A few more Four Color thoughts!

This is just a quick follow-up on my post yesterday on comics.

In FINAL CRISIS #1 we see some heroes (that I either don’t know or remember) ambushed and seemingly killed by Mirror Master & Doctor Light. During this we have what I think is supposed to be joking banter between the two hinting at MM procuring some ‘erectile dysfunction’ drugs for the Doctor. This takes place while the villains stand over and further abuse the bodies of the fallen heroes, which would seem bad enough. However, given the fact that DL has been shown to be an abusive and unrepentant rapist & murderer, why are ED jokes supposed to be funny or even appropriate? I was taken aback at the time, but forgot to mention it yesterday while trying to cover several books. Probably another reason why FC may not be on my ‘buy list’ for more than one more issue.

I don’t seem to be the only one who feels this way, although perhaps not for the same reasons. In the reviews I’ve read and seen over on YouTube the general consensus appears to be negative towards FC. If this is what we can expect from DC then I’ll be spending my money on more Marvel and independent titles.

I picked up the hardcover edition of SECRET WARS at the library this past weekend and am really enjoying it. Besides being a good book on its own merits it explains why some of the heroes feel the way they do towards Nick Fury in the current SECRET INVASION storyline. I also really like how Bendis writes Peter Parker and Matt Murdock in the series, but wasn’t thrilled by his Logan, at least in the first couple of issues.

That’s it for now!

Four Color and More!

Those five days in Brooklyn and doing extra-help work in another library threw me off a bit. I’m way behind on reviews and other things so I’m going to try to catch up, with minor SPOILERS. Let’s face it, almost nobody reads my reviews anyway and I generally do it for my own amusement. Don’t mind me I’m not in the best of moods to begin with.


After all the money and time I invested in COUNTDOWN and related titles, I didn’t expect that DC was going to flip me the bird with the first issue of FINAL CRISIS. What the hell is going on? Is that Tor? That sure as heck is Kamandi running up on him later. I’m assuming that The Question and others do not see the armored guy on skis hanging over the crime scene, right? Seems at least some of the New Gods are not dead, simply hanging out here kidnapping kids and turning them into red-eyed fanged little creeps. I really don’t have a clue and am only going to give FC one more issue to make me believe. I’m also going to keep my promise to myself and not buy a single ‘Sightings’ tie-in.


On the other hand, the latest issues of NEW AVENGERS and MS. MARVEL keep the heat on with SECRET INVASION. We still don’t know who all the Skrulls may be, but do learn some things about those ‘70s Avengers who were held captive. Some folks aren’t too happy with a certain ‘dead’ hero showing up, but I don’t believe that is really him. On the other hand, it looks like we will be seeing the some familiar characters showing up in the MARVEL 1985 series. Wow! Talk about fanboy fantasy come true? What would you do if you found out that Doctor Doom & the Red Skull had moved in down the street? Have to thank writer Mark Millar and artist Tommy Lee Edwards for bringing us a wonderful fantasy for those of us who did believe in such things as kids.

Finally, I want to recommend DEAD, SHE SAID from IDW. Writer Steve Niles knows his dead folks, as the creator of 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, and here he’s teamed with artist Bernie Wrightson . Low rent P.I. Coogan has had a bad night. He doesn’t remember much about it, except that somewhere along the line he got killed and he’s not happy. When he is found over the torn apart body of the person who may have been responsible he has a lot of explaining to do to the cops. Wrightson inks his own pencils here and it shows. Damn, he’s good!

On the TV watching front, I caught promos for two new summer replacement shows that caught my interest. ABC’s WIPEOUT is a total rip-off of a Japanese game show, the name of which escapes me. One of the cable networks was showing an English-dubbed version, along the lines of IRON CHEF, where you really didn’t know how accurate the translation may have been. Of course that wasn’t the point. The goal of the show, as is that of the American rip-off, is to have folks attempt to get across this enormous water bound obstacle course. The ABC site calls it a ‘reality show’, but that term has long ago stopped really meaning anything of the sort.


Also from ABC is “I Survived a Japanese Game Show”, where a group of ten Americans are flown over to do exactly that. Or rather, they must compete in the stunts and competitions that are actually used in those shows, but they won’t actually compete against Japanese, but each other.

Hard to believe that the game show concept was created here, isn’t it? The first, “Uncle Jim's Question Bee", was broadcast in 1941, unless the British beat us to it. It seems that the ‘successful’ shows of the past few years are all adaptations of shows from Europe and now Japan.
I think it’s time for Donna and I to breakdown and get that DVR from Cox.

New links and a few other things

I just added a new link over on The Right that you might find fun.

Tabloia! is from Chris Wisnia, who loves comics, big monsters, the old WEEKLY WORLD NEWS and other cool stuff. From 'Dick Hammer' and 'Doris Danger' to 'Dr. DeBunko' and the weekly TABLOIA tabloid you will find a comic or tall-tale to your liking. Chris has contributions from such well known comic artists as Jill Thompson, Sergio Aragones, and Sam Keith, plus Silver Age greats like John Severin & Dick Ayers.

Not going to do regular comic reviews this week, as I'm trying to get caught up with work stuff before Friday. Donna and I will be in Brooklyn until next Wednesday (5/28) and I have a few reports that have to get done.

I do want to recommend that folks pick up the SECRET INVASION series and various tie-in stories from Marvel. Unlike DC's COUNTDOWN (which I liked better than some folks), the SI story involves an alien menace, but sticks closer to Earth. While heroes & villains were getting offed in the DC series you always had the feeling that things would eventually be worked out and with probably few long term effects. In SI you get a sense of real paranoia as the heroes don't know who to trust, which means the reader doesn't know either.

I have to give my thanks to Marvel editorial for giving the reader a 'what has gone before' page each issue. It allowed me to pick up several books which had not been reading, but not feel totally lost. The last issue of the just ended CAPTAIN MARVEL mini, latest issues of MS. MARVEL and NEW AVENGERS all tie in and really should be checked out. The second issue of the main SI book is really good and reveals that some but not apparently all of the heroes who were on the crashed Skrull ship are indeed Skrull's themselves. At least one hero we thought dead seems to be quite alive. I'm going to hold off on judging the SI: Fantastic Four series until the next issue. Lots of things are happening and I'm not familiar enough with the current FF continuity to be sure. On the other hand, I love when the Torch & Thing are the central focus of a story.

If you are not reading this series, at least pick up the main title as I don't think you'll be disappointed. Make Mine Marvel! (At least for now)

Popcorn for One: IRON MAN (with some spoilers)

A friend gave me some ‘free passes’ for the Edwards chain of movie theatres. I figured it was a good time to start using them, so I caught an early Friday afternoon showing of IRON MAN at the local theatre.

I’m sure if you are interested you have already caught the movie or are doing so this weekend. I don’t want to do a complete review, since there are plenty of those around if you are interested. There’s probably nothing I could add to what the professionals critics and other fans have to say. These are just a few comments about my general feelings on the film.

The movie opens with Tony Stark (played wonderfully by Robert Downey, Jr.) being caught in the ambush of American troops with whom he is traveling. The film then winds back to show us what occurred the previous 36 hours leading up to the assault. We get a feel for how Stark goes about his daily routines, seemingly not caring that his corporation is building weapons that could fall into the wrong hands. He’s an electronics genius who has used his abilities to build his father’s company into one of the largest of its kind. Despite his wealth and his playboy lifestyle, it is apparent that he is lonely, with few people with whom he feels totally comfortable.

The Tony Stark of the comics, at least until the recent events of ‘Civil War’, was very close to how Downey portrays him. Brilliant, flawed and only allowing himself a few close confidents. In the current Marvel Universe, he doesn’t even have that, but the Stark of the movie is a better person, at least by the films end.

The cast is very good, with some wonderful actors playing roles in what is after all a ‘super-hero’/action film. Not what you would expect from Downey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges, but all take their parts seriously without the scene chewing you often see actors doing in these sorts of films. Too many actors feel they can ham it up or just walk through these movie roles, which they seem to feel are beneath them. Than why take the role? Bills piling up?

Stan Lee, who co-created the character, has a nice cameo that made me laugh. If you stick around through the credits you’ll find Samuel L. Jackson showing up as another Marvel character, who hints that we might be seeing several other Marvel characters appearing along with Iron Man at some point. If you have read the Avengers comics you may either enjoy or being angered by the fact that Jarvis isn’t the Alfred-style butler we have become used to in the series. Also, an off-hand remark by Jim “Rhodey” Rhodes (played by Terrence Howard), Stark’s military liaison hints at yet another hero making an appearance in a future sequel.

