Ok, Countdown. Where to start.
Last year’s 52 was a triumph for DC. I was skeptical, I really was — DC continuity has always been a little rough for me to discern all the ins and outs of — but it just plain worked. An epic story that was told without DC’s Big Three of Superman Batman and Wonder Woman. A story that led up to Black Adam’s World War III attack — which was well done.
Countdown, so far, hasn’t lived up to the promise of 52. The storylines are muddled, and with all the tie-in issues out there, it can be hard to keep up with where each story is going.
The title of the series has changed from just “Countdown” to “Countdown to Final Crisis.” The DC Universe’s “Crisis” tagline being standard for a major universe-shattering event. I am hoping that this indeed the Final Crisis for the DCU. Both companies are becoming addicted to events — and the really good ones are the ones they aren’t pressing in the media. Countdown is running a distant second to the Sinestro Corps War.
Don’t jump in on issue 26. Pick up the back issues, part of my disdain for the event could be that I am tired of the big “This Will Change Everything!” events every year. Find a happy medium, and stick to it. Tell the stories inherent from the last universe-shattering event.
New X-Men is an odd little title. It’s trying to bring back the feel of the X-Men of Cyclops, Iceman, Angel, Beast and Marvel Girl with a newer cast of characters. Key word there: “trying.”
Maybe as I’ve gotten older I can’t appreciate this style of book as much as I used to — this is a possibility. I really can’t find myself caring about who is hooking up with who, or X-23’s latest moral dilemma. Personally, I don’t think it is the fault of the writer or the artist. Skottie Young’s art is loose and flowing, capturing a very youthful feel that fits in well with the work of writers Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost.
I cannot say this book is a bad one. But I cannot say that this book is my style.
Let me sing the praises of Ed Brubaker for the first (real) time this Wednesday morning. The Daredevil annual is a well-written piece of work, to put it bluntly. The story starts with the devil suffering from the flu. For someone with enhanced senses, something as simple as the flu takes him out of the equation — his radar, his balance, everything.
Enter Carlos LaMuerta (subtle naming, eh?). Carlos has an alter-ego, the Black Tarantula, but he’s recently on parole from Ryker’s Island. Flash back to Brubaker’s first arc, when lawyer Matt Murdock (that’s Daredevil, for you uninitiated) was imprisoned, LaMuerta treated Murdock straight, and there’s appreciation from Murdock for that. So when Carlos gets paroled, he seeks out Murdock in order to help himself keep on the straight and narrow.
Murdock attempts to give LaMuerta a gig assisting Dakota North (an investigator attached to the Nelson & Murdock law firm) but Carlos isn’t at home with computers. He’s at home on the streets and that’s where the issue goes.
Brubaker spins his normal, solid tale. During Bru’s arc on the Man Without Fear, Murdock’s life has been systematically destroyed, and he’s just now getting things back on track. LaMuerta could have thrown everything in a tizzy, but there is some respect between the two that’s documented quite well in the book.
The art is done well, with the frustration of LaMuerta coming across well when the Tarantula is working in the office, and the action scenes do a good job of showing Daredevil under the weather.
All in all, this is a very good addition to the Daredevil mythos, and sets up the Tarantula well for future appearances. Does he go back to his life of crime? Does he go all Punisher on the crooks in his neighborhood? Does he stay straight and narrow? Time will tell.
Today is kind of a light day for comics. Here’s a rundown of what I’m picking up at the shop this morning, and maybe perhaps I can introduce you to a book that you’re unaware of yet.
First off, the older stuff that I’ve been looking for:
MAUS: An extremely well-done biographical comic. Art Spiegelman tells the story of his father, a Holocaust survivor. The book is done with anthropomorphism — the Jewish folk are mice, the Nazis are cats, etc. This book is funny at times, shocking at others…but it is what it is, and that is an immensely powerful read. Ever since a copy of mine got lost during a move, I’ve been looking for a replacement.
Transmetropolitan: I’m looking to replace my floppies with trades of this work. Arguably Warren Ellis’ greatest comic achievement to date (although arguments can be made for Planetary as well, and the jury’s still out on Doktor Sleepless), be introduced to Spider Jerusalem and his Filthy Assistants. You’ll never look at journalism the same again.
Doctor Strange: The Oath: Looking for the Trade of this Brian K. Vaughn miniseries. I’m a huge Doctor Strange fan (to the point where I’ll read any book that features him) and in my eyes BKV nailed the Doc. Perfectly. If you like Doc Strange, pick this mini up.
Now for today, 10/31/2007:
Quasar (4 of 4); Marvel: I’m picking this up as the completist in me takes over. Quasar is the weakest of the three miniseries leadins to the Annihilation: Conquest cosmic event is putting on. Why is it weak? The two main characters, Moondragon and Quasar, are two that I can’t make myself care about. I want to know who the Savior is, and I’m wanting to find out myself before I get it spoiled. So then, of course, I can not-spoil it for you all.
Daredevil Annual #1; Marvel: It’s Daredevil as written by Ed Brubaker. This is the best version of Daredevil since Frank Miller rescued the character from Marvel’s trash heap; and in some ways it surpasses Miller’s version. So far, with Criminal, Iron Fist, Daredevil and Captain America, Bru can do no wrong. Still not sure on his X-Men, however, which brings me to…
X-Men: Messiah CompleX; Marvel: This one-shot is penned by Brubaker, and from the previews I’ve seen this could be the book that makes me a believer in the Brubaker-penned X-Men.
