A New Era Begins

So I just read "Green Arrow and Black Canary" #15 and I have to say, it's not bad.

When this book first launched, it was really a continuation of Judd Winick's GA run as opposed to a new title. In my opinion, you don't relaunch unless you plan on doing something differently, and nine times out of ten that also includes a new creative team (JSA breaks the rule). JSA had the same team, but the book's mission changed. It WAS a team book about aging superheroes in modern DCU continuity. When it was relaunched, the teams directive was to track down all the superpowered youth (re: legacy characters) and train them to maximize their potential (also preventing Kingdom Come from becoming a reality).
GA/BC was the same. exact. book. as Winick's GA...the only difference was that the two main characters were married....except that technically Dinah married and then killed Everyman and not Oliver Queen.

So after a year of crappy Judd Winick GA stories, we finally get the "Green Arrow and Black Canary" #1 the fan (I'm pretty sure I'm the only person that was still a fan after Winick wiped his ass with the character for the last 5 years) wanted and it's a great jumping on point for anyone interested in the characters. That being said, the story only is so so. It's the classic Watchmen swipe where the whole issue takes place in 5 seconds....which is cool if you never read Watchmen. Kreisberg uses flashbacks to tie up the Winick run nicely (and a brief Green Arrow Origin). We see the Green Arrow family trimmed up with Connor leaving to find himself and Mia moving to London to spread HiV...I mean be with her new boyfriend. All that is left are the title characters. The tone of the book is very similar to the Mike Grell run and I think fans of the Grell's Green Arrow could really dig it, after all this is how Longbow Hunters started. It's really too early to say if this is good or not, because the whole issue is spent tying up Winick's loose ends. Kreisberg has a clean palette to work with, let's just hope it's not too late in the game.

Dallas Comics are Rockin

So I buy my comics from the coolest shop in town, Zeuss Comics. This store plays the best music I've heard since I moved to Texas. I've head everything from MGMT, to Yelle, but today I was caught off guard when I walked in and heard "Rock me In" (which is my favorite song on the new album).

Anyway, I picked up...
Punisher: War Zone - read the first 2 pages, badass (although not as badass as "Splat Foo")
Dark Reign - (Bendis and Maleev ummm sick)
Justice League of America
Action Comics (at least Gary Frank did the cover)
Green Arrow/Black Canary - I'm pretty excited about this. Not because there is a new writer, but mostly because Judd Winick is gone. I have to say the news of Geoff Johns leaving JSA this close to Judd freeing up a book really scares me. I get this creepy feeling we haven't seen the last of Judd Winick crapping over what was once a great title. When I mentioned my excitement of Winnick leaving the Green Arrow-verse, my comic shop owner laughed and chimed in with a comment that echoed the wise Jay Kretzer..... "Winick started off strong with Exiles!".

It's always nice when your dealer chimes in with some inside knowledge. The only thing cooler than reading comics, it's talking comics (and it seems these days that's becoming harder and harder to do). While I'm looking forward to the Watchmen movie, I'm not looking forward to every conversation I will have with someone that reads comics that starts with "Have you ever read Watchmen?". I've been reading comics for nearly 20 years, of course I've read Watchmen. Who hasn't? That's like starting a conversation with Quentin Tarantino and asking him if he's seen a movie before. In order to alleviate the tired conversation, I will offer (free of charge) the following suggestions of cool stories that are newer than Watchmen.

Preacher - It's what made Ennis. Ennis.
The Authority - Before The Ultimates, before Wanted, before Civil War, before Kick-Ass, there was The Authority. Read it. (other people that have worked on this book include Warren Ellis, Ed Brubaker, Bryan Hitch, and Art Adams...yea)
Daredevil - Before Bendis rocked the Marvel U with his Avengers, he was making his mark on Daredevil. His run goes back to the core of the character Frank Miller helped define. Once you finish this, you will want to go right into the Brubaker run because it's just sick. Lady Bullseye, The Hand, Iron Fist, Black Tarantula, Dakota North(yes that Dakota North), did I mention ninjas?!?!?
Captain America - The best book Marvel is putting out. Hands down.

So yea, add these to your Christmas list and thank me later.
-G$

It's that time of the New Kryptonic Month...

I read the New Krypton #5 Supergirl and #6 Superman last night. I have to say the Superman issue sucked really bad.  I mean it's the worst issue of New Krypton yet.

Whereas, Supergirl #35 was freaking awesome!

