Moving

Due to the never-ending technical difficulties of Blogger, coupled with the fact that I am now writing semi-professionlly for Street Savvy, I will no longer be posting new content here.

You can still find all my usual reviews and insightful articles at Street Savvy, along with lots of other interesting content on films, television, music and pop culture in general.

Thanks for everything!

P.S. I might be back, you never know.

The Weekly Trade #25

Lotta re-reading this week. Some unexpected Thor though.

Thor: World Eaters (hardcover)
Written by Matt Fraction; art by Pasqual Ferry; published by Marvel Comics.
Here it is: Marvel "Architect" Matt Fraction's run on Thor, and earlier than I thought it was coming out.

Unexpected Thor is always good.

Where Do I Start With... Superman

Who?

C'mon. Everybody knows that mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent is secretly Superman, the Man of Steel, rocketed to Earth from the doomed planet Krypton and raised by Kansas farm couple Jonathan and Martha Kent, and that he can leap tall buildings in a single bound, is more powerful than a locomotive and faster than a speeding bullet!

Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster for Action Comics #1 in 1938, Superman was the first ever superhero, birthing an entire genre and character archetype in his mould, and setting the standard for decades to follow. Standing for the principles of Truth, Justice and the American Way, he remains the most well known superhero in the world, and has spawned countless media adaptations and talking points.

Okay, so where do I start?

Batman and Robin Must Die! (Review)

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artists: Frazer Irving, David Finch, Cameron Stewart, et al

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Batman & Robin #13-16; Batman: The Return #1

When Bruce Wayne "died" at the hands of Darkseid in 2009's Final Crisis, rather than die with him, the Bat-franchise exploded into so many ongoing series that I honestly lost count. But there was one that stood above all the others: Batman & Robin, starring former Boy Wonder Dick Grayson as Batman, and recently revealed offspring Damian Wayne as Robin. Fun, colourful and action-packed, fans and critics alike loved this series a lot more than anybody could have expected.

But now Bruce is back, and I couldn't shake the feeling that the kids would have to pack up their toys now that Daddy was home as I unknowingly dove into the ominously titled Batman and Robin Must Die!
And that is the greatest thing about Grant Morrison's time writing Batman: It feels like anything could happen and nothing is set in stone. It's like a rollercoaster in the dark, and I don't know when it's going to stop.

The Weekly Trade #24

(Due to some technical difficulties at Blogger, posts have been deleted and reposted as necessary.)

Trades are like buses...

Batman & Robin Must Die! (hardcover)
Written by Grant Morrison; art by Frazer Irving, et al; published by DC Comics.
This has been a damned fun series, but with both Bruce Wayne and the Joker returning in this exciting tale featuring the talented Frazer Irving on art, it feels disturbingly final. Especially with the title.

Birds of Prey: End Run (hardcover)
Written by Gail Simone; art by Ed Benes, et al; published by DC Comics.
I never read this series when it was out before, but Gail Simone is one of my favourite writers so I'll give it a shot. Plus, Ed Benes draws some purty ladies.

Irredeemable Volume 6
Written by Mark Waid; art by Peter Krause and Diego Barreto; published by BOOM! Studios.
Every time I read Irrdeemable I pray for an end to the horror. And every time I finish a volume, I'm hungry for more. One of the best series on the shelves right now.

...They're full of interesting characters?

Secret Six: The Reptile Brain (Review)

Writers: Gail Simone and Paul Cornell

Artists: J. Calafiore and Pete Woods

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Secret Six #25-29; Action Comics #896

Despite numerous brushes with the larger DC Universe, Secret Six has always felt like an indie book to me. Following a team of C-list villains (and Bane), it's violent, crude, sexy, and lots of other things that would make Superman blush. Being slightly off the rails has made it a thrill to read; with unpredictable storylines and captivating characters, it's one of the hottest mainstream series out there right now.

Which is why I was a teeny-tiny bit disappointed with The Reptile Brain.

With the team split in two, we get some fun new additions from the bottom of DC's collective rogues gallery. Every one of them gets the Gail Simone treatment; elevating them from "villain-of-the-weeks" into blank canvasses ripe for masterpiece. She makes King Shark disturbingly hilarious, and you just know something bad is gonna happen to Dwarfstar from his attitude.

Brightest Day Volume Two (Review)

Writers: Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi

Artists: Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Adrian Syaf, Scott Clark and Joe Prado

Publisher: DC Comics
Collects: Brightest Day #8-16

Previously on Brightest Day... Twelve dead characters (heroes and villains) were resurrected at the end of DC's last Event story, Blackest Night by an enigmatic white light. Now trying to put their lives back together, they discover that they may have been brought back for a purpose...

I felt that the first volume of this series was slow moving, and relied too much on dangling mysteries to string the reader along, rather than provide anything substantial in the present. Now that I have read Volume Two, I think I have a better idea of the overall story structure. We are now in the second act of this epic saga.

The Weekly Trade #23

Bright, shining hope and pitch-black humour this week.

Brightest Day, Volume Two (hardcover)
Written by Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi; art by various; published by DC Comics.
The mystery/drama continues. Will secrets be revealed? And speaking of secrets...

Secret Six: The Reptile Brain (softcover)
Written by Gail Simone and Paul Cornell; art by J. Calafiore, Pete Woods, et al; published by DC Comics.
This series is always awesome and hilarious, and a crossover with Cornell's Action Comics storyline sets my excitement to 11!

After a Marvel rush, I'm starting to settle back into the DC Universe again...

Fantastic Four: Three (Review)

Writer: Jonathan Hickman

Artists: Steve Epting, Nick Dragotta, Mark Brooks

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Collects: Fantastic Four #583-588

It is so rare that a mainstream, in-continuity superhero story is worthy of such high praise as Fantastic Four: Three. Not that there aren't exceptional stories out there, but it is like saying a single episode of your favorite TV show is equal to a great movie. Free of context or prelude, one small piece of an on-going saga can feel a little hollow when compared to a complete, self-contained epic.

