book and the story, though I do feel like it’s set too firmly in the 90’s, with the “extreme” nature of Ollie and the resurgence of heroin.
But I love how Diggle gets into Ollie head. I’m really enjoying the book.
Tim, how do you feel about Green Arrow, as a character?
I like him very much. I question the need for a Year One for him, but I am enjoying the book. In a “boy, this is unnecessary, but I still really like it,†sort of way.
Admiral Snackbar thinks that Ollie might’ve been paying child support for no reason
Now, the current DC timeline, which is pretty loose, says that Oliver Queen began his Green Arrow career about 13 years ago. Ten years leading up to Zero Hour, then roughly 2 years DC time passed between ZH and Infinite Crisis. (Final Night, No Man’s Land, Bruce Wayne: Fugitive, Our World’s At War, For Tomorrow, all could have taken place within two years, and then 52 being the 13th year, which kind of has a nice ring to it.) Anyway, the point is, Oliver Queen has not been Green Arrow for more than 13-15 years, TOPS, and that’s stretching the DC timeline as far as I can. It’s my understanding that as Green Arrow, he accidentally killed someone, went to a monastery, which is when Conner Hawke was born. And that occurred DURING his time as GA. Yet Conner Hawke is in his early 20s, is he not? Was this ever explained? Or did the monastery thing happen before he became GA?
We’ll get to the answer in just a moment, but first, some fan service for the ladies. Dig that sweet, sweet Connor-ness.
By the way, did you know there is an entire website devoted to shirtless male superheroes? It’s true! Oh, the things this job has revealed to me.
Man, I hate math problems. I was never any good with math in school. Ugh!
I guess the answer is that we’ve got to accept that Connor was conceived before Ollie became Green Arrow. Right?
I’d have to guess that Ollie and Sandra Moonday Hawke were probably a college hook up type thing. Starman Matt agrees with me as you can see here.
I don’t believe the story of Connor’s conception has ever been explained 100%, but I’m guessing it involves a commune a freedom from clothing and barefoot hippies.
But I think that this really speaks to a problem that DC needs to get over: the desire to make Superman #1.
I can understand they want to prop the guy up, but it would really be ok for some of Superman’s peers to have debuted before him. DC wants Superman’s presence to have ushered in a new age of heroes, can’t they just be satisfied with his presence impressing the other fledgling heroes?
But since we read about a DC where Superman has to be the first, Ollie shagged (made love to?) Connor’s mom before he became Green Arrow.
Tim, how do you feel about your favorite Green Arrow’s crazy conception continuity?
I don’t know, but I’m sure however and whenever it happened it was H-O-T HOT HOT HOT!!!!!
Soak1313 is also all about in Ollie’s parental business
How many kids does Ollie have again? I know there is Connor but I was reading the Encyclopedia of the DC Universe and the mention another kid. Who exactly is Connor’s mom again and is there another child?
Soak, are you really going to pretend that you don’t know Bob? C’mon, you know Bobby. You know, Shado’s kid.
You know if Ollie had been abstaining, this probably would have been a brief column.
Connor’s mom is some hippie chick (dame?) named Sandra Moonday Hawke. We’re going to say that she and Ollie hooked up during Ollie’s college days, before he became Green Arrow. And Mr. Bedard has already apologized for his mistake in Birds of Prey.
As for Shado’s kid, his name is Robert. He showed up in that Connor Hawke mini that only Tim read.
Too bad. I guess I was the only one having any fun with a totally SWEET Chuck Dixon story. SUCKERS!
I’ve really got to wonder if Talia and Shado ever set up Damian and Robert on playdates.
Tim, aren’t you tired of dealing with Ollie’s kids at this point?
Yes, I am. Completely. You try to be nice, help a fella out. “Hey Ollie,†I say, “how about you drop off Connor and Bob here sometimes so you and the Bird can get some alone time. I know that sort of thing’s important to almost newlyweds.â€
Of course, I’m thinking he’ll do it once, maybe twice in a 6 month period. Two weeks later, the kids have been over my apartment seven times. Seven!!!!!
So yeah, I’m sick of them. I’m sick of Connor’s “I must reach a state of one-ness to be a better hero. This would be so much easier at the Ashram.†I’m sick of Bob’s “Did I mention that my mom raped my dad? Because no one seems to remember that.†And I’m sick of both of their “how come Dad was never there for me†bellyaching. You know why “dad†was never their Queen kids? Because “dad’s†a jerk! And he totally cheated on your soon to be new mom! And it was totally in character for him to do so because he’s a womanizer! Don’t believe people named Matt when they tell you otherwise.