Finally, a writer comes along, like Gates, who knows how to write an exchange between family members that doesn't come off seeming like an obvious tampon commercial featuring a budding teenage girl and her very out of the closet father.
Case in point, in one scene Supergirl and her father were talking...

Her father says, "Do you have sudden mood swings, shifting from one personality to another in a moment's time? Was it hard on you to concentrate on what you were doing?" (btw they bolded the word 'hard' in that sentence in the comic... felt like a Beavis & Butthead joke waiting to happen --)

Then she replies with, " I bleed" (Bleed bolded again... come to think of it, it looks as if they just bold the middle and the last word of every balloon)

A moment later, her father, in what we like to refer to as a 'Fields' headband', places his hand over his mouth in a very straight manner,
and says....

PMS...er, I mean "Kryptonite poisoning."

All this time with Supergirl and we don't have to deal with some demon erasing history and memories or some lame ass mechanic as that, instead we get outer space rock poisoning that caused her to have false memories.

Freaking classic.

Best.
Story.
Ever.

Sincerely,

'Bizzaro' Jay

ps...Me thinks Jamal Igle is drawing a drop dead gorgeous version of Supergirl.

-JaY k.

One World Under Gog

"God created the world in seven days. Gog will save it in seven more." -William Matthews

Is it just me, or does DC really not understand how to promote their epic stories? They missed the boat on Sinestro Corps Wars and didn't push it until the end, and now they are making the same mistake with the current JSA arc. I am enjoying this story about a million times more than Final Crisis right now.

"After Gog's here for seven days, we won't have an earth." -Sand

What started as a hint of a god showing up in the DCU has just blown the #$%^ up. I was shocked when we first saw Gog a few issues back. When he showed up as a god people loved (ala Jasmine from Angel) I knew Johns was going to do something kickass. Doc Mid-Nite's sight is restored, Damage gets a new face, Sand loses his nightmares, and Powergirl goes home to Earth-2. All of this was pretty sweet, but when we saw a JSA member die and Gog brought him back to life as Magog, I #$%^ my pants. 

I just finished reading The Kingdom and we are finally starting to see what Gog's intentions actually are. The JSA has split in two as KC Superman predicted would happen. One side is following Gog toward Kahndaq (Black Adam is there waiting), and the older half of the JSA is trying to figure out what to do about a God marching across the globe performing miracles. In this issue we see the cost of Gog's "miracles". A blind Dr. Mid-Nite could spot tumors just as they began to grow, but his new gift of sight has cost him his ability to heal others. Sand's nightmares would let him experience an actual crime as if he were the victim. Now he's forced to do his detective work the old fashioned way which is a little too slow to save lives. Damage has turned into an apostle for Gog and is spreading the word while representing the JSA. Of course, this offends some members and we see Stargirl try to intervene by bringing in Atam Smasher. It's always fun to see the adopted youth take on the actual offspring in superhero fashion. We get a good brawl between the two culminating with Damage blowing up his father's (now Al's) home.

"It is the final day. It is time to give thanks to Gog. All of you on your knees. Worship me." -Gog

Next issue can't come soon enough!

-G$

Can't Stop Thinking About X-Chicks

If you're looking to quench your thirst for X-Men in a post Joss Whedon Astonishing world, Uncanny X-Men is where you wanna start. This book is going back to the core of what the X-Men are all about. Cyclops and the gang have set up shop in San Francisco and have put out a call to the rest of the mutant population to enjoy the California sunshine with them. This latest issue starts in the Mojoverse (yea!) and then we jump into the head of Scott Summers. Scott's head isn't really that different from mine circa 1993-ish when Wizard did that swimsuit issue with the X-Chicks...anyway Matt Fraction was obviously playing to Terry Dodson's strengths scipting in a ton of hot chicks. The issue ends with Beast building a scientist dream team to fight the mojo Scarlet Witch unleashed at the end of House of M. I don't see myself dropping this book anytime soon.

I also read the newest issue of Punisher (Max of course) and for the first time since Garth Ennis left, I can say I'm digging it. This issue finally captures the "MAX" tone that has defined Punisher over the last several years. The book starts out with naked chicks, profanity, a shark, and a little blow. We see Punisher waste people, and Jigsaw shows up. The Jigsaw bit may be a little forced due to the impending movie, but it was still a fun ride.

Thanksgiving this week, so I won't be grabbing comics soon. I will be too busy eating and watching Australia.