Yes, Three is the culmination of Jonathan Hickman's entire emotional run on this series, and previous knowledge is essential, but the skill poured into this story and the impact that it has on the reader elevates it onto a whole new level, and into comic book history.

We all knew going in that this was going to be the much-publicised storyline that saw the death of a Fantastic Four member, but anyone who half-heartedly jumped on board just so that they could say the comic book equivalent of "I was there" will not find it that easy. This isn't just the death of a superhero -- this is the loss of a family member.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

A-Musing: The Worst of My Collection

As you might imagine, I have quite a lot of comic book trades. And, as with any large collection, some of it is crap.

We all experience buyer's remorse from time to time, and we are all lured in by shiny beads or what-have-you. There are comics I wish I could retcon from my shelves as easily as they do with Superman's origins.

Do not misunderstand me: I gotta lotta good stuff too. And a lot of it is not awful, but poor, and that's a different story. Nor am I trying to say that these trades are quantifiably terrible. There's no such thing. It's just that, in my humble opinion, I feel that the quality of the work does not justify my purchase.

Here are a few examples:

The Weekly Trade #22

Just had a Thorgasmic movie-going experience (can you guess what I saw?) and am in a comics mood!

Whadda I got?

Action Comics #900 (issue)
By various writers and artists; published by DC Comics.
I'm not an obsessive collector type, but America's longest running comic series, which birthed Superman -- and thus superheroes -- in its number one issue is a hell of a milestone that not even I resisted.

Fantastic Four: Three (hardcover)
Written by Jonathan Hickman; art by Steve Epting and Nick Dragotta; published by Marvel Comics.
This is probably my favourite Marvel series at the moment, and this collection features the death of an FF member (I won't spoil, just in case some of you haven't heard).

Jonah Hex: Tall Tales (softcover)
Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti; art by various; published by DC Comics.
Always a great read, and it always feels like too long since the last one came out.

See you next week, people of Midgard!

Thor, Volume One (Classic Review)

Originally released in 2008.

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski

Artist: Olivier Coipel

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Collects: Thor #1-6

The first page of this collection tells you everything you need to know about the rest of it: Gorgeous artwork and lofty dialogue.

After Ragnarok, the battle to end all battles, Asgard and its residents have been wiped out. From the void of nothingness, Thor is resurrected by his former alter ego Dr. Don Blake, who is also restored to reality. And so Thor sets about rebuilding that which was lost; reconstructing Asgard in a field in Oklahoma, and seeking out his people in the bodies of mortals.

I fell in love with this story the first time I read it. Coipel's art is simply divine, with powerful designs, striking layouts, and realistic body language and facial expressions. I can recognise each unique character and feel as though I know them intimately. He works in conjunction with Straczynski to create a rich atmosphere whatever the tone, whether dark and grim or light and humorous. The famous Laura Martin on colours doesn't hurt either.

The Weekly Trade #21

My sister turned 21 yesterday. Just thought I'd point out the coincidence.

Didn't get anything new this week, despite temptation.

Nightwing: Freefall (softcover)
Written by Peter J. Tomasi; art by Rags Morales and Don Kramer; published by DC Comics.
The thing about Dick Grayson being Batman now is that it has made me truly appreciate him as more than just a right-hand man, even in past stories. With a great creative team on this title, I had to check it out. Because I just can't get enough Dick. Sorry.

Terra (softcover)
Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti; art by Amanda Conner; published by DC Comics.
Set before the amazing new Power Girl series by the same amazing creative team, this tells the story of PG's plucky gal pal Terra. Who is also pretty amazing.

Shine on, you crazy diamonds! Shine on...

Where Do I Start With... Thor

Who?

Of course, as everyone knows, Thor is the ancient Norse God of Thunder, but he was adapted for Marvel Comics in 1962 by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, making his first appearance in Journey into Mystery #83. Originally, he was bound to New York surgeon Dr. Donald Blake, and they would switch places at will. This has changed over the years, with Thor being attached to other mortals as well as going it alone, but Blake has recently returned to the series.

Possessing godlike strength and stamina, Thor also wields the mighty Mjölnir -- his legendary hammer; enabling him to fly, and command thunder and lightning.

Known for his headstrong attitude and Shakespearean speech, Thor has always taken part in fantastical adventures on both Earth and beyond, and is not limited to the laws and ethics of man. He is burdened by greater, more divine responsibilities.

Okay, so where do I start?

Justice League: Generation Lost, Volume One (Review)

Writer: Judd Winick

Artists: Keith Giffen (breakdowns), Aaron Lopresti, Joe Bennett, Fernando Dagnino

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Justice League: Generation Lost #1-12

Or, How to Write a Good Justice League Story could have been added on to the title of this nostalgic-yet-modern resurrection of Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire's light-hearted Justice League International run, which lasted from 1987 to 1994 and remains critically acclaimed to this day.

Freshly returned from the dead at the end of Blackest Night, former 80s business guy turned mind-controlling supervillain Maxwell Lord is up to his old tricks. Using his advanced psychic powers, he makes the whole world forget about him and his past evil deeds, giving himself a fresh start. The only ones who remember him are some of his "ex-clients" from the JLI: Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Fire and Ice. With everyone on the planet thinking they're insane, they must find out what Max is up to and stop him before it's too late.

The Weekly Trade #20

Back to normal now, and what did I buy?

Avengers Prime (hardcover)
Written by Brian Michael Bendis; art by Alan Davis; published by Marvel Comics.
I'm not really into the Avengers, but a story focusing on Marvel's "Big Three" -- Captain America, Thor and Iron Man -- sounds pretty interesting.

Justice League: Generation Lost (hardcover)
Written by Keith Giffen and Judd Winick; art by various; published by DC Comics.
Reviving the classic JLI run from the 80s and 90s, I've heard very good things about this series.

Our Army at War (softcover)
By various writers and artists; published by DC Comics.
An anthology of war stories from multiple talented creators, working in a genre that's just as big in comics as superheroes are.

Time Masters: Vanishing Point (softcover)
Written by Dan Jurgens; art by Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund; published by DC Comics.
Time-travel mystery/adventure that ties in with The Return of Bruce Wayne? Count me in!