Given the film’s success and comments already made by Downey, it probably won’t come as a surprise to see an IRON MAN franchise being announced shortly.

If you haven’t guessed by now I highly recommend the movie. Just stay through the credits for the fanboy moment!

Keeping track of all this crap...er, collectibles!

I have been using the online database, COMIC COLLECTOR LIVE for several months to try to keep track of my comics. Since it is free and constantly updated I have found it pretty decent, but with a few quirks.

If you've been around for a bit you'll remember that I used to utilize another free online database, ComicBookdb.com but the owner of that site eventually gave up on it, leaving a lot of us with dated & uncorrectable files. Just the other day I found that someone else has taken over the site name and is now providing a similar free service. This time, however, they carry ads and you can buy & sell, just as CCL does.

I'm now inputting my collection into both databases and finding that they each have problems. The main one being that I appear to be the only person to have collected certain titles, so now have to go through the hassle of getting approval to place them into the site.

I have found CBDB has some titles that CCL doesn't have and vice versa, but in some cases only individual issues rather than an entire book's run. (For example, CBDB lists ULTRA KLUTZ but only four of the 31 issues, meaning that I have to input the remainder.) Also with CCL, you have to go through a 'voting' process where majority rule can actually disallow your input. In most cases, you have to have to provide a link to another database or company website to prove the title actually exists! I'll be trying to put some items into CBDB this weekend and let you know how difficult or easy that will be.

Quick update: if a title is a one-shot CBDB makes it hard to add unless the person who originally put it in the database listed it as a #1, since you have to place an issue number in the databox.

I plan on picking up my bi-weekly haul of stuff at Nuclear Comics tomorrow, along with some Silver Age bags. I have some older books that have been stored in the same bags since I purchased them. Eventually, I'm going to have to buy some regular/current bags & boards since I left what I had back in Brooklyn with Dan & Christina.

By the way, I'm going to be boarding at Michael's in San Diego along with Dan, who is flying out for the convention. It should be pretty interesting, as this is his first SD and I haven't been there since '96. I'm sure to rant more on all this between now and late July, so bear with me!

Four-Color Fiend: The Mighty New Avenging Skrulls

There might be a few things given away so we will start with

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I’m not sure in which order they were published, since I picked them both up this past weekend, but I want to recommend both MIGHTY AVENGERS #12 and NEW AVENGERS #40. Given the stories I would recommend reading MA #12 first, as that will make the end of NA #40 even more of a shocker. Another thing is that even if you have not been reading previous issues these books were fairly easy to follow as they are more tightly woven into SECRET INVASION, so if you read the first issue of that title you’ll be just fine. Heck, neither of the Avenger teams really shows up except for few panels in either book this month.

MA shows us what Nick Fury has been doing since he last appeared. Here is a guy who just wanted to settle down after a life of action, but finds that events are happening which he cannot ignore. When he discovers that someone he trusts is not who they appeared to be he begins investigating. Using his own skills and some ‘borrowed’ S.H.I.E.L.D. tech, he uncovers the fact that there are Skrulls masquerading as humans and super-heroes. He turns to one of the few people he believes he can still count on, but the last page shows that he is still unsure about who may be a Skrull and who is still human. Fan sites are filled with folks guessing what the red & blue circled photos indicate.

In NA, we get a history of the Skrull Empire from the time that it was visited by a group of heroes more than a decade ago. Even then plans were being put in place that would lead to the invasion we see taking place in the current Marvel universe. We learn who some of the Skrulls leading this conspiracy are and why the Earth is such an important target. If you have been reading the SECRET INVASION series or other tie-ins you will be as shocked by the final page as I was.

Brian Michael Bendis wrote both of these books and as the driving force behind the SI event he was a perfect choice for these books, as they present just about all you need to know on background. Unlike at DC where you could ignore many of the COUNTDOWN spin-offs and still follow events, I think that I will be buying a number of these SI related issues, or at least skimming them at the shop to keep up with things.

I’m giving both these Three out of four stars.

Four Color Fiend: The DCU and off on a Tangent

I just want to talk about some of the comics I picked up this past weekend, but I don’t think I’m giving anything away. We’ll skip the Spoilers this time out, okay?

COUNTDOWN #1 wraps up a few plot points, but doesn’t put an end to everything. A group of heroes, including the ones we’ve been calling ‘Challengers’, plus Forager, confront the remaining Monitors. Basically, they warn them off from interfering with our universe (Earth-1). The Monitor designated Solomon is seen lurking in the background, so we can expect to be seeing him turn up at some future point. There are a couple of pages featuring Mary Damn Marvel (as she dubs herself in the last panel) and Black Adam. It would have been nice to simply see him twist her head off, but it appears that MDM will still be sulking about clad in her black mini for the time being. Sadly, I have to say I’m a bit disappointed in the series as a whole, although it did get me back into reading DC after a couple of years.

I don’t believe that I was the only fanboy to think that DC UNIVERSE #0 was going to be the bridge between COUNTDOWN & FINAL CRISIS. I was both right and wrong on this, which was a tad frustrating. What it actually turned out to be was a series of teasers for about a half dozen upcoming ‘events’ that will be taking place over the rest of the year.

Rather than one FINAL CRISIS, it looks like there will be three series which look to tie into each other. How much will remain to be seen, but I doubt I’ll be picking up all of them. WONDER WOMAN is going to be involved with yet another ‘War of the Gods’ type of thing, as Hercules decides that it takes males to properly undertake the mission for which WW was chosen/created. The final panel seems to indicate a 300-type group of Roman warriors about to conquer Themyscira. **Yawn** Meanwhile, GREEN LANTERN & Co. will be taking part in “Darkest Night” where the GL’s will confront the Black Lanterns. Rumor has it that a major ‘dead’ super-hero will return to lead this second group. I’ll have to look fast to see if the fanboys are right on this.

Finally, we have a few pages of Batman and The Joker talking, as the Clown Prince of Crime plays solitaire. Broad hints are dropped, but since I don’t read the current Batman titles I’m totally clueless. This it meant to tease BATMAN R.I.P., which some fans seem to have high hopes for but I’ll probably wait to read in trade. The most positive thing I can say about this book was that it only cost fifty cents.

I don’t appear to still have them in my collection, but I have fond memories of the DC published Tangent Comics in ‘98. The concept, similar to what Stan Lee did years later in his JUST IMAGINE titles, was to have various creative teams come up with different characters that had the names of some of DC’s well-known characters. Naturally, you had a SUPERMAN, BATMAN, FLASH, GREEN LANTERN among them, as well as various individuals and groups that shared only a name with the DC stars. The books were collected in three trade paperbacks a couple of years ago and you can still find them.

The twelve-issue series, TANGENT: SUPERMAN’S REIGN brings back those characters and merges their universe with the current DCU. We discover that the Tangent Universe characters inhabit Earth-9 in current continuity. The mystic lantern carried by that world’s Green Lantern was brought to Earth-1 (showing up in 52 and other places) and is now held by the Justice League in their headquarters. The Tangent Flash has come here to retrieve it and to hopefully find her way home. Aided by Wally West and John Stewart of the JL she does return and the Leaguers discover that the Superman of this Earth has made himself absolute authority on everything, and is utterly ruthless in maintaining the stability of the world he rules.

Dan Jurgens does as nice job with the Tangent characters, making them totally different from their namesakes. He also gives the new readers enough information about the Tangent world so that you are not lost. From the second issue on his co-writer is Ron Marz, who isn’t one of my faves so I hope that it is Dan who remains the driving force. The first issue features artwork by Matt Clark and several others, while Jamal Igle does pencils on the second, with inks by Robin Riggs. I much preferred the artwork on the later issue and I’m glad to see that Igle & Riggs will be returning down the line. I’m recommending this series from what I have seen so far.

More reviews tomorrow on some Marvel tie-ins to SECRET INVASION.

FYI

I have moved some links around and added one over on the Right.

The latest is the Crime Library, from the good folks over at TruTV. Has lots of articles, photos and links to True Crime pages. If you are into that sort of thing, as I am, you might want to check it out.

I've moved the Free Comic Book Day link down, since it is over and placed one for the San Diego ComiCon at the top. I've changed my plans for that one a bit, but more on that as it gets closer. I'm still attending for the weekend, but may be staying at a friend's apartment, along with an acquaintance from Brooklyn.

I'm going to try and have some comic reviews up later today, for those who care about such things. :-)

Free Comic Book Day, Comics and Norbert!

