This Week In Comics: 12/08/2004

[Clayface]

Welcome to This Week in Comics for December 8th - December 14th, 2004!

This is the place to discuss the comics you've bought this week, whether it be a brand new title or old back-issues. We also welcome and encourage talk about comics in general - news you've read on comic news sites, the state of the industry in general, upcoming issues you're excited about, etc. All we ask is that you please use spoiler brackets in the event that your comments get too detailed concerning a particular storyline. This way the book won't be ruined for anyone who hasn't read it yet.

For a list of the new items shipping this week, please consult Diamond Comic's Shipping List (http://www.diamondcomics.com/shipping/shipping_120804.txt).

To find a comic book store near you, check out the Comic Shop Locator Service (http://csls.diamondcomics.com/).

Comic store too far away from where you live? Want to support Toon Zone? We've teamed up with Things From Another World (http://www.tfaw.com) to provide an avenue for you to buy comics. Click here (http://www.qksrv.net/click-1001569-5533438?url=http://www3.tfaw.com/comics/newreleases.html?cart=3183189286606656?qt=cjtoonzone) to see a listing of this week's comics being offered by TFAW.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highlights of the Week!


Clayface's Pick:

http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-12/batman-superman/t-gothamcentral26.jpg (http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-12/batman-superman/gothamcentral26.jpg)
Gotham Central #26



Emerald Archer's Pick:

http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-12/batman-superman/t-nightwing100.jpg (http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-12/batman-superman/nightwing100.jpg)
Nightwing #100



Ace the Bathound's Pick:

http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2003-02/wildstorm/t-astrocity-localheroes1-interior.jpg (http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2003-02/wildstorm/astrocity-localheroes1-interior.jpg).............http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-12/marvel/t-shehulk10.jpg (http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-12/marvel/shehulk10.jpg)
Astro City Local Heroes HC.........She-Hulk #10.......


Fray's Picks:

http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-12/vertigo/t-100bullets56.jpg (http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-12/vertigo/100bullets56.jpg)...http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-12/batman-superman/t-nightwing100.jpg (http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-12/batman-superman/nightwing100.jpg)
100 Bullets #56.......Nightwing #100..


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Reed Richards]

in my effort to actually start participating in discussions around here again, i'm going to start posting what I bought this week regularly!

Rising Stars #22 & #23:

Some nice development, but I'm still not quite sure where its all going. After having waited for these issues for so long, I had to re-read all my past issues to make sure I was totally up to speed still.

4/5 Stars.

She Hulk #10

Nice recap of Titania and Volcana. The ending presents an interesting situation. I wonder why Adam Warlock hasn't taken more responsibility for those things...

4/5 Stars

MK:4 #13

Very interesting. I love the art in this series so much too. It all works well, and the writing has been fun. Disturbing plotline ahead. Should be good.

4/5 Stars.

Spectacular Spiderman #22

Bought it as a throwaway issue. Nice art, and the writing isn't bad (although calling himself "webs" isn't something I imagine Spidey doing often...)

3/5 Stars, if only because I'm annoyed that Peter winds up with a supermodel wife, and I don't :cool:

MK: Spider-Man #9

Eh. This series still falls flat with me. Probably because I hate the fact that Norman is still alive. Shoulda left him dead. That said, some nice dialogue (although I cant believe they'd be talking that much in public, but still) and the plot will hopefully be wrapped up by issue 12. Didn't much like the whole Venom thing from the past two issues, but the ending of this issue opens a LOT of doors.

3/5 Stars, maybe 4/5 if I liked Norman better...

JSA #68

One of the best books on the market. God I love Rip Hunter. I wish he and his time-travelling companions would get their own mini. I always liked all of the Forgotten Heroes (never much cared for the rest of the Linear Men though..) Great flashback material. Phenomenal action scenes.

5/5 Stars!!