52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen (3 of 4); DC: Keith Giffen has been a favorite of mine ever since I first picked up a Lobo book. This is his first time getting to play with DC’s Big Three (Supes, Bats and Wonder Woman) and he’s making the most of it. The characters have never felt as comfortable with each other as they appear in this book.
Jack of Fables 16; DC: Bill Willingham is a great writer. Not good, great. If you’re not reading this series and the parent book Fables, look yourself in the mirror and ask “why not?” If you can’t come up with three damn good reasons, buy this book.
Death of the New Gods 2; DC: I can’t quite understand why DC is killing off these Jack Kirby creations, but they are. I’m reading it due to the rubberneck factor. The first issue was not extremely well done, but it had moments of brilliance. (And a nod to Doctor Strange; see above)
Iron Man 23; Marvel: Yeah, I’m a sucker for Tony Stark post-Civil War. It’s almost like watching a train wreck in slow motion — you just know that something really horrible is going to happen and bring his world crashing down around his ears. You just don’t know when.
Looking over my list, that’s all I have earmarked for today. I’m sure I’ll pull some books off the shelves to add to the pile; Pirates vs. Ninjas II has been nibbling at my subconscious for a while now, and I always always always miss a few of the smaller press books.
“The Last Man on Earth” is something that’s touched upon in almost every iteration of popular culture. Arguably the best yarn that details this situation is Richard Matheson’s “I Am Legend.” Those that only know the work from trailers for the upcoming Will Smith movie are hereby pointed to the local bookshop and told not to come out without a copy.
Back? Good. IDW Publishing is releasing an adaptation of Matheson’s work (not necessarily the movie version — we all know how these things can be different) and from all points, this works.
The story is one human being left alive in a planet run by vampires. As the story progresses, the hero Robert Neville comes to understand that those he hunts by night are
victims, and that he has become somewhat of a bogeyman to them — after all, he’s the only one on Earth that can go out in daylight.
This comes out in November, and the TPB will cost $19.99.
Jamie McKelvie’s Suburban Glamour has officially sold out at the distribution level.
“Suburban Glamour is the first work I’ve done completely solo, following Long Hot Summer with Eric Stephenson and Phonogram with Kieron Gillen,” said series writer/artist Jamie McKelvie. “Writing and drawing on my own was initially nerve wracking, but news like this has me very excited. I’m especially happy there’s a solid readership who will experience the story getting much stranger and far more dangerous for Astrid and company.”
Suburban Glamour deals with Astrid, a teenage lass who is taken somewhat for a ride when she finds out that her imaginary friends aren’t quite as imaginary as she thought. In fact, they are the forerunners of a bigger evil that’s going to strike smack-dab in her hometown. That’s kind of a bummer, but — your average teenager would kind of get behind that, I think.
To the surprise of absolutely nobody that has been even remotely following this movie with even half-hearted interest, the Wonder Woman movie have been officially put on hold by Warner Brothers while all comic book movie efforts are apparently begin pushed toward the Justice League of America movie.
Reportedly, the JLA movie is going to be used as a launching pad for single-hero movies, although on Sunday, David Dobkin revealed he’s directing The Flash, and on Monday WB announced Greg Berlanti will helm Green Lantern.
Recently, WB found itself under a bit of fire for perceived misogyny when it comes to movie leads. This really can’t help matters much from their end.
Devil’s Due Publishing, best known right now for their yeoman’s work on licenses GI Joe and Dragonlance, has gone west.
Variety has reported that former Marvel Entertainment employee Stephen Christy has been hired to oversee the development of DDP properties for film, television and video games.
With a stable of good, solid IP such as Hack/Slash, Drafted and Black Harvest, it may be time to give the devil its due on the big screen. Hack/Slash is probably the best of the DDP books right now, and I can see it translating pretty well to the silver screen — especially since the heroine isn’t one of those “run around in a tight outfit screaming her head off” types. Well, at least not the screaming part.
Wizard Universe has an interview up with Matt Cherniss, the co-writer of Marvel’s recent Sub-Mariner miniseries.
Cherniss discusses what’s happened with the original anti-hero, and gives some insights into the current state of the King of Atlantis. The series has not been short on action, with Namor clashing with the likes of Wolverine and Venom.
“We had some really visceral images that we wanted to show, and what better way than to throw a nice splash page in there?” the writer related. “When I was reading comics in the’80s and ’90s, starting with guys like George Pérez and John Byrne, even going on into the McFarlanes and the Liefelds, you occasionally remember a sequence, but what really sticks with you is that splash page or that cover.”
The current miniseries is an ok read — nothing that’ll knock your socks off, and nothing that will make it memorable. Worth a pick up definitely if you’re a fan of Namor, but readers unfamiliar with the subject matter could find themselves like a fish out of water.
In Sunday’s episode of Dexter on Showtime, there are a lot of allusions to comic books, as the main character finds himself in an almost Punisher-esque role of murderous anti-hero.
Top it off with appearances by comic creators Tone Rodriguez (Undead Task Force) and Dan Wickline (30 Days of Night: Dead Space, Strange Cases), and there’s enough easter eggs in it so comic fans that haven’t been keeping up with the show (and really, this is a quality program) can enjoy.
Add in the fact that Dexter writer Tim Schlattman stated on ComicBookResources.com that Showtime is going to have a bigger presence at next year’s San Diego Comicon for Dexter, and that they are entertaining the notion of having graphic novels based on Dexter — whether it is the Dexter character from the show or the “Dark Defender” mentioned in this week’s episode is unclear.