For the second year in a row I’m working on Free Comic Book Day. As I told Kenny, over at Nuclear Comics & Skateshop, I think somebody in Library administration isn’t a comic fan. By the way, if you are reading this and not going out to your local shop to show support, shame on you!!

I stopped by Nuclear yesterday to pick up my regular pulls, but will be going back tomorrow for a bit to take advantage of Kenny’s annual sale. He’s promised to try and set a few FCBD items aside for me, so I might still get some freebies. I also want to pick up some TPBs and back issues, which are going for 20-50% off. Be nice to fill in some gaps from the few years I was not collecting and to catch up on a title or two. I’m sure I can find something or other in the $1.00 boxes he is going to have out.

When I have a chance I’ll have quick comments on the last issue of COUNTDOWN and DC UNIVERSE #0, which will lead into the next event. With SHADOWPACT coming to an end with #25 and all my other DC buys being mini-series, it looks like I’ll only be picking up JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA and BRAVE AND THE BOLD (depending on the new creative team) as regular series. I’ll see how I feel about FINAL CRISIS and its tie-ins this summer.

Having heard a good review from MadClan at CriticizeThis.net of New Avengers #12, I decided to take a chance, and features Nick Fury, one of my favorite characters from way back. I hear that Mighty Avengers #40 is also worth a glance so maybe tomorrow I’ll pick up some more Marvel books. Hey, if COUNTDOWN could draw me back to the DCU, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Skrulls get me back into the Marvel universe, now that zombies aren’t around anymore!

My old pal, Vinnie Bartilucci has been carrying around Norbert for years to various comic conventions. He would approach artists and ask for a sketch to which the usual response was which of their current or past characters did Vinnie want them to draw. I was with him a few times and it was always funny to see their reaction when Vin would pull Norbert from out of his knapsack and plop it down in front of them. “I want you to draw him!” Priceless!!

You can learn about Norbert and see the wonderful drawings done by some of the best and well-known artists in the industry. When your sketchbook contains the likes of Eric Shanower, Moebius and the late Dave Cockrum each doing their interpretation of the little guy you have something special. You can see for yourself by clicking on the link in the headline, but I’ll be adding it to my regular links over on The Right. Also, if you really want to see something head over to YouTube and check out an animated version of Rick Geary’s Norbert. An international conspiracy, indeed!

Remote Viewing: What's on?

Donna and I have started watching the Animal Planet 'reality' show, GROOMER HAS IT! Jai Rodriguez, formerly of 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' hosts the program which features a dozen professional dog groomers. Much like TOP CHEF the contestants compete in various ways to prove that they are the best groomer, with one of them kicked out of the 'dog house' each week. I can't compare it to some of those similar 'reality' shows over on Bravo, etc. but if I say a show may be 'too gay', am I being homophobic??

As I've said before, I love watching Fearnet On Demand on my day off or on those mornings when I go in late. Donna doesn' t like these type of films at all, but Kristina does. She keeps pushing me to watch the various SAW films, but I haven't had the chance. When SAW II entered the rotation for April I figured it was my chance, even though I haven't seen the initial installment yet.

Wow! Even having not seen SAW, I thought the second film was pretty good with a couple of squirm inducing traps. Unlike the first movie, where everything basically takes place in a single room, here the half dozen chosen are trapped in a house where Jigsaw has infected them with a virus which will kill them in two hours. He has also placed the antidote in several locations and the 'game' is for them to find it before their time runs out. Tobin Bell & Shawnee Smith from the first film both return. Possibly remembered by some as Linda from the TV series BECKER, Smith returns as 'Amanda', apparently caught again by Jigsaw in order to play a second time.

Smith also appeared in "Repo! The Genetic Opera", a short-film made in '06 to gather backing for a feature film which will be released later this year, but she doesn't seem to be in the cast for that one. However, Anthony Head (known for playing Rupert Giles in the BUFFY series) plays one of the leads, and has a quite nice voice as some may recall. I caught the trailer and it has all the earmarks of the next "Rocky Horror", whether that's good or bad!

F-CF: Ode to Kirihito by Osamu Tezuka

Considered in Japan the Godfather of manga, Osamu Tezuka presents a 800+ page tale of tragedy, manipulation and self-worth. Tezuka is probably best known in the U.S. for his creation, Tetsuwan Atomu (Little Atom) who became ASTRO BOY in the American version. You won't find any flying robots or the like in this graphic novel epic.

Dr. Kirihito Osanai is sent to a remote village to look into a little known disease but always fatal disease. Called Monmow, the disease effects the skeletal system and other organs gradually transforming the victim into a dog-like creature. Osanai's mentor, Dr. Tatsugaura believes the disease is contagious and, envious of Osanai sends him to the village to be purposefully exposed. The story follows Kirihito, his friends, fiance and others who either sympathize with or take advantage of the doctor's transformation.

Response to the 'novel' has been mixed with both positive and mildly critical reviews. Personally, I would easily give the book a Four Star rating.

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I'll probably remind you at least one more time, but next weekend is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY. Check the link over on the Right or do a quick Google search to find your local store and see if they are taking part.

Remote Viewing: All we have to fear is...Fearnet!

I would just like to make a quick recommendation to any of you can get Fearnet from your cable or satellite provider.

You might want to check out BURIED ALIVE (B.A.) and DEVIL’S TRADE (D.T.), two series which were originally presented as webisodes and are now available ‘on demand’. The first is still split into segments of about 15-20 minutes each, but the later has been edited into a 26 min. short.

B.A. is exactly what you might expect from the title. A group of twenty-somethings are captured by someone and locked into different cabinets, apparently buried underground. They are tormented by their captor and hints are dropped that they are being punished for some slight. We see each of them in scenes videotaped by someone earlier and eventually come to realize as they do who may be responsible. It’s the type of torture/porn familiar to fans of SAW/Hostel and similar films, though a bit less graphic than those films.

D.T. is more straightforward, a bit bloodier and I thought more successful, since it doesn’t take quite as long to get to the ‘twist’ ending. Somebody is selling a ‘cursed’ artifact called the Devil’s Tree online and evil things begin happening to those to purchase the item. A young woman attempts to change things when her brother becomes the new owner, but are her premonitions real or not? Caveat emptor, indeed!By the way, you can also see the BLOOD TRAILS prelude to 30 DAYS OF NIGHT at Fearnet, which I really recommend. You don’t have to view these to understand the film, but it does introduce some of the characters and concepts you’ll find in the theatrical release.

If you like this sort of thing, you can catch HALLOWEEN II & III and SAW II, as well as other goodies on Fearnet for the remainder of this month. One of my favorite channels and websites.

Four Color Fiend: A batch of DC comics

Let’s go through the batch of DC titles I picked up this week after the usual…

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COUNTDOWN #3 & 2 bring us to the penultimate issue of this series. We see Mary Marvel being “Daddy’s little girl” to Darkseid, gleefully beating and even trying to kill some of her former friends and teammates. The final outcome of this battle isn’t here, so I have to assume that it will be revealed in the final issue. I’m going to hazard a guess and say that MM will either lose her powers once again or be banished to some place from which she will inevitably escape. I don’t see anybody, except perhaps Billy Batson, having much sympathy left for her at this point and I think he’ll most probably show up in #1 to bring an end to her rampage.

In #3 we have Darkseid trying to remove the energy, stolen from the New Gods, which he had implanted in Jimmy Olsen. With the aid of Ray Palmer, Jimmy is able to break away from Darkseid’s control long enough to become “Giant Turtle Boy” Olsen and start beating on the Lord of Apokolypse. That’s where that issue ends and picks up in #2. From there we see the two battling in the best kaiju fashion as they destroy a good part of Metropolis. When it appears that Jimmy has been beaten the timely arrival of Orion, son of Darkseid, shifts things into high gear for the rest of the book. Sworn to kill his father, Orion finally makes good on what had been prophesized long ago. Since I willingly skipped the “Death of the New Gods” series, I’m probably in the dark about a few things, but the online reviews of that series seem to make it clear I did the right thing. DC, it appears, has done away with Jack Kirby’s Fourth World finally after decades of badly treating it anyway. We’ll have to wait and see what happens next week in #1 to know how all this is wrapped up. However, with his father and fellow gods all apparently gone it remains to be seen what a badly injured Orion can or will do now that his ‘mission’ in life has been completed.