X4 #1

Somehow I doubt Reed would just show up on the doorstep unnanounced. When did Charles leave the school? The art is interesting, but the faces all look young (with the exception of Logan and Benji-- I love it when they got at it!!) I'll keep buying this, if for no other reason than I'm a HUGE Fantastic Four fan. I like the team they assembled-- was logical and should work well together.

4/5 Stars.

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

In a nifty bit of synchronicity, Kurt Busiek points out the Astro City/PvP connection in the latest Astro City: Local Heroes hardcover (http://www.pvponline.com/index.php3), which happens to be my pick of the week. (As a lead-in, PvP also did a series where Famous Comic Book Writers would tell bad jokes (http://www.pvponline.com/archive.php3?archive=20041129) to Scott Kurtz, who would draw them.)

The Beat links to a supermodel who wants to be Supermodel (http://www.comicon.com/thebeat/archives/2004/12/miss_marvel.html). Frightening pictures follow. These photos, more than anything else, underscore why I think all superhero projects should be animated -- other than Christopher Reeve, Lynda Carter, and arguably Tobey Maguire, real people look like complete idiots, at best, in superhero-ish outfits.

Comics fight crime -- literally. A comic book helps foil a robbery in India (http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=46612). The folks at Gotham Studios Asia must be proud.

File under "life imitates art:" the defense industry thinks ray guns are on the horizon in the near future (http://www.defensetech.org/archives/001257.html). I think the real tech breakthrough would be those ray guns they used in G.I. Joe, which were absolutely devastating to hardware but couldn't hit a person for love or money, whether fired by a ruthless terrorist determined to rule the world or a real American hero.

Paul Chadwick talks about writing for the Matrix On-line video game (http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=36&t=003162). This is less about comics and more an excuse to plug Concrete: The Human Dilemma, previewed this week (http://www.popcultureshock.com/reviews.php?id=3672) at PopCultureShock.com. It was almost worth the wait solely for the visual punchline involving Tripod, Concrete's three-legged dog.

PopCultureShock interviews Mark Millar (http://www.popcultureshock.com/features.php?id=874). Fanboy Rampage! making fun of the interview (http://fanboyrampage.blogspot.com/2004_12_01_fanboyrampage_archive.html#110252391155826645) is better than the interview. Don't forget to read the comments.

Beau Smith's latest two "Five Manly Questions" columns cover Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise (http://www.strangersinparadise.com/)) and Gail Simone (Birds of Prey, Agent X). The Moore interview is surprising (http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/busted/11005387617498.htm) and almost never what you expect at all, while the Simone interview is a hoot and a half (http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/busted/110236274131166.htm) with the laughs almost distracting you from the intelligence underneath them. Both cases are not unlike the creators' respective comics.

Finally, for those who don't know, comics superstar and all around nice guy Jim Lee has a blog (http://gelatometti.blogspot.com/) just like all the other cool kids do. Check out this entry to see Jim's art in the 70's (http://gelatometti.blogspot.com/2004/12/jimbolectric-80s.html), and this Superman & Batman pencil sequence (http://gelatometti.blogspot.com/2004/12/giving-lip.html), which really explains itself.

-- Ed/Ace

[rggkjg1]

THE PUNISHER #15 - this is the best issue of this arc. it may be the best issue of this series.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #510 - this arc seems to be alright and going good for me. most likely because i know whats going to happen in the issues after this.
MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #9 - liked the uncle ben stuff. he seemed to look pretty young though.
JLA #109 - another great issue. i am looking forward to the "show down" in which the jla vs the csa.

JLA #5, 8 , 15, 17 - dollar comics. thumbed trough them. they looked pretty good. i dont want to read them yet since i dont have all the issues of each story.