Warriors Three: Dog Day Afternoon (hardcover)
Written by Bill Willingham; art by Neil Edwards; published by Marvel Comics.
The Warriors Three are my favourite supporting characters in all comics, and I'm looking forward to their own little spin-off.

Business as usual, ladies and gents.

Kapow! Comic Con 2011

It always seemed somewhat odd to me that Britain has produced so many great comic book writers and artists yet we never really had our own big convention, like San Diego or WonderCon.

This is clearly the same thinking that led some clever souls to throw Kapow! Comic Con together. With the aim of making it into the UK's biggest comic book convention, it would open its doors for the first time in London on April 9th, 2011, and feature many talented guests, fun panels, and super-secret film footage, the likes of which our cousins across the Atlantic have enjoyed for years.

Needless to say, I was Londonbound from the second I heard about it.

Kapow!

Due to this weekend's festivities in London, which I will be attending, I shall be taking a little holiday from the site, in order to better prepare myself for enjoyment.

Normal service, which should include an in-depth report on the con, will no doubt resume after said con.

See ya!

Superman: The Black Ring, Volume One (Review)

Writer: Paul Cornell

Artist: Pete Woods, et al

Publisher: DC Comics
Collects: Action Comics #890-895

There was a time when it was a treat to see characters from different series together. When seeing Green Lantern fight the Joker, or Batman fight Sinestro would have thrilled and delighted in idea alone. But such things are taken for granted now. The bad guys team up every year, and nobody sticks to the confines of their own territory for long. We seek other thrills now.

It seemed like such simple wonders were behind us, and naught but shadows of a "less sophisticated" time.

And then a terribly entertaining Englishman called Paul Cornell swam the channel between Marvel and DC, and between past and present, to bring us The Black Ring.

The Weekly Trade #19

Just a tiny, little purchase this week. Incidently, this Saturday it'll be a week till Kapow! Comic Con in London. Yay!

Superman: The Black Ring, Volume One (hardcover)
Written by Paul Cornell; art by Pete Woods, et al; published by DC Comics.
Been waiting a while for this much-praised series from Cornell, focusing on Lex Luthor's latest power scheme.

You know the name, you know the URL.

A Comprehensive Guide to 2011's Comic Book Movies

This year sees quite possibly the most big screen adaptations of comic book characters and/or stories in history, with five separate films based on works from three different publishers. We've come a long way since Arnold Schwarzenegger punned his way through Batman & Robin, that's for sure. But the night is darkest right before the dawn, and all that.

With so much coming at your face all at once, I have compiled a handy guide to get you through the year, and to get me through the next five minutes. Enjoy!

The Weekly Trade #18

You tell yourself you're not gonna buy anything this week, and then...

Time Bomb (softcover)
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray; art by Paul Gulacy; published by Radical Publishing.
I wasn't actually expecting this to come out until later in the year, but I was pleasantly surprised. A time-travel adventure from two great writers.

Luthor (hardcover)
Written by Brian Azzarello; art by Lee Bremejo; published by DC Comics.
I originally bought this mini-series when it was collected in softcover under the title Lex Luthor: Man of Steel, but it was so damn good that I thought it deserved the hardcover treatment.

Just about two more weeks til Kapow!

Joker (Classic Review)

Originally released in 2008.

Writer: Brian Azzarello

Artist: Lee Bermejo

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Original graphic novel

A couple of years back, Azzarello and Bermejo brought us the Lex Luthor: Man of Steel mini-series, telling the infamous villain's side of the story and turning him into a deep and relatable character. In 2008, the year of The Dark Knight, they tried something similar with this OGN, simply titled Joker, safely set in its own little continuity bubble.

It is difficult to judge a story that focuses on the character of the Joker. In another OGN, Arkham Asylum, Grant Morrison wrote future Batman writers something of a "get out of jail free" card when it comes to the Clown Prince of Crime. According to Morrison, the Joker was constantly reinventing himself -- goofy trickster one minute, nihilistic murderer the next, and so on -- which sort of leaves room for multiple interpretations of him.

Perhaps to evade some of the responsibility of writing such a sociopath, Azzarello chose to tell the story from the point of view of an original character. Jonny Frost appears at first to be the usual ever-loyal henchman, eager to attach himself to the Joker for personal gain, but underneath he is in fact the usual philosopher-criminal who thinks he's got it all worked out. As with anyone who spends enough time with the Joker, he soon finds out how wrong he is.

Thunderbolts: Cage (Review)

Writer: Jeff Parker

Artist: Kev Walker

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Collects: Thunderbolts #144-147; material from "Enter the Heroic Age"

The great thing about only being a casual reader of Marvel is that I have no idea who half the characters are in most stories. I go in blind, ready to discover their personalities and nuances, and be wowed by some new hero or villain. A good writer can appeal to readers such as me; showing us why these characters are so long-lasting without simply referring to their pre-established reputations.

And Jeff Parker is a good writer.

Compared somewhat unfairly to DC's Secret Six, which I love, I was attracted to the idea of a team of Marvel villains working under the supervision of Luke Cage. I was further lured in by the aforementioned exciting opportunity to get to know new characters (aside from Cage and Crossbones, whom I were already familiar with). Plus, everybody loves a good villain story. You know you do.

The Weekly Trade #17

Trying to save up for Kapow! in London next month. Trying.

Nevetheless...

Justice League of America: Dark Things (hardcover)
Written by James Robinson; art by Mark Bagley; published by DC Comics.
I'm trying to get into Robinson's JLA, but if this volume doesn't cut it, I'm dropping it like its temperature exceeds safe parameters.

Thunderbolts: Cage (softcover)
Written by Jeff Parker; art by Kev Walker; published by Marvel Comics.
Like a clever field mouse, I waited til this came out in paperback. But I'm sure it'll be grand.

Just a "one-two" punch from the Big Two this week. Carry on trying.

Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Volume Two (Review)

Writer: Roger Langridge

Artist: Chris Samnee
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Collects: Journey into Mystery #85-86; Thor: TMA #5-8

In my review of the first volume of this "closed continuity" series I said that it felt like a superhero rom-com. It left me feeling warm and fuzzy inside, but did not leave much of an impression on my mind. Nevertheless, I liked it enough to pick up this second and (sadly) final volume. Thank Odin that I did.

Although the tragically premature death of this series means a few sub-plots were left unresolved -- the identity of the person or persons who captured Thor, why Thor was sent to Earth, what (if anything) Loki was up to -- the only thing that was really important, the relationship between Thor and Jane, sees a happy end.

The Weekly Trade #16

Beep... Beep... BEEEEEEEEEP!

Here's what I bought this week with my birthday money.

The Starman Omnibus, Volume Two (hardcover)
Written by James Robinson; art by Tony Harris, et al; published by DC Comics.
Slowly working my way through this incredible series from the '90s. I'll have it finished by the time Robinson gets around to that Shade mini-series. Heh.

All-Star Superman, Volume Two (softcover)
Written by Grant Morrison; art by Frank Quitely; published by DC Comics.
I read the first volume of this critically-acclaimed series some time ago and only just got around to buying the second. To be honest, I don't find it as incredible as others seem to, but it's still a damn good read.

Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Volume Two (softcover)
Written by Roger Langridge; art by Chris Samnee; published by Marvel Comics.
Lotta volume twos this week. This is the last collecion of a wonderful little series, and I look forward to enjoying it.

Pale Horse (softcover)
Written by Andrew Cosby and Michael Alan Nelson; art by Christian Dibari; published by BOOM! Studios.
I do love me a good Western, and this tale of an ex-slave on the run from the law for a crime he didn't comit sounds good.

I'm 24, by the way. That... That was the joke in the opening line... 24? Get it? Nevermind.

Where Do I Start With... The Flash

Who?

One of DC's oldest characters, the Flash was first created back in 1940 by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert. Jay Garrick was a college student who inhaled hard water vapours (we all experiment a little in college, man) and developed the ability to move at superhuman speeds as a result.

An excellent example of a legacy superhero, Garrick was replaced as Scarlet Speedster in 1956 by forensic scientist Barry Allen in the pages of Showcase #4. Usually considered the "main" Flash, Barry was replaced by his nephew and sidekick Wally in 1986, who also went on to have a very successful run. Barry's grandson Bart briefly assumed the mantle in 2006 as well, but in 2008 Barry returned to the role for good.

Always at the forefront of DC events and milestones, the Flash is a much-loved character, regardless of who is filling the well-worn boots, and is known for fun, light-hearted stories with plenty of action and drama too.

Okay, so where do I start?

Batman: Joker's Asylum, Volume One (Classic Review)

Originally released in 2008.

Writers: Various (see below)

Artists: Various (see below)

Publisher: DC Comics
Collects: Joker's Asylum: Joker; Penguin; Poison Ivy; Scarecrow; Two-Face

When this mini-series from DC first came out in 2008, I feared that it would get lost under the mountain of Bat-hype that was happening at the time. The Dark Knight was approaching cinemas faster than ticket sales could keep up with, and in comics Grant Morrison was taking Bruce Wayne on an interesting journey in Batman R.I.P.

And then there was Joker's Asylum. Five one-shots focusing on different members of Batman's infamous rogues gallery, each narrated by the Joker. These intriguing character pieces not only gave us an in-depth examination of each villain wrapped around a short story, but also spoke to that old chestnut we all secretly love: That the bad guys are always more interesting than the good guys.

Catwoman: Selina's Big Score (Classic Review)

Originally released in 2002.

Writer: Darwyn Cooke

Artist: Darwyn Cooke

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Original graphic novel

As I was reading this gripping heist story, it occurred to me that it wasn't really about Catwoman.

No, sorry. Let me clarify that. Darwyn Cooke has an excellent handle on the character of Selina Kyle. She's a woman with a troubled past, looking towards a brighter future. She takes what she wants when she wants it and is not too proud to be proud without losing a shred of her grace or allure. This is a spot-on portrayal of Catwoman.

But Selina's Big Score is one of those stories that superhero fans are somewhat afraid of. It feels almost free of the confines of the DC Universe, and could honestly be about a totally original group of characters and still be just as good. However, most comics readers won't pick anything up unless it has a big name they recognise on the front.

The Weekly Trade #15

And the nominees for Comics I Bought This Week are...

Batman: Time and the Batman (hardcover)
Written by Grant Morrison and Fabian Nicieza; art by various; published by DC Comics.
Bruce is back! So, what now? Featuring the brilliant 700th issue.

Thor: First Thunder (softcover)
Written by Bryan J.L. Glass; art by Tan Eng Huat; published by Marvel Comics.
An origin story of everyone's favourite Thunder God sounds like my kinda deal.

Catwoman: Selina's Big Score (softcover)
Written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke; published by DC Comics.
Yet another Catwoman tale, this one by one of my favourite artists. Nothing to do with any movie.

And the winner is...

A-Musing: Mad Science

If you read a lot of superhero comics, then you may have noticed that science rarely goes right. There's radioactive spiders running amok, hazardous chemicals placed dangerously near non-lightning-proof windows, and extremely flimsy security around gamma bomb test sites -- and that's just on the hero side of things.

Whenever some ahead-of-his-time genius invents a freeze-ray or weather-control machine, he never seems to use it to benefit mankind, or even just get filthy rich from the profits. No, he tries and takes over the world, kill a superhero, or even just rob banks for much, much less money than his discovery is worth.

So why is it that superheroes are so closely tied to the "science gone wrong" sub-genre? What is it that makes characters like Spider-Man and The Hulk more popular than mystical heroes like Captain Marvel or Dr. Strange? Why do we like to see science fail and everything go wrong? Hopefully, before I get bored and just click "Publish", I will answer this conundrum.

The Weekly Trade #14

Let's see what you've won!

(Or what I got this week.)

Justice League: Rise and Fall (hardcover)
Written by J.T. Krul; art by various; published by DC Comics.
The current run of JLA stories hasn't exactly been "wowing" me, but I've heard some rather... interesting reports on this one.