BRAVE & THE BOLD #12 brings to an end the Megistus/Book of Destiny story arc. Dozens of heroes take part in the final battle with this arch villain, but his last words indicate that this was merely a prelude to FINAL CRISIS (at least that’s how I read it). The original Challengers of the Unknown aid the heroes and it is their newest member June who sacrifices herself to end things. However, allowed to read Destiny’s book a final time the Challengers realize that June has been erased from it, indicating that like them she has cheated death, so they go off to find her. Mark Waid & Jerry Ordway did a wonderful job on this series, assisted by several other folks and I’m looking forward to seeing what else is ahead for this title. It has a nice, old-time feel to the book and I hope that sales are good enough to keep it around.

We have one more issue of SALVATION RUN to go, as #6 ends with the appearance of the Parademons from Apokolypse. Since we already know, from COUNTDOWN and other books that the Fourth World is all but gone, it almost seems anti-climatic to have this series running at the same time. Of course, as I’ve said before, it isn’t clear when all this took place as we see some of the characters appearing in this series showing up in others. It’s the Martian Manhunter who is getting the worse of things here, and I’m going to hazard a guess that Heat Wave will get his just deserts in the next & last issue. This entire series hasn’t been great but there have been moments of dialogue and character narration that have kept me interested enough to keep picking up each issue. It would be interesting to see writer Matthew Sturges return to some of the rogues and other DCU villains. Of course, it would have been interesting to see if original scripter Bill Willingham would have gone in the same direction with the characters.

The inevitable confrontation between The Joker and Luthor takes place, with the insane clown having the best lines naturally. Despite his overuse the character continues to be one of the most intriguing villains in any of the DC titles. In my opinion, Luthor has never risen beyond simple megalomania and certainly not been interesting, except in a few stories from the early John Byrne issues of the Superman reboot. He’s Donald Trump, if Trump sometimes used a gun!

I’m not expecting much in the final issue of this book. It will end with all the remaining villains returning to Earth, even angrier and bent on revenge. In other words, except for killing off a half dozen (so far) second and third string villains the series hasn’t done anything for continuity. I feel taken, but I guess I have only myself to blame.

In JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #14, Geoff Johns and Alex Ross continue the “Thy Kingdom Come” arc, with most of the team battling Magog. The Superman from the Kingdom Come Earth comes face to face with Magog and doesn’t do much better here than he did on his home world. The final panel reveals the appearance of Alan Scott (the original Green Lantern) and his son Obsidian, who warn Magog that he must face them. A blurb on that last page states “Somebody will get beat real bad” in the next issue, so we have to wait a month to find out who that might be. As with COUNTDOWN, and the fate of MM, I’m going to make a prediction. Here it will come down to the KC Superman being the one to sacrifice himself. While he may die in doing so, I think it is likely that he and Magog will be sent back off world to settle things. I’m in agreement with MadClan, from CriticizeThis.com and other reviewers, in believing that DC made a mistake in this series. KC was such a wonderful book that I think messing with it doesn’t help, in fact bringing both the Gog/Magog characters and KC Superman to the DCU only confuses things. As this appears to be taking place simultaneously with the events in COUNTDOWN it only makes matters worse. It is like there are too many things to keep track of and most may or may not be resolved in the upcoming company-wide event. The ending of Brave & the Bold does a bit of the same thing, as it leaves a few things unanswered.

Fortunately, BAT LASH #5 doesn’t tie into the current DCU at all, for which we can be very thankful. Co-creator Sergio Aragones and Peter Brandvold have written a classic tale of injustice and revenge, the added treat of having the book drawn by the great John Severin only makes things better. Truth be told I don’t know why DC editorial went with Walt Simonson as the cover artist on this series. Don’t get me wrong! I like Simonson’s work, but I think a series like this really needed a classic artist in the league of Severin to do the covers. Hell, I think Severin would have done a perfect job, but there are a number of contemporary and Silver Age creators, known for work on westerns that could have made the covers as good as the interiors. I’m just saying!

This issue ends with Bat kissing his beloved, Dominique goodbye as he goes off to follow ex-sheriff Brubaker. We see here that Dominique’s father meets his end at his daughter’s hands, but I don’t think that things will end well for the couple. There has been way too much Romeo & Juliet stuff going on already for this to have a happy ending. Unless I am misremembering the initial Bat Lash series, Bat had no one back home waiting for his return. With the rest of his family already killed, it doesn’t seem likely that he would simply ride away from the woman for whom he has sacrificed so much.

I have a half dozen other books and a TPB to get to this weekend. I’ll let you know what I thought about each next week!

Charles Starrett: One Fan's Journey

As usual around here, I was surprised to find a reply to a review I posted a while ago. This happened to be about the Durango Kid. If you click on the link in the headline you'll see that he has posted reviews of eight DK movies, some of which I haven't seen since I was a kid.

DK was played by action star Charles Starrett in a series of literally dozens of films from 1940 until 1953.

Between his first film role in 1935 until his retirement, at the end of the DK series, Starrett appeared in well over 100+ movies. Depending on the various sites it ranged from 115 to over 160 films, mostly action/westerns during his career. I have to assume that some of the writers count his early non-starring roles, while others only those in which Starretts name appears in top of the credits. Either way it is an amazing run for any actor.

If you're at all interested you'll find more about Starrett and DK at IMDB.com, CowboyPals and AC Comics (where publisher Bill Black has issued reprints of some of the DK stories from Magazine Entertainment).

Why would I want one?

Dave Kellet and the SHELDON crew pretty much sum up my feelings about this new device from Amazon. I've flirted with the idea of ebooks and some of the readers, but I just can't bring myself to spend the money. Hell, I haven't even broke down and gotten a Ipod!

Anonymous posts!

Personally, I try to sign every post I make on other websites or blogs. If I don't actually use my name, the screen name I use will usually link to my e-mail and isn't meant to disguise who I am. SChaput, Sachaput or Stevec50 are pretty easy to figure out!

If you want to reply anonymously please send me an e-mail, with your real name, and let me know before hand or immediately after you post at either of my blogs. If you have a good reason not to reveal who you are I am willing to hear you out. I make it a rule to delete posts that are spam or not signed.

I want to apologize to folks who may have come upon Spam or other links embedded in replies to my blogs. I try to get rid of them as soon as I become aware that they are here.

For what it's worth, while I am not a long-time friend of Mark Evanier, I am a fan and we have met on occasion. I'd rather my blog not be used to defame or take slaps at him behind his back.

Four Color Fiend: Death Valley, a review

Death Valley, Vol. 1 – Story by Andrew Cosby, Written by Johanna Stokes, Art by Rhoald Marcellus; Boom Studios

We just got some new graphic novels and TPBs for our collection at the library and I wanted to do a quick review of some over the next week or so. We’ll start with one that I had not heard of before but the premise got to me.

You can’t go wrong with zombies! Well, maybe if they get too close or they take a bite out of you, but other than that….

Anyway, I’ve been a zombie fan since before it was popular. Heck, even before George Romero made them ‘cool’ you could see them showing up in movies like WHITE ZOMBIE and the like. I think we went through all this before when talking about MARVEL ZOMBIES 2, so let’s get to the review.

DEATH VALLEY (DV, from now on) contains the two issues of that title, plus some short stories. DV is typical of the zombie genre as we usually see it in movies and comics. Teenagers somehow end up the only survivors after some mysterious event causes folks to either turn into zombies, or those who have died return as zombies. Either way you can be sure that there will be pop references, and the teens will represent different types who generally would not be caught dead (pardon the expression) hanging out with each other.

DV actually takes place in that area of California, where a group of teenagers is accidentally caught in the old bomb shelter of their high school. While they are there, some type of solar flare or energy burst occurs transforming all those who have been exposed to transform into flesh eating zombies. Here it even seems to have affected mammals, so we get to see zombie, dogs and bunnies along with the usual former classmates or friends who decide you would be tasty.

The art by Rhoald Marcellus has an American manga style, with a touch of cartoonish, but it offsets the sometimes-brutal story. There is some gore, but not as much as you might expect in this kind of comic. I’m not familiar with Johanna Stokes, but thought she did a nice job capturing the personalities of the different teens. This book will go well in the Young Adult section where it will be shelved.

This volume also contains three short tales written by Stokes, but with art by Keith Giffen, J.K. Woodward and Cynthia Martin. They also contain stories about survivors of the ‘event’ but are very different in tone. Highly recommended!