[Bryangst]

I've been basically trying to catch up on the past month or two, so what I got:

Ultimate Fantastic Four- Too bad the is Ellis' last arc on the title. The arc is looking to be pretty good right now.
X-Men #164- I actaully enjoyed this issue. Though I'd have liked to have SEEN some of the Wolverine/Sabretooth fight. Too bad we get Claremont for the next issue or two. =(
Powers #6- I'm dropping this title after reading this issue. I really haven't been impressed with this first arc. Actually I haven't been too impressed with much of what Bendis has been writing lately.
New Avengers #1- The issue wasn't horrible, but also not great. I might stick with it through the first arc.
Supreme Power #13- The whole series has been great so far and this issue didn't disappoint me one bit. Number 14 is looking to be really great too.
X-Men The End #5- Claremont hasn't been so great for a while, and this issue didn't change anything.
The Authority: Revolution #2- Beautiful issue. Brubaker has done great with the past two issues.. probably one of the best since Ellis left. It was quite surprising to learn that Midnighter kills Jack in the future, institutionalizes and drains the liquid machinary from Engineer, and the others leave The Authority. Also that Midnighter is dictator, but must break up the team in order for that future to not pass. Great issue, and the rest of the story is looking to be really good.
Teen Titans #18- Interesting issue. I'v really enjoyed the Titans of Tommorow stuff so far, and this this didn't really disappoint me either.
Identity Crisis #6- Decent issue. I'm not quite as impressed anymore with the series, but still good. But I did like the set up for the final issue.

Other comics I got but haven't read yet are:
Superman/Batman #14
Superman/Batman #15
Green Arrow #44
Green Lantern: Rebirth #1 (2nd Printing)
Green Lantern: Rebirth #2

I'll probably edit in my thoughts on those when I read them.

[PaQ]

Finally got a chance to stop at my comic shop today. Small load, 6 comics, 4 DC , 2 Marvel.

Action Comics #822 - This was an odd issue. This huge giant enemy that camoflauged himself as a towtruck driver, and he definitely handled Superboy. That was nice to see Superman show up like that, but it definitely looks like this guy is more than they can chew. Next issue is Austen's last, so I'll stick with the comic and see what goes on with the new guy. ***

JLA #109 - Another average issue. I've been expecting great stuff from JLA, which I've gotten since 101, and it really hasn't impressed me. This CSA arc is going slow as hell, and I may be dropping this one, till the new arc unless JLA gets better in the next 2 issues. ***

JSA #68 - Easily another great issue. Looks like time itself is getting shifted and the JSA may cease to exist if the current JSA doesn't act fast. This looks to be a great arc, and I can't wait to see what the past JSA'ers will have to say about this. *****

Nightwing #100 - For an extra-sized issue, it didn't feel that big. I'm not surprised that Dick got out of jail, I thought that would be a terrible thing to have his character in jail for awhile. Although, now with Alfred's discovery it looks like Nightwing is done for now. And thus starts the Year One arc, can't wait. I did enjoy Dick's and Barb's messages to eachother, so sweet. ****

MK: 4 #13 - My first issue of 4, and it was pretty good. This puppet master seriously seems hell bent to save his daughter, and poor Sue looks like the perfect subject. I wonder how she's going to get out of it, especially with the guys out on their mission. ***

MK: Spider-Man #9 - So the start of the final arc, and we have the Scorpion makes his appearance, and it's really interesting to hear how everything almost seems scripted all along between villains and their superheros. ****

Thoughts added.

[Condiment King]

Daredevil 67: Golden Age Part Two

JSA 68: JSA/JSA Chapter One: Making History
- Promising start to a potentially awesome arc. I like that Stargirl is back into the focus with this arc. I always enjoyed when Stargirl and Jakeem Thunder's less mature qualities were hidden behind their real life similarities with the others. ****

The Flash 216: The Secret of Barry Allen Part Three: Spinning
- Wally's questionable crusade comes to a close and everything is about to go haywire. Oddly enough, it seems as though the past several issues have been build-up for something huge and I anticipate that we are reaching that zenith. ****

Ultimate Fantastic Four 13: N-Zone: Part One
- Very nice start to an arc but this book still goes way slow for my tastes, especially when it has just an average art team. We are progressing, though. ****

[Clayface]

Here are some random news bits from a recent DC press release. If you've seen them on the news ticker, or elsewhere before this, I apologize - I've been out of touch with the internet for the past week or so due to some issues going on in my personal life.