Marvel 1985 (paperback)
Written by Mark Millar; art by Tommy Lee Edwards; published by Marvel Comics.
After Nemesis, I wanted to read something by Millar that was a little bit on the lighter side, and this story of a young boy in the "real" world who discovers that Marvel villains are breaking through sounds delightful.

Girl Comics (hardcover)
By various writers and artists; published by Marvel Comics.
Those crazy broads; what are up to now? A showcase of some wonderful female creators working on Marvel characters. I just hope they got paid the same...

That's our show, goodnight everybody!

My Top Ten Justice League Episodes by Dwayne McDuffie

Writer, editor and founder of Milestone Media Dwayne McDuffie sadly passed away last Monday.

McDuffie had done a great deal of work for both Marvel and DC as well as writing several animated television programmes, including Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. He was a very talented writer in all fields, and an all-round great person too, but it will be those two shows that I best remember him for.

Bright, fun, action-packed, and filled with captivating human drama, the Justice League animated shows are the best adaptation of comics I have ever seen, and a lot of their greatest episodes were penned by Mr. McDuffie.

In tribute, I thought I'd share some of my favourite episodes by Dwayne McDuffie. Indulge me, won't you?

10) Clash

One of the many strengths of this show was its highlighting of various DC characters in their own episodes, and in this one it was Captain Marvel. Initially portrayed as something of a simpleton who is just happy to be anywhere, he eventually stands up to the League, calling them out on some of their bad decisions.

This episode also featured not only a sensational fight between Superman and Captain Marvel (mirroring a scene in the comic book Kingdom Come) but a particularly vile Lex Luthor too, as he lures the innocent Marvel to his side.

9) The Brave and the Bold

The friendship between the Flash and Green Lantern is one of the cornerstones of DC's more lighthearted side, regardless of who might be filling those roles. This episode shows a more begrudging respect between Flash and John Stewart, who is somewhat more stoic than Hal Jordan or Kyle Rayner. But it still works.

We are also introduced to supervillain Gorilla Grodd, voiced by the awesomely named Powers Boothe. He is superbly megalomaniacal and ridiculous all at the same time, in a plot that's just ape.

8) Wake the Dead

A sequel of sorts to Marvel homage episode "The Terror Beyond", Solomon Grundy is resurrected into an even more violent and powerful zombie and must be stopped by Dr. Fate, Amazo, Aquaman and Hawkgirl.

Not only is this show's rendition of Amazo amazing, but they actually made me manage to care about Hawkgirl too, and this episode is the best case for that. They also redeemed Aquaman's unjust public persona as a useless fish whisperer.

7) Starcrossed

More of that Hawkgirl stuff, this time in an earlier episode where her race invade Earth for a good cause. This was the first time (but not the last) we saw all Hell break loose for the League, as they become hunted on the streets, and torn apart from within.

It is also full of excellent character moments, including the sharing of secret identities, Batman and Wonder Woman's little moment together, and the final fate of Hawkgirl. A damn good example of this show's strengths, and the point at which it reallt took off.

6) Dead Reckoning

Maybe it's just cause I like Deadman, maybe it's the hilarious plot (once again masterminded by Grodd), maybe it's the tragedy of Batman using a gun, but I always think of this episode quite quickly when I think of JLU.

Their version of Black Manta (here called Devil Ray) is wonderfully amoral, and Luthor's "at last" usurping of Grodd was a long time coming too. A good villain episode all round.

5) Question Authority

One of the most popular supporting characters in this show was the conspirciy theorist, The Question, voiced by the splendid Mr. Jeffrey Combs, and this episode is his tour de force. Uncovering an evil plot that ties to Lex Luthor, the Question attempts to bring him down alone, knowing the League cannot be culpable. But things don't quite go down that way.

Fellow Charlton Comics character Captain Atom also gets his chance to shine here, going toe-to-toe with Superman, who, even after winning the fight, still tends to the Captain because "He's Justice League."

4) The Great Brain Robbery

One of the funniest episodes of the whole show, where the Flash and Lex Luthor switched bodies. It was a slight joke at the fact that Michael Rosenbaum, who voiced the Flash, also played Luthor on the TV show Smallville, but it really took off from there into its own thing.

Lex's attempts to escape the Watchtower provide some classy action, and seeing him outsmarted by Mr. Terrific is satisfying (super-speed is useless in zero gravity), but it's all down to the Flash-as-Luthor scenes. How he bluffs his way through villain meetings and conversations is priceless.

3) Divided We Fall

The culmination of an entire season-worth of build-up, the storyline about the League's name getting dragged through the mud sees its end in a showdown with an amped-up Lex Luthor. After a stunning, all-action episode featuring just about every character at their disposal, it was great to see the original seven strutting their stuff and beating the bad guy.

And the moment with the Flash at the end? Gets me every time. And Green Arrow's speech is second only to Superman's in...

2) Destroyer

Darkseid brings Apokalips to Earth in a big, honkin' battle that sees heroes teaming with villains against the God of Evil in the last ever episode of the show. Batman has some awesome moments, Lex Luthor has some awesome moments, but who would have thought we'd ever see Superman deliver the baddest of bad-ass speeches as he schools Darkseid up and down Metropolis?

Some say that the show could have gone on longer, but considering the perfect final scene (and line), I can't think of a grander finish.

1) The Once and Future Thing, Parts 1 & 2

When I saw that McDuffie had written this episode, I just knew it was going to be number one on this list, and it is indeed my favourite. A time-travel adventure as Batman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern chase bad guy Chronos across the old west and into the future, meeting some classic DC characters along the way, and crossing over with Batman Beyond too.

I honestly cannot think of a more enjoyable episode of this show, or a greater testement to Dwayne McDuffie's talents. He will be sorely missed, but in the meantime, I'm gonna go watch this episode. Excuse me.

And the adventure continues...

Where Do I Start With... Westerns

Wh-- Huh?

Taking a break from the usual format to remind y'all that comic books aren't just about superheroes. Sometimes they're about ordinary men (and women, but mostly men) taking the law into their own hands with naught but their guns and their wits.