Just read this over at Newsarama. Next time I'm in Orlando, I will def check this place out. Loved the Cival War promotion.

"If you wanna be a god and don't wanna be subject to our laws, then get your ass back to Asgard."

-G$

Bag it or Trash it…

This is a new segment that I’ll be doing every so often exclaiming to ‘Bag’ or ‘Trash’ books of the week. To ‘Bag it’ simply means, place it in a comic bag because it is good or worthy of re-reads later and to ‘Trash it’ means…well, it means just that. So on to some of this week’s books.

Terra #2 –
In the opening scene of this issue, we get to watch as Amanda Conner weaves an ‘Austin Power’ish scene of everything from hands to owl feathers covering up the protagonist’s most private parts as she dances through countless word balloons filled with chatter. Ultimately, what I love about Amanda’s art is the fact that she doesn’t need to draw images referenced from actual movie stars or overdo crosshatching & accent lines in attempt to create life-like characters. Instead, her style is deceivingly simple, but very full of life. In the two issues of Terra, we get to see just how life-like they are, whether it be with her wonderful array of facial expressions that really define her characters or with the mundane tasks her characters carry out in the back & foregrounds (such as Doctor Mid-nite having to reach for a canister of Fowl Towls to clean up after his pet owl). The story isn’t bad so far, but it’s the art that has me coming back for more right now.
Amanda Conner is always bag’able and this comic is more of the same.
--BAG IT!

Fantastic Four #561 –
I’m not the world’s biggest fan of Millar, but I must say, this comic is not half bad. There are plenty of twists and turns with fun reveals in it. Seems to be a good mix of story & action with art that is pretty good. All in all, it’s a good job by Millar & Hitch. Oh, and someone dies in it, you almost have to bag it just based on that.
And since there is not a twelve-year-old ninja running people through with swords in this one, I’ll have to say…
--BAG IT!

I’ll try and get some more posted soon. If you have any comics you would like to suggest to make it to this list, please let me know in a comment. Till next time…

-JaY k.

The Lich King's Wrath Unleashed

New WoW xpac is out. It's not bad, lost internet the day after I got the game but I was able to ninja my neighbor's wifi to get a couple levels in before my net was restored. The first thing the Lich King has unleashed his wrath upon would be my comic bewks. I did manage to read a few things last week, but I was forced to do it the old fashioned way....looking at the pictures. Couple things I noticed...

1.) Alex Ross should do more work with inks.

2.) Judd Winick's Green Arrow run would have been much better had I just looked at the pictures instead of reading it. Thank god we get a new writer next month, these last 5 years have been torture. I would rather be in a circle jerk with my dad and grandpa than re-read this crap.

3.) When Kevin Smith was researching the Joker for his new Onomatopoeia arc in "Batman Cacophony", he watched Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain instead of Dark Knight.

That is all.

-G$

Con-Artist(s)

Do you hate waiting for a Star Wars movie to get an excuse to stand in lines for days?

Do you like being in a room the size of a Taco Bell with 2,000 people dressed as Heath Ledger?

Do you think Corey Feldman is still cool after watching Surreal Life?

Then Wizard World Texas 2008 was the place for you!

Apparently, the best way to run a con is to have your guests only sign during set times and in 1 hour windows (often times overlapping with other guests). When you schedule your signings this way, it makes the guest feel like they are super special. No more wasting time answering questions about funky legs on the cover of Batman #500. Artists can now sit and draw commissions for $Arm.Leg all day long! 

I'm not even kidding. 

As I post this, I'm dealing with the pain that comes when you spend an entire afternoon staring down at the ground. This pain can be attributed to the genius that thought it would be a good idea to put booth names on the FLOOR. This also makes artists feel cool, because by the time you read their name on the ground you have to look up like a lost puppy dog and say something stupid like, "Are you Rags Morales?" and then the artist can say something cool like, "Of course I'm Rags Morales, you can't read my floor mat?". So after you're finished looking like a 10 year old that only stares at the pictures in a comic book because you can't read, you get to ask the artist to sign your crap. The really cool artists (like Rags Morales for example) will let you start pulling out your books and then point to the cardboard sign that says if you want something signed stand there till 4pm... or go make yourself feel tall by standing next to Corey Feldman to kill time.

Pop quiz, you only have 1 hour to get comics signed by Rags Morales, Phil Hester, and Ethan Van Sciver. There are lines a quarter mile long for each artist. What do you do?

If you're me, you leave and go see Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Yes it owned.