WRITER GAIL SIMONE ADDS TWO YEARS TO HER DC EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT

Gail Simone, writer of BIRDS OF PREY and an upcoming story arc in JLA: CLASSIFIED illustrated by José Luis García-López & Klaus Janson, has extended her exclusive agreement with DC Comics for two years.

"There are a ton of great reasons to work for DC: the characters, the management, footrubs from Greg Rucka, Dan DiDio's fabulous slumber parties, the editors, and the attention to quality and detail all spring to mind," says Simone. "Seriously, I think DC's commitment to the readers is unequalled. They have management you can believe in, exceptional editors like Joan Hilty and Mike Carlin and Stephen Wacker, and a proven commitment to excellence."

"Gail brings a truly distinctive voice to the DCU, and we're thrilled to have her on board," says Dan DiDio, VP - Executive Editor, DCU. "We see Gail as a star, and we believe that the projects she'll be working on over the next two years will reflect this."

**********

BATMAN MICROMAN: CATWOMAN FIGURE TO BE ALLOCATED

Orders on the BATMAN MICROMAN: CATWOMAN FIGURE, due to arrive in stores on December 15, have exceeded DC Direct's inventory. As noted in solicitation, the figure will be allocated, with retailers who ordered more than one CATWOMAN FIGURE receiving approximately 50% of their orders.

**********

DCCOMICS.COM UPDATE

Here's a look at what's new at DCComics.com:

* LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES flash-animation and minisite at http://www.dccomics.com/legion/.

The following sections of the website have been updated:

* DC Kids: http://www.dckids.com
* THE FLASH: http://www.dccomics.com/features/theflash/
* MAD Magazine: http://www.madmag.com
* Y: THE LAST MAN: http://www.dccomics.com/features/ylastman/

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

Not many links today. Does it seem like a slow news day to anybody else?

B. Clay Moore is currently the head of PR for Image Comics, and also the writer for Hawaiian Dick, the ultra-cool comic with a name easy to make bad jokes about. Check out how he's tackling the 40's World War II comic with Battle Hymn (http://newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22957), and the rogue CIA agent on the run from shadowy operatives trying to kill him in The Expatriate (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=4515).

If you ever wondered what would happen if Charlie Rose or James Lipton interviewed Kurt Busiek, STL Comics has the interview for you (http://stlcomics.com/columns/tftlof/IV/). The irony of this statement considering the outrageous fanboy drooling over Busiek's work I've done is not lost on me.

Finally, a lawyer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation tackles the Marvel vs. City of Heroes lawsuit (http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1101738490342):


Marvel's assertion of copyright and trademark rights over the noncommercial expressive activities of its fans is both unprecedented and unnecessary. The fundamental justification for copyright is that we must tolerate a limited statutory monopoly on expression in order to secure an adequate incentive for the creative industries. That's an adequate incentive, not the maximum conceivable incentive. Trademark law, meanwhile, is meant to protect the public from confusion in the marketplace for products and services. Measured by these yardsticks, Marvel's claims fall short. Does anyone believe that Marvel will fire its authors and close up shop if it can't prevent little Johnny from pretending to be Wolverine online? And no one is going to be confused into buying something by mistake when they run into another player in-game who has adopted the green skin and purple shorts of the Hulk. OK, show of hands -- who lasted past "fundamental justification of copyright"? Don't raise your hand if you're a lawyer.

I'm not really being fair -- the rest of the article doesn't read like that, being fairly readable English that concludes (like most of the Internet) that Marvel doesn't have a legal leg to stand on. Only he's a real live lawyer and everything, so he knows what he's talking about. You can tell because he uses phrases like "statutory monopoly" and "secure an adequate incentive." Go ahead -- try working words like that into an everyday conversation.

Again, I kid. People all really hate lawyers until you really really need one, and here's a case where NCSoft could really really use one. Or a few. Especially if they can say things like "noncommercial expressive activities" when they mean "video games."