And westerns are just as classically American as superheroes are; set in the last years of the wild frontier when the world was getting smaller and the outlaws getting meaner. Westerns received something of a resurgence in late 60s/early 70s mainstream cinema, and comics jumped on the bandwagon too. Even today there seems to be yet another cultural love affair with the Wild West, proving that, like superheroes, they just won't go away.

Okay, so where do I start?

The Weekly Trade #13

I'm not here right now, but please leave a message after the beep and I'll try to get back to you. Beep.

Here's what I got this week.

Nemesis (hardcover)
Written by Mark Millar; art by Steve McNiven; published by Icon Comics.
Read some of this in CLiNT magazine a while back and loved. Another action-packed spectacular from Millar.

Superman/Batman: Torment (softcover)
Written by Alan Burnett; art by Dustin Nguyen; published by DC Comics.
The hardcover came out ages ago,but I'll be damned if I can find it. Should be good, but I'm not as big a fan of Nguyen's art as everyone else is.

Beep!

Shadowland (Review)

Writer: Andy Diggle

Artist: Billy Tan
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Collects: Shadowland #1-5; X-Men: Curse of the Mutants Spotlight

As I understand it, Shadowland was conceived as a street-level equivalent to big, cosmic, universe-threatening comic book Events, and was born out of Andy Diggle's run on Daredevil in which the Man Without Fear became the leader of the Hand, an ancient alliance of powerful ninja. Daredevil thought he could turn the Hand towards good, but things didn't quite turn out that way.

I'm not entirely sure if the "mini-Event" label is accurate. On the one hand, Shadowland did not have the same "everything must change!" impact that most Big Events have. On the other, it was nice just to read a good story for the sake of reading a good story. On the third hand, while many may decry the unrealistic plot points -- the Hand buys Hell's Kitchen and turns it into a fortress, complete with dungeon -- this is proportionally equal to the much grander scale plots found in regular Events.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

The Flash: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues (Review)

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artists: Francis Manapul (main story) and Scott Kolins

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: The Flash #1-7; The Flash: Secret Files and Origins 2010

I said in my last review, for The Return of Bruce Wayne, that Batman is the poster boy for the "grim and gritty" superhero archetype. If that's true, then the Flash is undoubtedly the best representative for the opposite, which, despite many protests, is just as plentiful in comics.

The Dastardly Death of the Rogues is an excellent example of just how much fun both the Flash and his series can be, without sacrificing gravitas. I usually dislike using the term "Silver Age-y" to describe stories like this (because they should not be seen as something long past) but this is like a Silver Age story for the modern day. An outlandish time-travel murder mystery wrapped around some not-too-heavy drama and lovable character moments.

The Weekly Trade #12

The good stuff is starting to roll out as of last week. Here's hoping it continues (as long as my wallet lasts).

Here's my swag this week.

DC Universe Online: Legends #1 (issue)
Written by Marv Wolfman and Tony Bedard; art by Howard Porter, et al; published by DC Comics.
Although I'm not normally an issues man, I thought I might as well try this new mini-series that ties into DCU Online.

The Flash: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues (hardcover)
Written by Geoff Johns; art y Francis Manapul and Scott Kolins; published by DC comics.
YES! It's finally here! As a huge Flash-fan, I have been hotly anticipating the next instalment from this amazing creative team.

Shadowland (hardcover)
Written by Andy Diggle; art by Billy Tan; published by Marvel Comics.
I'm also mildly curious to see what's in store for Daredevil and others in this street-level "mini-Event".

See you next week!

Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne (Review)

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artists: Chris Sprouse, Frazer Irving, Yanick Paquette, Georges Jeanty, Ryan Sook, Pere Perez, Lee Garbett

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #1-6

When Bruce Wayne appeared to shuffle off this mortal coil at the end of Final Crisis two years(!) ago, most of us who had been reading superhero comics for a while knew it was only a matter of time before he returned. What we didn't know was how much we would come to enjoy Dick Grayson's career as Batman in the meantime.

As we found ourselves growing to like the former Boy Wonder more and more with each new adventure, Bruce's return became less and less anticipated. Yet it still loomed on the comic book horizon, and we felt a strange sense of dread and shame as it approached.

But we cannot put off the inevitable any more. This is comics, after all, where nothing lasts forever and nothing ever ends. And so, The Return of Bruce Wayne, as its title suggests, has our eponymous and amnesiac hero trapped in the past, jumping ever closer to the present and to his former position, all the while trying to solve a millennia-old mystery and recover his memories in the process.

The Weekly Trade #11

I'm home today, but will be away again shortly. Might get out a review tomorrow, might not.

In the meantime, here's what I got this week.

Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne (deluxe hardcover)
Written by Grant Morrison; art by various; published by DC Comics.
Given how much I've enjoyed the adventures of Dick and Damian as Batman and Robin, I'm not so interested in Bruce getting back as I am in where the heck he was.

Superman: War of the Superman (hardcover)
Written by Sterling Gates and James Robinson; art by various; published by DC Comics.
This is it: the thrilling finale to the New Krypton saga. I can't wait!

Catwoman: When in Rome (softcover)
Written by Jeph Loeb; art by Tim Sale; published by DC Comics.
Yet another book I had always meant to read by one of my favourite creative teams. Movie hype? What movie hype?

Until next week... Yeeeeeeeeeeah!

Announcement

Since I'm going to be all over the place this week, I'm not going to be posting any new content.

I might get The Weekly Trade done, but normal service will no doubt resume by next week.

Carry on.

The Question: Pipeline (Review)

Writer: Greg Rucka

Artist: Cully Hammer

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Detective Comics #854-865 (back-up material)

Ever since Renee Montoya took over the role of the Question from Vic Sage there's been a general feeling of uneasiness. Was she right for the job? This uneasiness was part of her character, as she constantly questioned her own identity and future, so it played quite nicely.

Renee's involvement in her first two major stories, The Five Books of Blood and Final Crisis: Revelations, continued this theme. Renee was starting to accept herself as the Question, but these mystical tales hardly seemed fitting to such a character.