I did manage to score some 50% trades. Picked up Frank Miller's Daredevil vol.3, Sin City Hell and Back, and V for Vendetta.

Marko Djurdjevic is cool.

Danny Trejo gave me a high five, so he is cool also.

Pics Here.

-G$

My Origin Story

1992 was a big year. After serving only one term in office, President George H. W. Bush was defeated by William Jefferson Clinton, we had a "Dream Team", Batman Returned, Robin Williams was a Genie, Kurt Cobain got married, and John Gotti went to prison (2 years after Earnest). I can honestly say, the only thing I can remember from that year is that John Romita Jr. drew Punisher War Zone. That may be due to the fact I was 10 years old. Regardless, when I discovered JRJr, I was hooked. With the exception of some teenage years spent chasing tail (after I scored I quickly realized comics were cooler anyway), I've been reading comics ever since.

Here I am 16 years later waking up to Jeph Loeb getting axed from Heroes. I have to say this came as a shock to me. Here I was watching this third season of Heroes thinking I'm finally getting the payoff that's been building since the first season originally aired. Judging by the comments in that article, I'm in the minority that feels that way. While I have to say I quit reading Loeb's comics after his Superman/Batman run (which I dropped a few issues in and didn't come back till Supergirl showed up), I still respect him as a writer and will miss him on this show.

Justice Society of America #20 comes out this Wednesday. Really liking the direction this book is going. Kingdom Come was a killer read back in the day and Geoff Johns is tying his newest JSA book into it perfectly. Looks like a pretty slow week in comics so unless by some freak chance I pick up Ultimatum (see paragraph above), this will be the title I post about next week.

Wizard World Texas starts this Friday. The only convention I've ever been to is Megacon in Orlando Florida and from what I can tell WWT doesn't compare. This doesn't come as much of a surprise to me. I know last time I was at Megacon, I had a blast. By the time the trip was over, Jay and I spent an evening in a bar with more creators I can name, Erica Durance (or Erica Sexy-pants as I like to call her) was on the phone with my wife, and Jay was buying drinks for Kristy Swanson. That being said, hard not to get pumped for a convention. Look for pics next week.

Kevin Smith's newest movie Zach and Miri Make a Porno came out last week. I opted to see the Eastwood/JMS flick "Changling" instead (yes it is badass), figured I'd save the Porno to go with my comics this weekend.

This Tuesday night is a big night, that's the night I play WoW with my buddies and we kill internet dragons....and I think there's an election or something. See ya next week.

-G$

One Small Step...

What a day to launch a blog entitled, Wanna-be Heroes.  Halloween, the one day of the year we can don our capes and masks and not be looked at like unwelcome mold.  Instead, we receive a plethora of ooo's and ah's as we enter a room and strike our heroic poses.  Sometimes, we even get candy.  Hooozah!.

Some of you may be saying, "Wait just a minute there, fella, we get to wear our costumes all the time at conventions and such".  Well, I'm not talking about you losers.  I'm not against you guys, but you don't live in the same world I grew up in.

The world, in which I came up, didn't have as much tolerance for comic geeks and the like as it does now.  In my day (in my best grandpa impression), if you were crossing the street in your fabulous Naraku costume, there was a danger of some reject from Deliverance running you down in their pickup truck with a large rebel flag blaring on the back window.  Today, that same pickup could have a Superman steering  wheel cover and vinyl running across the front windshield reading, "Why so Serious?".  Granted the pickup may still run you down, but, come on, you're wearing a Naraku costume, remember?  

Point is, comics have made the jump to main stream and there is good and bad repercussions.  I'd like to focus on the good for now and talk about how amazing it is to be a comic fan in today's time.  I've been reading comics for a long time and I don't remember it ever being this fun.  I mean, back in the day, which actually is a Wednesday (thanks to Mr. Martin for pointing that out), I had a very small circle of friends with whom I could talk comics with and that was it.

Nowadays, comics and information about comics can be found everywhere.  I don't have to talk to the same small group of guys who think Spawn is the only comic worth reading, instead I can talk to an array of well-read people with differing opinions and ideas just by checking out one of the many comic blogs and forums on the web.  So, why are we creating this blog if so many already exist?  That's an easy one.

We love talking comics.

So, if you are like us, please keep checking back and sharing your opinions.  We'll be here.  Oh, and one more thing... 

It's not a Brand New Day, just another less than Amazing one.

Happy Halloween.

-JaY k.