AGAIN with the cheap lawyer joke. Man, I can't even say nice things about lawyers without making lawyer jokes.

-- Ed/Ace

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

Oi! Where is everybody?

File under: there are SO comics for kids. Andy Runton talks about Owly (http://newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23110), his comic from Top Shelf that lots of people seem to say lots of nice things about. Comparing it to Jeff Smith's Bone grants it a flip-through, at least.

Oh, that Alex Ross, making trouble again. This time it's about the John Romita Sr. lithograph he just did for Dynamic Forces (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23047). Be aware his comment about Spider-Man's mask design would get censored by TZ's auto-filter, so cover your sensitive ears if you're easily offended by that sort of thing.

A Huntsville, AL comic book shop is accepting donations (http://www.nbc13.com/news/3985829/detail.html) to send comics to soliders in Iraq for Christmas. If you don't live in Huntsville, AL, you can also donate comics (and shipping costs, if you're feeling particularly generous) to Operation Comix Relief (http://www.operationcomixrelief.freeservers.com/index.html) -- going strong since Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan!

And no, you can't use this as an excuse to thin your longboxes of the really really bad, "What was I thinking?" stuff, especially since Bendis claims he'll buy back "Avengers Disassembled." We want them to ENJOY the comics they get, not use them to up-armor their Hummers.

(That last bit may look like an unnecessarily cheap political joke, which it is to a degree, but I meant it more as a reference to Joe Kubert's Fax from Sarajevo (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1569713464/qid=1102714374/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-2003060-1000127?v=glance&s=books), where the a Bosnian Serb lines a car with old comic books as protection against snipers during the siege of Sarajevo. It's things like that and, oh, just about the rest of the book that makes it very good at putting all the petty crap we deal with in perspective.)

And speaking of Bendis, we close with the return of the Comic Remix, as Tim O'Neil takes the hatchet to New Avengers #1 (http://www.popcultureshock.com/features.php?id=875).

-- Ed/Ace

[randomguy]

It's new comics time, but first I'd like to address something from last week which inexplicably escaped my mind...


Legendary Len Wein gets a brief interview at Sequential Tart (http://www.sequentialtart.com/13quest_1204.shtml). Punchline:



13. What else would you like to say?

I am a valuable commodity and I feel like I am being wasted.So do we, Len. So do we.At first, I got a good chuckle and an "ain't that the truth?" reaction out of that quote. But the more I dwelt on it, the more it made me think.

Len Wein co-created Wolverine, possibly Marvel's second most important solo character. He also co-created the rest of the Giant-Size X-Men characters, including Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colussus. In his runs on The Amazing Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk, he made huge contributions to the Marvel Universe. We can assume that Wein, by proxy through his creations, has made Marvel hundreds of millions of dollars, at the very least. Presumably, Wein is massively valuable. So, for that matter, are folks like Gerry Conway, Roger Stern, and Marv Wolfman. So... where are they? Why are the Big 2 not tripping over themselves to secure work from veterans who have proven their ability to do great, and profitable, things with the medium?

Although artists don't typically have this problem, there seems to be a real youth-centered myopia in the comic book business when it comes to writers. There are some folks, your Frank Millers and Chris Claremonts and even Ron Marzs, which don't seem to have any trouble finding work, but in many cases, a lot of great writers seem to get lost in the passage of time. Does anybody else agree or am I just grasping at straws here?

And with that out in the open...


PopCultureShock interviews Mark Millar (http://www.popcultureshock.com/features.php?id=874). Fanboy Rampage! making fun of the interview (http://fanboyrampage.blogspot.com/2004_12_01_fanboyrampage_archive.html#110252391155826645) is better than the interview. Don't forget to read the comments.In PR terms, Mark Millar's a lot like Stan Lee. He's the kind of guy who's really loud and boisterous, and in the course of being loud and boisterous, he can occasionally pack a short memory and let fly some embarrassing lapses in judgement. I try not to be too hard on him. For what its worth, I think some of his comments on the state of Superman are reasonably accurate, and he's not in a bad postion to criticize, given his excellent work on Superman Adventures. Not so crazy about his comments on the state of politics in comics, but two men of sound mind can most certainly disagree...