With Pipeline, any and all uneasiness in both Renee and the reader is eliminated. Like Vic (or Charlie to his friends) before her, Renee has shed her former destructive self and embraced a more productive and positive lifestyle. It is rare that one takes pleasure in seeing a character mature like this, especially in mainstream comics where one is dreading the return to status quo.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

The Weekly Trade #10

It's been a heckuva week. Did you notice the double content yesterday, like I said? Let's see what I got...

Superman: The Last Stand of New Krypton (hardback)
Written by Sterling Gates and James Robinson; art by various; published by DC Comics.
The exciting New Krypton saga draws closer to its finale.

The Question: Pipeline (softcover)
Written by Greg Rucka; art by Cully Hammer; published by DC Comics.
Rucka's new direction for Rene Montoya is very interesting, and Cully Hammer's art looks great.

The Lone Ranger and Tonto (softcover)
Written by Brett Matthews, et al; art by Sergio Cariello, et al; published by Dynamite Entertainment.
As I've said elsewhere, this is an amazing series, and this little collection of short stories, featuring guest contributors, should be good.

See y'all next week.

Where Do I Start With... Catwoman

Who?

A Batman villain almost as old as the Joker, Selina Kyle first caught the Dark Knight's eye as Catwoman in 1940 (initially known as simply "The Cat"), and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane.

Over the years, she eventually evolved into an on-again/off-again love interest and femme fatale type for the Batman, and is now something of an anti-villain, occasionally starring in her own spin-off series.

She remains one of the most famous Bat-villains and has appeared in various media adaptations, played by many different actresses, including: Julie Newmar, Lee Meriweather, Eartha Kitt, Michelle Pfeiffer, Adrienne Barbeau, Halle Berry, Gina Gershon, and (soon) Anne Hathaway.

Okay, so where do I start?

A-Musing: My First Week as a Superhero

I can still remember first hearing the words, "DC Universe Online".

It seems like so long ago, and fresh on the heels of announcements such as Star Trek Online, Lord of the Rings Online and even Pirates of the Caribbean Online, so at first it seemed like just another jump onto an already over-capacity bandwagon.

And initially I was indifferent. No, scratch that. I was actually completely disinterested now that I recall. I was not one for MMORPGs, having briefly flirted with City of Heroes, another superhero game, and found it lacking.

In my (albeit limited) experience, online games are simply addictive, and possess no engaging qualities beyond the joy of character creation. It seemed like all the endless missions I send my character on were mind-numbingly repetitive, and even though his skills were improving, I was just pressing the same sequence of keys over and over again.

Dracula: The Company of Monsters (Review)

Writers: Daryl Gregory (story by Kurt Busiek)

Artists: Scott Godlewski and Damian Couceiro

Publisher: BOOM! Studios

Collects: Dracula: The Company of Monsters #1-4

Did you know that Dracula owned shares in the East India Trading Company? 'Cause I didn't.

This and other interesting facts about Prince Vlad III of Wallachia make up part of Dracula: The Company of Monsters as it cleverly weaves together history and myth in a story about a present day corporation that revives the Impaler Prince to serve as their... business consultant.

And if, like me, you're thinking that such an insane concept must be the stuff of comedy, you'd be sadly mistaken. Instead we get a strange mix of horror, corporate thriller and drama both historical and modern.

Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America (Classic Review)

Originally released in 2009.

Writer: Jeph Loeb

Artists: Leinil Yu, Ed McGuinness, John Romita Jr., David Finch and John Cassaday

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Collects: Fallen Son: Wolverine; New Avengers; Captain America; Spider-Man; Iron Man

"Where were you when Captain America died?" is the motivating question behind Fallen Son, as it shows the reactions of various Marvel characters in the aftermath of Cap's assassination, even if it does stray from that original concept.

It is quite appropriate for Jeph Loeb to pen this story. Not only is he personally familiar with loss, but his writing always carries a certain weight to it. And the absolute plethora of talented artists here is truly top-form; whether its David Finch's grittiness or Ed McGuinness' solid action or John Cassaday's elegant simplicity, and all of them benefit from Loeb's instant synergy with his artists.

I can think of no tribute more fitting for Cap -- a man who was perceived completely different by everyone who knew him -- than to see his friends and allies all share their image of the Sentinel of Liberty and what he meant to them, and see that maybe he was all these things and more.

The Weekly Trade #9

Apologies for no content yesterday, I was distracted playing DCU Online. Might do two articles next Wednesday to compensate. Don't hold your breath or anything though.

Alright, let's get this over with so I can get back to gaming. What I have I gone and bought this week?

Dracula: The Company of Monsters (paperback)
Written by Kurt Busiek and Daryl Gregory; art by Scott Godlewski and Damian Couceiro; published by BOOM! Studios.
The idea behind this story -- Dracula working for a modern-day corporation and finding himself surronded by worse people than him -- sounded too good not to read.

Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America (paperback)
Written by Jeph Loeb; art by various; published by Marvel Comics.
Various characters react to Cap's death in a great series of stories by Jeph Loeb with several brilliant artists.

Secret Six: Cats in the Cradle (paperback)
Written by Gail Simone and John Ostrander; art by J. Calafiore, R.B. Silva and Alexandre Palamaro; published by DC Comics.
This series is just always great. That is all.

The Sixth Gun: Cold Dead Fingers (paperback)
Written by Cullen Bunn; art by Brian Hurtt; published by Oni Press.
What is it with indie books and interesting stories? This one is about magic guns or something.

Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier (hardback)
Written by Ed Brubaker; art by Dale Eaglesham; published by Marvel Comics.
I can't wait to see what's next for Steve in this story from two great creators.

Now if you'll excuse me; duty calls!

Villains United (Classic Review)

Originally released in 2005.

Writer: Gail Simone

Artists: Dale Eaglesham and Val Semeiks

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Villains United #1-6

Back during DC's Event story Infinite Crisis they released four tie-ins that added extra backstory or angles to the overall plot. Villains United explored the formation of Lex Luthor's "Secret Society" and their "scrappy underdog" counterparts (and adversaries), the Secret Six.