But I won’t do that. Cause Ollie and I go way back.
Glen actually used the term “starter†husband and has thus lost so much esteem in my eyes
In Black Canary #1, it seems she has an ex husband from her college years. What’s the scoop on this starter husband?
Look, Glen, when kids are college age they do stupid things, like get married and conceive children, and not even in that order!
When Dinah Laurel Lance was 18 she married a college classmate by the name of Craig Windrow. He was older, she was younger, they were both attending Gotham University. What could go wrong?
The divorced 9 months later.
I’m not exactly sure why Craig’s grinning here. He’s gotta be kicking himself inside, realizing what he passed up all those years ago. She’s Black friggin’ Canary man!
It happens to the best of them. Ray Palmer couldn’t make a marriage work. Neither could Aquaman. And don’t even get me started on Nightwing.
But that’s the story. There’s really nothing much there.
But man, to be 18 and in love again…
Tim, aren’t you one of those cockeyed optimists when it comes to marriage?
Sort of…I guess. Which is a little ironic considering that both my and Janelle’s parents divorced before either of us had aged into double digits.
The truth is, I don’t hold any particular illusions about marriages being magnificent or magical or easy or any of that stuff. I think they can be very good but you need to be prepared for the fact that two people are never going to get along 100% of the time and that’s okay. And because of this almost “lowered expectation†(for lack of a better way to put it) I think marriages can work as long as both parties aren’t looking for a fairy tale.
Soak1313 reminds us that even heroic lawmen are flawed
Can you give me a history of Jim Gordon and his family?
What kind of history? A medical history? Are you looking for some kind patterns in regards to health issues the Gordons might have? You work for the insurance companies like that guy in Sicko don’t you? You want to deny one of the Gordon’s health insurance because of “preexisting condition.” Well I’ve got news for you buster: those records aren’t something that I can share without a court order. I mean the columnist/fictional character confidentiality agreement when it comes to medical history very seriously.
Believe me when I say that if I told you what I knew about Bruce Wayne the only way he’d be able to get insurance was if he bought an insurance company.
But I guess I can give some basic info on Jim Gordon and his fam.
Jim Gordon was a good cop in a dirty city. That city was Chicago. After uncovering the rigging of the mayoral election implicating police officers, Jim gets recommended for a transfer to Gotham.
Once in Gotham, Jim finds yet another corrupt police force. He falls in love with Sarah Essen, despite being married to Barbara Eileen Gordon who has son James Jr. Since both he and Batman are trying to clean up the city, they become allies.
Jim, wait…that’s not your wife! Your wife’s at home pregnant so don’t…oh hell, he’s not listening is he?
Shortly after this Jim’s brother, Robert Gordon, and Robert’s wife, Thelma, die. (No word on Louise’s fate.) Thus Jim and Barbara have to take in Jim’s niece also named Barbara. Eventually Jim and Barbara divorce and she takes James Jr. Jim adopts his niece. However his niece might actually be his biological daughter because, the class act that he is, Jim had an affair with his sister in law, Thelma. So not only did he cheat on his wife, but he did it with his brother’s wife. Cruddy.
Um, yeah, I don’t really know how to follow up on that. That’s really, really greasy. Though I’d really love to see Gary Oldman in that storyline on the big screen. I think he’d do a smashing job.
Tim, is Jim Gordon a decent guy or a skuzzy chap?
As tempted as I am to simply label him skuzzy chap (if, for no other reason than I just like the way it rolls off the tongue), I can’t.
I think he was a pretty lousy husband and a not so hot dad though. However, over time, he proven himself to be a good husband (he eventually settled down with Sarah Essen and they made it work until she was killed) and an excellent father (with second chance “offspring†Barbara). He’s no ideal, but like so many, after contributing directly to the dissolution of one relationship, he was able to see his role in its failure, change those things and bounce back.
I, personally, applaud him.
After all of this talk of conception and offspring, I think we’ve got to call it a column.
But don’t worry we’ll be back next week. Maybe we’ll cover tech guys, or recognizable characters. We might even address the Shade, or your question, provided you send it our way. You can either email me or post on our thread
But before we go, here’s my question to you guys;What trades would you recommend for a 3rd to 6th grader?
“In the wind, in the gail, thunder and the hail.”