Beau Smith's latest two "Five Manly Questions" columns cover Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise (http://www.strangersinparadise.com/)) and Gail Simone (Birds of Prey, Agent X). The Moore interview is surprising (http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/busted/11005387617498.htm) and almost never what you expect at all, while the Simone interview is a hoot and a half (http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/busted/110236274131166.htm) with the laughs almost distracting you from the intelligence underneath them. I think the Simone interview is my favorite column of Mr. Smith's yet. It's interesting to see Gail call Beau on his "GRRR, I'm manly!" veneer, and even more interesting to see him reply with such a candid and thoughtful answer that really resonated with my own values. It's a quality read.


And speaking of Bendis, we close with the return of the Comic Remix, as Tim O'Neil takes the hatchet to New Avengers #1 (http://www.popcultureshock.com/features.php?id=875).Best remix yet. Tim O'Neil is becoming comics' rogue anti-hero, and he's even harder on Bendis' Avengers than I am. I like that.

Moving on, this week's Permanent Damage (http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=10), by Steven Grant, has some intersting commentary indeed. He addresses Warren Ellis' recent claim that Red (or Conservative/Republican/Christian/Insert Label Here) states are less likely to buy new, adventurous, and unusual comics. That's a loaded proposal, but you might be interested by how Grant responds. He's a pretty crazy-leftist guy (who refuses to refer to George Bush as anything other than the "Hand Puppet"), but he has a more reasonable reaction than is typical for him. There's also some other nifty links and a bunch of reviews. Check it out.

Meanwhile, I'm going to keep on plugging Paul O'Brien's "Article 10" column until everybody here reads it weekly. Twice. This week (http://www.ninthart.com/display.php?article=961) addresses the peculiar phenomenon of how comics seems to take "real" writers (i.e. those that work in movies, novels or plays) more seriously than those that are confined exclusively to the funny pages. Do comics have an inferiority complex? No easy answers are given, but it is a fascinating exploration...

Now, to this week's comics...

JLA #109: The Crime Syndicate of Amerika, the Qwardians, and the JLA simultaneously learn of a possible threat to their universes, and all moblize in their own unique ways. It's strange... I genuinely feel bad being harsh with Kurt Busiek. Especially on a week which also sees the release of a gorgeous Astro City collection that I swear I'll buy as soon as I have some more money. Especially after I read Superman: Secret Identity about three weeks ago. But the truth is, three issues into this arc, something just isn't clicking. This is solid, traditional superhero storytelling, to be sure. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it. But it fails to be engaging on any real, substantial level. In other words, it's treading water. I enjoy Busiek's depiction of the CSA, and he does a nice job of bringing a perverse element of fun to the group without going overboard on the darkness. There's some good characterization here. But Busiek is giving the JLA short shift in their own book, and all the Qward stuff is rather boring. Garney's art, meanwhile, doesn't fit with Busiek's style at all. He really needs a more classical, clean artist, like Carlos Pacheco. This is decent superhero storytelling, but in a market which contains so much of that already, it's really not enough. Grade: C

Gotham Central #26: Josie Mac and Marcus Driver investigate a murder, and it appears to be tied to a certain Batman rogue. This is typical Gotham Central through and through. Interesting, mysterious, with excellent character dynamics and a nice film noir feel. Often, when a series keeps up a really consistent level of style and quality (like Y: The Last Man or Ultimate Spider-Man) it becomes difficult to regularly review it, as you reach a point where you feel you've said all you can about the book. Gotham Central is such a title. As usual, there's good characterization here, and I was surprised to notice just how gradually and completely Brubaker and Rucka had built up the ensemble cast over the last couple of years. When the book first started, I was critical of it for trying to focus on too many officers, but reading this issue, it occurred to me that the entire cast has become pretty well-defined and believable by this point. It's a mean feat, development so gradual and full that you don't even notice it until you step back from the work. This arc looks to have an interesting place for Catwoman, and deal with some lingering questions regarding Josie's metahuman power. The art, courtesy of Jason Alexander, is regrettably a bit of a weakness. He tries to ape Michael Lark's style, but he's not terribly good at it, and many of the characters look off-model, occasionally packing the wrong hairstyles and features. Not a good thing. Still, this is solid, respectable stuff. Grade: A

Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #9: The Really Really Really Big Reveal issue, as Aunt May's kidnapper makes his identity known... and presents Peter Parker with a surprising proposal. It's difficult to critique this issue sans spoilers (which is why I'll go into greater depth on the talkback), but there's a few general points I can make. To Millar's immense credit, this doesn't feel anticlimatic. On the other hand, the mystery is resolved through the use of an incredibly complicated conspiracy which feels somewhat revisionary and awkward. It makes a number of changes to the whole dynamic of Spidey's little corner of the Marvel Universe, and I'm not entirely sure it really works, once you think about it. We're talking reasonably grandoise changes here. Millar also tinkers with the rogues in ways which could be either innovative and refreshing or detrimental and hazardous. At any rate, there is an excellent, palpable feeling of menace in this issue, as well as a flashback scene which hits all the right notes. The Dodsons turn in another solid issue. This is particuarly accompished work, given that it's an all-talking issue which could have been very boring to look at, yet the art holds your attention nicely. I have a tough time rating this, because how I'm going to feel about it is ultimately dictated by how future issues handle the changes. So, just to be safe, it gets a Grade: B

[Clayface]

I'm incredibly disappointed to see that this week's issue of Masters of the Universe is in fact the final issue of the series. Apparently difficulties and complications with licensing and copyrights for the various characters have prevented the creators from being able to tell the stories they wanted, and they're throwing in the towel and calling it quits. It's a real shame - this was probably my favorite 80's property revival (tied with Transformers). I guess it was inevitable, since the show and the toy line have basically met their end as well. I was just hoping it would last longer. :(

[Zebi]

Got a book this week, as an early Christmas present from a friend:

The Science of Supervillains (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0471482056/qid=1102914037/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-7671708-2403852?v=glance&s=books/toonzone03) by Lois H. Gresh and Robert Weinberg

The book's premise is interesting, and I'm looking forward to reading about all of the featured villains. Of course, I'm really looking forward to Doc Ock's chapter, but I'm sure everyone already knew that. ;)

[Clayface]

Here's an interesting little news article from my neck of the woods:

MD Students to Read Comic Books (http://www.nbc4.com/news/3991974/detail.html).

It's a great idea, IMO, and it doesn't surprise me that it's happening more and more. I had a teacher in high school that was into comic books, and we read some for his english class. I loved it, and even the students that were at first skeptical enjoyed it in the end.

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,


Here's an interesting little news article from my neck of the woods:

MD Students to Read Comic Books (http://www.nbc4.com/news/3991974/detail.html).

It's a great idea, IMO, and it doesn't surprise me that it's happening more and more. I had a teacher in high school that was into comic books, and we read some for his english class. I loved it, and even the students that were at first skeptical enjoyed it in the end.
In a nice segue to today's Not So Big Pile of Links, the Florida Sun-Sentinel asks whether comics in school libraries build readers or just people incapable of reading anything without pictures (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/orl-loccomics10121004dec10,0,1856948.story?coll=sfla-news-florida).

Dig webcomics, want to try them, or want to experiment with something new? It's year-end, which means it's time for lots of lists -- check out Comixpedia's 25 People in Webcomics 2004 (http://www.comixpedia.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2011&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0) and Webcomics' Best Webcomics of 2004 (http://webcomicsreview.com/examiner/issue041213/top2004.html) list. Might find something in there you like. Neil Gaiman has said very nice things about Dylan Meconis' Bite Me! (http://girlamatic.com/series.php?name=biteme&view=current) (French Revolution vampires), and the Copper (http://www.boltcity.com/copper_home.htm) sequences in Image Comics' Flight Vol. 1 TPB were one of the few things I really genuinely enjoyed in it. Daily Dinosaur Comics (http://www.qwantz.com/) wins points for being about dinosaurs and for being wet-yourself funny.