Four Color Fiends: A couple of dozen heroes

The Twelve #4 – Things seem to be getting darker for the returned heroes as they try to find a place for themselves in the current era. We know that the Black Widow has been responsible for the gruesome murder of a financier and the Laughing Mask may be hiding something. LM is requested to turn over his guns, which he used to stop a robbery, but there are hints that they may be clues to something else. We learn the ‘origin’ of Rockman, but are left wondering if it is true or not. I’m sure we’ll learn one way or the other by the time the series wraps up. Dynamic Man seems to believe that he is the only one of the group being realistic about what has happened, but you have to wonder if a comment by journalist Richard Jones (The Masked Reporter) may have hit a nerve. We know from a flash-forward that at least one of the Twelve will meet a tragic end, but there are still lots of mysteries left. Folks on line are wondering if any of the well-known Marvel characters will make an appearance, but while I would not be shocked, I rather doubt we’ll see Spidey or some body like that showing up.

Project Superpowers #0 & 2 – Nuclear Comics had a copy of the first issue (#0) available, so I picked it up, hoping it might make some things clear. As much as I’m enjoying the series so far, I do hate it when you have a ‘first’ issue that isn’t actually the beginning of the story. If you do, you should at least be fair and do some type of recap in the first regular issue for new readers.

We learn in #0 that the Fighting Yank is responsible for the disappearance of almost every other costumed hero after the end of WWII. The American government (or what we assume at this point is a representative of the government) tells FY that they have discovered the receptacle (here an ancient urn, in this case, rather than the legendary box) that Pandora opened to release all the evils. FY is told that only by imprisoning his fellow crime-fighters in the urn can he hope to capture and contain the evils once again. While he believed that he was doing this to save the world from evil, it becomes apparent that things didn’t work out the way he hoped. The Yank now has to face (pardon the expression) not only some angry former friends, but also a very, nasty Dynamic Man & family who have created a world they do not care to lose.

It is kind of cool seeing so many of these forgotten heroes and I’m curious to see what is in store.

While some of the heroes retain their better-known names, a few had to appear under different ones. The original Dare-devil is now simply The Devil, while an obvious Dan Garret looking Blue Beetle is called The Scarab. I’m rather curious why Ross & Co. made his WWII costume such a recognizable one knowing they couldn’t use him under that name. I can’t wait to see The Owl and a few others in action. The character Samson, according to Wikipedia, is not the Biblical strongman, but rather a descendant. I’m sure there is a lot of back-story to explain his current whereabouts and condition.

I don’t know how either of these series is going to end, but I recommend them both.

Four Color Fiend: How SECRET is this INVASION, anyway?

Even though I wasn’t crazy about the book SECRET INVASION SAGA, I was curious enough about the Marvel event to pick up the first issue. I finished it and am completely confused, but it’s not the first time. I felt pretty much the same way when I began reading the DCU books with COUNTDOWN. Who are these guys and what are they doing? I guess I should give thanks that at least in SI, the Marvel editors have the name of the character appear over/near/under them the first time they make an appearance. Clumsy, but at least it helps a bit.

Actually, given that it has been years since I last was reading any Marvel titles I was surprised by how many characters I recognized. At least the costumes are familiar, even if the person under the mask and their personalities may be far different from the ones I knew back in the mid-90s.

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COUNTDOWN could be confusing since identical heroes or villains from one Earth would suddenly pop up on another. Sometimes this was by accident and at other times, there was a hidden agenda to their appearance. In SI, it is certain that the Skrulls have been purposely hiding for quite a while. The big question is not so much why, but who has already been replaced.

Tony Isabella always reminds us that the old writers used to write as if the reader had never picked up a book before. The story may contain characters with which we were not familiar, but the writer would give us enough information so we didn’t feel completely lost. That is not how comics are written nowadays, unless of course it is the first issue and meant to introduce the cast. It’s the same with SI as it was with COUNTDOWN. If you aren’t already familiar with the comic universe you won’t have much explained and you really aren’t welcome.

SI begins on the day the Skrulls decide to publicly stage their invasion. While a Skull ship spotted landing in the Savage Land (where?), explosions take place at The Raft and The Cube, which are maximum-security installations. (for whom?) Apparently there are at least two groups who call themselves the Avengers, one of them hiding for some reason. Since the Avengers led by Tony Stark are not hiding out they must be the good guys, right? Of course, I always thought Spider-Man was a good guy, but I haven’t been reading Marvel for a while so maybe the movies mislead me.

The book has some characters revealed to be Skrulls and quoting the phrase “He loves you,” as they blow things up, start computer viruses and shoot people. I would guess they are evangelical Christians, but I could be wrong.

Brian Michael Bendis is a popular writer and I’ve liked some of his non-superhero & super-hero stuff. He does a decent job of moving the action and plot along, but as I’ve said if you aren’t already familiar with Marvel continuity since CIVIL WAR, at least, you won’t have a clue. Wikipedia was some help, even if you can’t trust everything over there. It’s good enough for comics stuff! Artist Leinil Yu and inker Mark Morales are okay, even if the character faces are sometimes inconsistent from page to page. The coloring makes it hard to figure out some scenes,

Issue #1 has two ‘shock’ endings. One is the appearance, from the crashed Skrull ship, of a dozen Marvel heroes, who appear as they did years before (think original Secret Wars maybe) and at least one of who is currently dead. The other is when Reed Richards is shot or semi-melted somewhat really, by another character I think I’m supposed to know. Naturally, this person is revealed to be a Skrull in the final panel.

I’m curious enough to perhaps pick up the second issue, but I’m not going to add the title to my pull list. I expect they’ll be enough copies left when I head to the shop next time. If not, I cannot say I’d be disappointed.

Four Color Fiend: I didn't COUNT(DOWN) on this!

One of the reviewers on line gave away the ending to COUNTDOWN #5, which ticked me a bit. Still the two issues had other things going for them, so with the usual…

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By the end of COUNTDOWN #5, all the super-heroes on Earth have been killed and the Morticoccus virus has transformed almost all-surviving human and mammal life. Humans have become murderous and animalistic, even to the point of taking on non-human characteristics. Mammals, at least ones we see, have become more intelligent, able to walk erect and use weapons. When they are not attacking each other, they seem set on killing all those who have not been affected by the plague. Governments of many countries, at least those still run by individuals unchanged by the plague, use the virus and resulting chaos as an excuse (as if they needed one) to go to war with those they blame. It’s unclear who first goes with the nuclear option, but once one does the others follow suit. Those people, who haven’t already been killed or changed by the plague, are now caught in the destruction caused by these weapons. So ends another Earth among the 52.

The final days of this world are told via the journal of Buddy Blank, who with former Legion of Super-heroes member Una, escapes Project Cadmus to seek his surviving family. It is through his eyes we witness the changes and deaths of so many, including that of Una. If her death by transformed rats is not THE most disturbing thing I’ve seen recently in comics I don’t know what else comes close. What we don’t see in graphic detail, which includes her being dragged down by dozens of these creatures as they tear her flesh, we are told by Buddy. I’m not even going to repeat it as it is just too creepy and caused me to put down the book for a time. Heroic it may have been, but I don’t know that I needed to be given the details.

As things begin going down hill fast, Buddy & Una find his daughter and grandson, but it is already to late for the mother as she has turned bestial. In her final moments, fighting both the rat creatures and the transformed woman, Una throws Buddy her Legion flight ring (conveniently forgotten for the most part). He uses this to escape with his grandson to one of the remaining abandoned Project Cadmus sites, Command D. Ahem…we see this coming at this point, of course. Buddy witnesses the final nuclear destruction, and the brief appearance of the ‘Challengers’, Jimmy Olsen and others before they Boom off world. With communication shut down it remains for Buddy to live out his remaining years with his grandson, “the last boy on Earth.” Yeah! That’s what the reviewer gave away, but it was obvious from several pages prior what was going to happen.

The next issue (#4) is a bit lighter, (if only because we don’t see a woman being eaten alive by rats) with the ‘Challengers’, Ray Palmer, Holly & Harley, Jimmy and the rest appearing on yet another Earth. Again, this may or may not be the world from which most of these folks came from but it hasn’t gone to Hell yet so they decide to take their chances. We have Jason Todd once again revealing how much of a jerk he can be and showing that DC can have a character yelling, “Screw you!” at another character, if only to demonstrate how adult we all are. Sometimes I almost miss the Code, I don’t know about you?

Mary Batson/Marvel has several panels of being a decent person again, before giving into the temptation that Darkseid presents to her. Thus demonstrating that she deserves whatever final fate is in store for her, and that any last moment ‘heroic’ sacrifice she might display in the last three issues will only be bad writing which makes the bad writing in this issue not look so bad in comparison. If you know what I mean?

The rest of the issue has Ray Palmer disappearing again; Jason going off with Holly & Harley to Gotham, after admitting to petty theft and a pointless fight between the remaining good guys and a transformed again ‘dark’ Mary Marvel. Naturally, everybody has to stand about bickering to give DMM time to swoop in and carry off Jimmy Olsen. The issue ends with Forager (an insectoid-female who has the hots for Jimmy in a creepy way we shouldn’t think about) vowing to track down Darkseid and DMM to rescue the Olsenbug. Do we really need another three issues? Apparently so.

I’m sure I’ve missed something, but with Monarch MIA along with Superman-Prime, Darkseid and the Monitor, now known as Solomon, seem to be directing the action. It remains to be seen what will happen, but I expect things to go back and forth at least a couple more times.

The Lord Havok and Countdown to Adventure spin-offs have both wrapped up.

In his title it is revealed LordHavok 'stole' some of Monarch's power and is now looking to move on to other worlds, now that he knows other Earths exist. Can't tell if he'll be back in the next event or be held until another writer needs a convenient villain. By the way, his backstory does make him, if not sympathetic, less one-dimensional than he as seemed prior to this series.

In CtA, Adam Strange is back on Rann and the 'official' protector once more. Buddy Baker (Animal Man) is reunited with his family and Starfire has gone off to be with the Titans once more. The title ends with Lady Styx vowing to spread her 'faith' to more worlds, so I don't think this has been put to rest at all, unfortunately.

Finally, I'm sure you'll be thrilled to know that Forerunner, the multiple murderer and rapist, gets her own world where all living creatues share her DNA. She, unlike all those she killed, gets to live happily ever after. Thanks, DC!

New links to stuff!

Over on The Right I've added links to both VARIANT EDITION and CRITICIZE THIS.

I discovered both over on YouTube among the videos related to comics. In Criticize This you can find Michael Goldberg reviewing comics and other folks reviewing everything from games to movies. I've been enjoying Mike for a couple of weeks now and wanted to introduce him to you folks.

Variant Edition is done by five or six guys (depending on that particular week) who work in a comic shop and talk about what is coming out that week as well as what they think about it. Just a bunch of fan boys who really remind me of hundreds of like minded guys I have hung with at cons and shops. It is just fun and they never take themselves seriously, which makes them much better then most of the folks you'll find over on YouTube to begin with. They did a really good review of the NEW FRONTIER DVD which you should check out (both the DVD and the review).

Enjoy!

Opening Day jitters!

Man, can it actually be opening day for the 2008 MLB season?

Caught a bit of the festivities yesterday on ESPN at National Stadium and had the television on today before I went to work. Great watching BASEBALL TONIGHT and yesterday's highlights over and over! As Donna says, at least there will be something to watch from now through October. :-)

Between ESPN and the various other stations we get we should be able to catch a game most nights and on weekends. While it won't always be either the New York Mets (her team) or the Boston Red Sox (my team) we're happy watching just about any two teams out on the field. Usually we can also depend on being able to root against the Damned Yankees or the Annoying Braves a couple times a week, which is always fun.

I see some folks predicting already and a few thinking this might be the Detroit Tigers' year. Worse things have happened and I don't have anything against the team. It's not hard to guess who Donna and I will be cheering for and it will only get ugly (as folks know) if both teams end up in the Series in October.

Had to laugh at the NYY getting rained out on their last opening day in Yankee Stadium. Just about every broadcaster made some comment about it being an omen or something like that. I think Steinbrenner blamed Joe Torre for the delay and is considering asking him back to New York so he can fire him directly. Me, I'm curious to see how both Torre and the Damned Yankees do their first season apart.

I've got to get my Boston cap out of the drawer, dust it off and keep it handy.

So, who you folks cheering on this year?

Four Color Fiend: Lots of Super-heroes & villains

While it is usually the superhero that gets her or his name in the title of the book, it really is the villain that tends to drive the action. Generally the ‘bad guy/gal’ are also more interesting, at least on the surface. A couple of titles feature some interesting super types of the later group.

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SALVATION RUN #5 begins with an attempt by the group led by The Joker to break into Luthor’s settlement and capture supplies. Luthor isn’t very happy, but is more concerned with the device he hopes will return the villains to Earth. Meanwhile, Vandal Savage reveals his plans for a ‘paradise’ on the planet while he waits for a chance to leave. When he tells Lady Flash about his plan she doesn’t seem especially happy, and the scene ends with what may be an off-camera rape. We will have to wait and see where this picks up next issue. The scene goes back to the seeming standoff at the settlement, where we find a not very selfless Cat Woman (who was found lurking by some villainous I don’t know) revealing the disguised Martian Manhunter. The issue ends with Desade (wasn’t he just killed over in another title?) about to release a hoard of Darkseid’s para-demons onto the planet, which appears to have been his intent from the beginning.

Writer by Matthew Sturges does his best with a huge cast, but I had to go to Wikipedia still to figure out who some of the background characters were. It would be interesting to know what original writer Bill Willingham had in store for the book. Artists Sean Chen and Walden Wong do a nice job making all the villains instantly recognizable, even if I don’t know exactly whom they are. I especially appreciate their not doing a lot of T&A posing with many of the female villains, something I have had a problem with in some of the COUNTDOWN issues.

As I’ve mentioned before unlike the Lord Havok mini that reminds us each issue that the story took place at the midway point of COUNTDOWN, it is unclear when exactly SR takes place. I’m going to guess that SR also happens prior to events in the regular DCU books as Luthor and others appear to be taking part in several titles, even as they battle each other here. My biggest disappointment with the series, as I’ve mentioned before, is that both Lex and The Joker will apparently survive.

PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #1 from Dynamite Entertainment (DE) is actually the second issue of a new series, created by Alex Ross. As with most other titles with which the award winning artist/writer has been involved with you can count on the art (even when not done by Ross himself) to be fantastic. We get covers in this series by Alex Ross, with interior art by Doug Klauba and Stephen Sadowski. As art director, Ross picked artists who do their very best to live up to his expectations.

Dynamite has acquired the copyright for dozens of Golden Age heroes that have all but disappeared. In some cases (such as the Black Terror, The Owl and a couple others), they have been used since by various publishers during the Silver Age and later, but never achieved enough success to stick around. The Black Terror (called simply The Terror in some cases) has shown up in such places as Eclipse, AC Comics and Alan Moore’s ABC Comics among others. On the other hand, The Owl was last seen in two campy issues from Gold Key (drawn by longtime LONE RANGER and western title artist, Tom Gill) along with his side-kick Owl Girl in 1966, obviously inspired by the then current BATMAN television show.

In PS, an aging hero, Bruce Carter III (aka The Fighting Yank) is urged by the ghost of one of his ancestors and the flag-draped American Spirit to seek an urn containing the spirits of some of his old comrades. Apparently, having betrayed his one time friends FY must seek to bring them back to battle a menace, and to finally meet his own lethal fate. Along the way he must find another former teammate the Green Lama, who now resides in a hidden city in the mountains of Asia. Despite a short ‘what has gone before’ note on the inside cover, I really think I need to pick up the ‘zero’ issue of the series to understand some of the back-story. I think in this case it might have been a good idea to actually start over with the first issue, since that is where many fans will be picking up book.

While we see most of the action from the viewpoint of Carter & Co. it is the apparently former hero Dynamic Man and his ‘family’ who have a number of secrets (one seemingly revealed in this issue) causing Carter to release those he betrayed. DM appears to see him/itself in a messianic manner that could explain events. I’ll obviously have to wait and see.

Sketches in the issue show about a dozen different Golden Age characters, only a few of which have made their appearance in this issue. Another reason to look for #0 to see who may have shown up there. It will be fun to see what Ross & Company have in store in this first seven-issue arc and where the characters may go once they have been revived. That is if they survive their first mission.

So, what else is on?

Just a few quick comments about what Donna and I have been watching or looking forward to.

JERICHO had it's final episode broadcast this past Tuesday and I'm sorry to see it go. Robert & Jake have made it to the independent republic of Texas, with the last nuclear device. We won't know the final outcome, but certainly would love to see one of the cable channels (SCI-FI, FX, etc.) pick up the show.

LOST is on tonight and we are hoping to find out what happened to Walt. I seem to recall him appearing to one of the primary characters last season, but can't recall to whom. I was sorry to see a couple more cast members killed, and it appears that a few more will not be finding their way off the island. Of course, the show is contracted to last at least two more short-seasons after this, so we should get ready for more flash-forwards & flashbacks as things move along. Anybody else hoping that nobody from the 'rescue team' make if off? Except, maybe Faraday who seems like a nice guy despite some of his actions.