-- Ed/Ace

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

Some days, the segues write themselves...

Time Magazine's Comix reporter asked a bunch of companies what we should look forward to in 2005. He got back a whole big pile of stuff from a whole big pile of comic publishing companies (http://www.time.com/time/columnist/arnold/article/0,9565,956125,00.html). Two bits of heretofore unknown information are revealed: Identity Crisis is getting the hardcover treatment in Fall 2005, and renowned sci-fi writer Orson Scott Card (http://www.hatrack.com/) is going to write an Ultimate Iron Man miniseries.

Segue #1: In addition to being the author of Ender's Game (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0812550706/qid=1103060846/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-2003060-1000127?v=glance&s=books), Card is known as a rather vocal and opinionated right-wing conservative, rather like ComicBookResources's Augie De Blieck, who finishes up his review of Greg Rucka's Queen & Country comics (http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=6).

Segue #2: Speaking of Iron Man, file under "Life Imitates Art": military research projects are busy creating powered exoskeletons (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/magazine/12EXO.html?oref=login), bionic prostheses (http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2004/limbloss.html), and artificial fish (http://www.defensetech.org/archives/001274.html). On a slightly more alarming note, they're also arming the robots (http://www.defensetech.org/archives/001262.html). While anybody who saw The Terminator knows that can't end well, but I can't quite believe that a company which also makes gooey snacks (http://www.foster-miller.com/projectexamples/m_food/gushers_fruit_snacks.htm) and teaches railway safety (http://www.foster-miller.com/projectexamples/t_human_performance/railroad_worker_safety.htm) is going to create Ultron.

Super-high-tech military technology brings us to Adam Warren's interview about Livewires (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23339), the new Marvel series that I'm pre-ordering purely because it has a character in it named "Hollowpoint Ninja." (http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/Livewires/HOLLOWPOINTNINJAcharadesign.jpg) The article features preview artwork and warnings about the dangers of Sharpie marker fumes.

I think I have discovered the secret origin behind the name "Hollowpoint Ninja."

Anyway, Livewires sounds like a metric ton of twisted fun, and it's going to be part of "Marvel Next," which will also include Young Avengers, X-23, and Runaways. Brian K. Vaughan just posted the cover to Runaways #2 (second series) on his blog (http://bkv.tv/pages/blog/2004/12/whos-your-daddy.html), saying the young lad on the cover is the son of a villain. How can you LIVE with yourself if you don't pre-order Runaways to find out who? And how can you LIVE with yourself if you start with #2? You need to march right on down to your local comic book shop (http://csls.diamondcomics.com/) RIGHT NOW and say, "I want to pre-order Runaways #1 (second series), which comes out in January, because Joss Whedon thinks it's <insert currently trendy slang for "really good" here -- I'm old and unable to keep up with that sort of thing any more>."

And speaking of trendy, nothing was trendier than Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee on "Hush" last year. Here's MWC Toys' reviews of the Hush Series 2 action figures (http://www.mwctoys.com/REVIEW_121304.htm). I'm beginning to regret not pre-ordering that Catwoman figure.

Finally, while on the subject of regret, Alan Moore just got interviewed by the guy who came up with Jerry Springer the Opera, and is about to interview Brian Eno. A summary of Moore's interview was posted on Comicon.com's The Beat (http://www.comicon.com/thebeat/archives/2004/12/alan_moore_on_t.html), which states Moore apologized for his part in the whole "grim and gritty" thing in the 80's, and also began to regret his decision to hand over any movie rights money to the artists.

You know what you'll REALLY regret, though? Not buying Runaways.

-- Ed/Ace