Still trying to figure out who to really dislike in the fourth season of TOP CHEF. I'm not a fan of Dale, Spike or Andrew, with Andrew's attitude last night really making me want to see him tossed. Why antagonize the judges? I also don't think I can take more of Zoi whining! This show is so much better than FOOD NETWORKS similar "Who Wants to be the Next Food Network Star?"

Four Color Fiend: Have we lost Count(down)?

Things appear to be getting worse rather than better in the DCU, at least in the main COUNTDOWN book. I’m guessing we’ll see a few things get even worse in the final five issues leading up to FINAL CRISIS this summer.

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The group we’ve been calling the “Challengers” have arrived on Earth from Apokolyps. They split up, but soon discover that either they are on the wrong Earth or that memory of their existence has been removed. I’m going to assume that this may be an alternate world, as J’onn J’onzz (Martian Manhunter) appears in his previous non-Skrull look, and minus the leather outfit he now wears. Of course, I have noticed other inconsistencies in COUNTDOWN (even between issues) so I don’t really know if the editorial staff lets the artists in on everything. Needless to say, when part of the group shows up at JLA headquarters (which resembles the Hall of Justice from SUPER-FRIENDS, so I know I’m out of touch) looking for aid they are not greeted warmly by the heroes present. SUPERMAN, of all people, seems the biggest butthead by not really giving the visitors much of a chance to explain before attacking them.

Seeking a cure for the possibly fatal wounds of Karate Kid, and for the deadly virus he also carries the entire group (now including Jimmy Olsen, Harley & Holly, Forager and others) decide to contact the Project Cadmus scientists. They arrive there only to be greeted just as warmly as by the Justice League, but are able to explain the situation to Dubbilex. Unfortunately, by this point Karate Kid has died from his wounds, leaving the former Triplicate Girl (now called Una) devastated. When an autopsy is attempted, the virus he contains (called Morticoccus) escapes the enclosure and begins effecting both humans and animals alike. Having been in the body of a 31st century individual the virus has mutated to become immune to anything available in 21st century medicine. Hoping to find a cure somewhere off-planet Green Lantern takes off, but unknowingly carries the virus with him to infect alien worlds.

Most of the action sequences in issues #7 & 6, involve battles between the Challengers and the ‘heroes’ of this world, plus attempts to contain the virus that takes monstrous form when initially released from KK’s body. We get a lot of discussion of the disease and learn a bit more about some of the characters, much of that from via the journal of this world’s Buddy Blank, who appears to be a minor Cadmus functionary and not the former OMAC. He and the grieving Una escape from the Project to seek Buddy’s family, in the hope they have so far survived the plague.
Lots of things are coming together and I expect that we’ll soon witness the introduction of Libra, who is the announced main villain in the upcoming FINAL CRISIS. What, if anything, he has to do with the plague, Darkseid’s plans and the Monitor/Monarch confrontations remain to be seen. In fact, none of those main nasties from this series show up at all in these two issues. There is a lot to be wrapped up in the next five weeks. Then again this Libra may not appear at all, until the first issue of FC, or he has already shown up in a DCU book I'm not reading. It all makes my head hurt, much like time travel!

More comics stuff over the next week as I go over my latest haul. :-)

RIP: Arthur C. Clarke

I was saddened to learn of the passing of SF great, Arthur C. Clarke. Probably best known, by non-fans, for the short story The Sentinel," written in 1948, that formed the basis of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. The director worked with Clarke on the movie treatment and the author went on to expand the original work into a novel. The success of that film moved Clarke to write several sequels, with 2010, also being made into a movie.

When I began reading novels as a teenager, Clarke's work and that of his contemporary Robert Heinlein became my introduction to science fiction. For a decade I read just about every book I could get my hands on written by either.

I expect that there will be a lot of obits appearing over the next few days, by fans such as myself and by Clarke's friends & fellow writers. I can't hope to match what they will have to say about the man. (The link in the headline will take you to the Associated Press obit.)

My condolences to his family, friends and millions of fans touched by his works.

Watching The Durango Kid

I was doing the usual channel surfing this past weekend and happened on a couple of westerns that I haven’t seen in a long time. One of the nice things about being a fan of such things is that I can tune into just about any western at any given point and enjoy it almost as if I had been watching it from the beginning. I think part of that is that is sometimes seems as if I have seen about three quarters of whatever happens to be showing and the other is the predictability of so many of the old westerns.

It really is as if there were only about a half dozen plots available, and you just made small changes and then inserted the ‘hero’ to right things. I’m sure somebody has already done this, but I’m often tempted to create a ‘western’ worksheet or guideline that would enable any director to turn out a successful ‘B’ western. (For example: 1) Hero – masked or unmasked? 2) Sidekick – cranky old-timer or chubby comic relief; 3) Villain – obvious outlaw or double-crossing ‘good citizen’)

The movie I caught on Saturday really did fit into this pattern, and of course I loved every minute. AMC presented a few ‘Durango Kid’ films, starring Charles Starrett as the masked hero. Not as well known to modern western fans as the Lone Ranger, DK did have a following in films and naturally in western comics. Starrett had appeared in dozens of other westerns before first donning the black scarf and outfit that would make him a favorite of moviegoers for over a decade. Like Clayton Moore and William Boyd, Starrett became so identified with his character that it was difficult for him to appear in other roles. He retired from acting at the age of 48, shortly after the DK series ended, having invested wisely and becoming wealthy enough to move on.

The first film, which I caught at the mid-point, was the very first film; simply called “The Durango Kid” starred Starrett as the hero, and wasn’t actually intended to become a series at all. This was made in 1940, but it wasn’t until four years later that Columbia decided to bring the character back in “The Return of the Durango Kid” (the second film shown by AMC this weekend) with the idea of a continuing series featuring their most popular western star. Oddly, while the DK outfit remained the same and Starrett was essentially the same character his unmasked identity changed in every movie. After the first few his first name became “Steve” no matter what his surname. While Starrett himself never sang, most of the DK movies featured the Sons of the Pioneers or other western groups as DK’s assistants, along with his designated sidekick.

You may find it interesting to discover that after the first eight DK movies, that featured Dub Taylor as his companion, Gene Autry’s old buddy (rumored to be tempted by higher salary) Smiley Burnette signed on to ride with Starrett. There’s just no loyalty in the Old West it seems.

When I have time I’ll talk about the much darker, “A Time For Killing” with Glenn Ford, George Hamilton (yes, THAT George Hamilton!) and a few surprises.

Four Color Fiend: Marvel's Secret Invasion Saga

(If you don’t care at all about this, you are welcome to skip this entire post. I promise not to be offended.)

SECRET INVASION SAGA (SIS) does little but set up the up coming eight-issue ‘event’ in various Marvel titles, so I’m not going to toss in the usual Spoiler warnings. If you’ve read any of the promotional stuff Marvel has put out or been reading comics related websites & blogs you already know anything I’m going to reveal. The one-shot covers the history of the Skull race interaction with Marvel heroes since their introduction in FANTASTIC FOUR #2 through recent events.

As I have said before I stopped reading most Marvel comics probably about four years ago. There was a two-year gap where I didn’t read any comics at all; except for the occasional TPB from the library, and when I began buying & reading comics again, I started with DC’s COUNTDOWN titles. Right now I have probably have forgotten more about the DCU than I ever knew about the Marvel Universe when I was reading those books. What I do recall is mostly from the 60s & 70s, so my knowledge of the last couple of decades is sketchy and second to third hand.

I don’t think I started picking up FANTASTIC FOUR until the third or fourth issue, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN was my initial introduction to the Marvel titles, and so my first look at the Skrulls was probably in an annual that reprinted that initial story. The idea of a shape-shifting race had been used for years in comics, and even Marvel/Atlas had used that concept in their old fantasy/suspense titles before returning to super-hero books as their bread & butter. Considering that Stan Lee & Jack Kirby ended the threat of a Skrull invasion by having the aliens turn themselves into contented cows I doubt they thought they would be going back to the concept very soon. It was the introduction of the Super-Skrull a few years later that brought that race back and set them up as an on-going threat.

Over the past four + decades the Skrulls, individually and as a race, have shown up as a menace to just about every Marvel hero or group. Whether traveling to Earth to seek out the heroes, or happening upon them in deep space the Skrull/Earth history has been a troubling one. When writer Roy Thomas used them in the Skrull/Kree war he expanded on the history of the race, making them a true cosmic threat, known for their brutal ways. Given their natural ability to turn into a duplicate of anyone or anything it was no surprise that the Skrull race was viewed with justified suspicion.

The premise of SIS is that Skrulls have been impersonating a number of heroes and villains for an uncertain period. When one of these impersonators is killed, reverting to true form at the end, Tony Stark and others begin to wonder if there are more Skrulls in hiding. As CIVIL WAR showed everyone, Stark doesn’t trust anybody (rightly or wrongly, he’s the Bruce Wayne of the Marvel Universe) so he begins secretly gathering information on what is known of the Skrulls in hopes that he can figure out what they may be up to now.

The book is written by John Rhett Thomas with apparently a half-dozen editors listed looking over his shoulder. Maybe one of them should have pointed out how ham-fisted his dialogue was and had him come up with a different concept for the book. Since I can’t write dialogue to save myself (the reason I haven’t attempted to write fiction in close to thirty years) I’m probably the last one who should say anything, but I’d like to think that after reading comics for almost fifty years I can tell the difference between good and bad exposition. This sucks major!

As bad as the dialogue is on the first page, between Stark and S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill, the rest of the book is supposed to be Stark’s internal monologue.

“Even Wolverine’s acute senses couldn’t sniff this out, nor Doctor Strange’s magicks”

This from a caption only a couple of pages in, but I think you get the idea. If I caught myself thinking about anything in this fashion I hope I’d have sense enough to ask Donna to help me in getting therapy immediately. Imagine thirty pages of this, sometimes with half a page of illustration covered by Thomas going on and on like this?

Personally, and of course I’m not a highly-paid comics “professional”, I think it would have been better to have Stark take somebody into his confidence so he wouldn’t be ‘thinking’ all this. Then again, considering how bad the first page was with a second character, maybe dialogue isn’t Thomas’ strong suit in any fashion. Another writer perhaps could have made this interesting, considering the artwork used which includes panels and some full-pages by some of the best artists that ever worked at Marvel. Beginning with Kirby from those early FF books to stuff from recent ANNIHILATION series we see how the Skrulls have appeared over the years.

Maybe if the book had been presented as just a ‘fact file’ created by Agent Hill for Stark it would have given us all the information but Thomas’ attempts at humor and pathos wouldn’t have distracted the reader from learning what she or he needs to know. It’s probably fortunate that SIS was a freebie, since I think even fans waiting for this series would have been unhappy paying a few bucks for this.

Four-Color Fiend: Zombies, The Doctor & The Twelve

Just a few comments on some of the non-DC books I picked up last Friday. I’m recommending all these books, so you might want to check them out if they interest you. Not many but there will be a few….

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Marvel Zombies 2 #5 ends the second mini-series about these former heroes turned undead. The ‘evil’ Zombies, led by Giantman discovers that they have been cured of the hunger, which drove them. At this point, they realize what they have done and decide to try to make amends as best they can. Unfortunately, Hulk already enraged doesn’t grasp the change and begins fighting the others in the belief that they are keeping him from feeding. The Hulk puts a final end to several of the zombies, before reverting back to Bruce Banner, and immediately realizes what he has done and may do again. Teaming with the zombified Black Panther and his allies, the remaining heroes begin rebuilding the homes of the last remaining humans. Meanwhile, Malcolm, son of Magneto, still harbors resentment and feels that he should be the rightful ruler of the town’s inhabitants. He double-crosses the heroes, sending them via Reed Richard’s transporter off into some other universe. Not really, a ‘successful conclusion’ but these are zombies after all. Besides, this sets up any possible third mini or one-shots the team of writer Robert Kirkman and artist Sean Phillips may wish to produce at some future date. Considering how well these books and the characters have been received, I don’t think it will be very long at all.

J. Michael Straczynski’s The Twelve #3 (of 12) shows us how some of the revived team members cope or try to in the new age. The tale is primarily being told from the viewpoint of Richard Jones, the former Phantom Reporter, who having left no family behind wonders what he can offer. He is approached by the Daily Bugle, which offers him a chance to return to journalism, although as strictly a columnist. Others, like Captain Wonder and Mister E. discover that life went on without them for their families, but with very different results. Dynamic Man seems to be fitting in quite well and the Black Widow finds that some things cannot be left in the past, while the hero known only as Rockman seems doomed no matter where he may be. A flash-forward in the first issue indicated that even more of these heroes might find an unhappy ending. I’m really enjoying this book, although it is a bit darker than I had thought it would be. The art by Chris Weston (inked by Garry Leach) reminds me more of the art in the Silver Age ‘suspense’ comics from Charlton and ACG than your typical super-hero book. Very moody, but perfect for the story.

Quickly, I want to recommend both DOCTOR WHO titles from IDW. DOCTOR WHO has new stories featuring the Tenth Doctor (actor David Tennant) and his companion, Martha Jones (played by Freema Agyeman). The first issue features a done-in-one tale of the search for the perfect chocolate milkshake and the last survivors of various alien races. Writer Gary Russel does a good job capturing the humor of the character and the sense of justice all the Doctors have shown. The art by Nick Roche may be a bit too cartoony for some folks, but I think it fits the nature of the Russel script. If you know the show, you’ll instantly see that he captures both actors’ likenesses. It was enough to make me want to pick up the next issue, especially with the usual DW teaser in the last couple of pages.

I’ve already picked up three of the first four issues of DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS, since Nuclear was out of the first issue when I began shopping there. (Something to pick up at San Diego, if not before!). This series reprints the stories originally done for the DW Weekly, published in England by Marvel Comics from 1979-1980. Some of the writers and artists involved, like Pat Mills, John Wagner, Dez Skinn, Dave Gibbons and Paul Neary have become very well-known here in the U.S. since then. Even twenty plus years ago you could tell they were doing good work, and it still holds up. The stories of course feature the Fourth Doctor (played brilliantly by Tom Baker), although in #4 an alien creature in one story causes him to revert briefly into his three earlier incarnations (all the actors are recognizable). If my memory serves, some of these were also reprinted in the U.S. DW series from Marvel. This book reminds you how much fun that series is/was and especially how wonderful Baker was back then.

Still COUNTING at DC

While I have a chance, I want talk about some comics I picked up the other day at Nuclear Comics & Skateshop. By the way, NC was voted the “Best Comic Shop” in Orange County in the OC Weekly annual reader’s poll. Congrats to owner Kenny and the great bunch of folks he has working the shop.

I am not going to do regular reviews, so I’ll skip the usual spoilers.

The COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS series is moving quickly to the end, with only seven issues left to go. Meanwhile, the tie-ins like LORD HAVOK, C. to Adventure & Mystery are also wrapping up their plots, which may or may not have an effect on FINAL CRISIS when that starts this summer. The Lord Havok book takes place in a period when the main story was only about halfway complete, but it is still the best of the spin-off books. As much of a b*stard as Havok may be I’d be curious to read more about the character and his team of villains. In CtA, Adam Strange, Starfire & Animal Man look to be about to return to Earth-One to fight both the Lady Styx plague and the alien ‘healers’ who are engaged in genocide. They appear to be starting with San Diego, so at least the parking for the convention might improve. (Sorry!) We’re still hoping to see Forerunner not survive her storyline, but DC editorial seems to like sociopath killers as ‘heroes’ so I would not be surprised to see her with her own title.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA is my personal favorite current DCU title, as I may have said before. We finally get to see GOG this issue and the “Thy Kingdom Come” storyline continues gaining momentum. The Old Superman is a wonderful character, as was the Superman of Earth-2, another tragic hero who has witnessed the loss of all he loved. Sadly, I’m predicting an unhappy but heroic ending for this Last Son of Krypton as well.

I just read that my second favorite DCU title, SHADOWPACT, will be discontinued in a few issues. I’m going to hazard a guess that knowledge of that may have led to one of the characters actually having what could be called a ‘happy ending’ to his appearances in the book. I can only hope that the rest of this group go off to equally well deserved ends when all things wrap up.

More when I get the chance about my non-DC purchases.

FYI!! I'm sorry

Just wanted to jump in quickly here with some news.

Apparently the City of Orange, at least their computer filter, has labeled Blogger a ‘social networking’ site. Therefore I am unable to access it while on at my workstation. Since I rarely go online at home (as I like to be spending time with my wife) I can’t say how often I’ll be posting at either of my blogs.

I’m considering trying to find someplace else to post a webpage that I can get to on my breaks and at lunch. I’ll keep you informed.