The anti-villain characters of Scandal, Deadshot, Catman, Ragdoll, Cheshire and Parademon would prove to be so popular a team dynamic that, with a few minor changes to the ever-fluctuating roster, they eventually got their own ongoing series out of it.

But Villains United is where it all started. With the Secret Society recruiting pretty much every supervillain in the DC Universe into its ranks, the Six were formed by the mysterious Mockingbird to uncover the Society's true purpose. Six villains who were either too insignificant or too proud to join the Society, but were swiftly transformed into some of the most intriguing characters in the DC pantheon.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

Doom Patrol: Brotherhood (Review)

Writer: Keith Giffen

Artists: Matthew Clark, Ron Randall and Cliff Richards

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Doom Patrol #7-13

Every superhero fan has that one character or team that they possess an inexplicable love for. Their books might not sell as well as others and they might not get talked about as often, but there's a small, almost cultish appeal that they have.

For me, it's the Doom Patrol. I know they're not household names and their stories are hardly genre-defining, but that, in a way, is what makes them great. They're like those kids at school who don't fit into any of the usual social groups, and are therefore in a group of their own.

But as much as I love the Patrol, I went into Keith Giffen's latest run (starting with We Who Are About to Die) with low expectations. The current and much discussed climate in the world of comics publishing is not friendly to a "middle of the road" type book for a start. On a more personal level, I honestly did not think that Giffen could possibly capture the classic spirit of Arnold Drake's original Silver Age stories, nor the pure imagination of Grant Morrison's 1989-1993 run.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

The Weekly Trade #8

I'm still doing these on Thursdays, no matter what day new comics come out. I'm set in my ways. Here's what I got this week...

Doom Patrol: Brotherhood (paperback)
Written by Keith Giffen; art by Matthew Clark with Ron Randall and Cliff Richards; published by DC Comics.
The Doom Patrol is a cult favourite of mine, and this latest run from Giffen and Clark has hit all the right buttons so far.

Batman: Joker's Asylum 2 (paperback)
By various writers and artists; published by DC Comics.
The first series was ace, and I actually bought the whole second run in issues, but it was good enough to buy in trade.

Thor: Age of Thunder (paperback)
Written by Matt Fraction; art by various; published by Marvel Comics.
With Fraction on the current series, I thought I'd check out this collection of stories he did a while back.

That's it for this week. DC Universe Online comes out this week, so... y'know... lower your expectations for a while, that's all I'm saying.

A-Musing: Parallel Universes, Grant Morrison, and Why Superman is Real

Stay with me here. This one is gonna get weird.

In these days of comic book multiverses, where Heaven forbid we should just read a story without worrying about where it "fits", things can get a little complicated. But I'm not going to debate the minutiae of Earths 0 through 616, at least not here anyway. I'm going to examine something a lot more boring: Terminology.

Again, stay with me. You have no idea where this is going, trust me.

In a lot of crazy sci-fi stories, the terms "parallel universe" and "alternate reality" are thrown around quite a lot and used interchangeably to describe these concepts. Being the obsessive nerd that I am, I stubbornly preferred the latter term, believing that "parallel universe" was an incorrect label; that it was somehow inaccurate.

Then I had a life-changing epiphany...

Marvel vs. DC (Classic Review)

Originally released in 1996.

Writers: Ron Marz, Peter David

Artists: Dan Jurgens, Claudio Castellini, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Publisher: DC Comics/Marvel Comics
Collects: DC vs. Marvel #1-4; Dr. Strangefate #1

Come with me on a journey back 15 years, to a time when Superman had a mullet, Spider-Man was a clone, and every other word had the letter X awkwardly forced into it.

It is a time where mainstream superhero stories have fallen somewhat by the wayside. The art was difficult to look at, the characters zero-dimensional, and the plots reduced to mindless stunts. Seeking to regain their former glory, DC Comics and Marvel Comics put their heads together and came up with a solution.

They were going to pull off the biggest, most mindless stunt possible by having their characters fight each other until only one remained! One reader, that is.

One Month to Live (Review)

Writers: Rick Remender, Rob Williams, Stuart Moore, John Ostrander

Artists: Andrea Mutti, Koi Turnbull, Shawn Moll, Shane White, Graham Nolan, Jamie McKelvie

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Collects: 1 Month 2 Live #1-5

Stand-up comedian Dylan Moran once said that all Irish people look as if they are being told really good news in one ear while being told really bad news in the other.

That is essentially what happens to the character of Dennis Sykes in this creator-jam story from Marvel, presumably sent to remind us of how "real" their stories always are. Dennis -- who seems to be some kind of... accountant? Bank employee? I dunno; whatever he is, he seems to wreck people's dreams for a living and is ashamed for it -- discovers he has matter-altering superpowers at the same time he discovers he has cancer, with one month on the clock.

Resolved to use both his powers and dwindling time to make a positive difference in the lives of others and his family, Dennis soon finds himself entering the wider world of the Marvel Universe with consequences both personal and far-reaching

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

The Weekly Trade #7

Apparently, the UK has now caught up with the US, in that new comics will be out on Wednesday. I don't know what to make of this; still struggling with it...

Here's what I bought this week anyway...

One Month to Live (hardcover)
Various writers and artists; published by Marvel Comics.
The tale of an ordinary man in the Marvel Universe who gets superpowers, but discovers that he only has a month to live. Reminds me of a Dylan Moran stand-up routine...

Daredevil: Yellow (hardcover)
Written by Jeph Loeb; art by Tim Sale; published by Marvel Comics.
I mentioned in my last "Where Do I Start..." post that, despite my love for the character and creative team, I hadn't read this origin story, so here I am.

The Dark Knight Strikes Back (softcover)
Written by Frank Miller; art by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley; published by DC Comics.
Blah blah blah, sequel to the groundbreaking The Dark Knight Returns, blah blah blah, must-read, blah blah blah, no Batfan's collection complete without it, blah blah blah, Frank Miller.

Seriously, Wednesday?! What am I gonna do on Thursdays now?

A-Musing: Things to Look Forward to in 2011

Since I've done one of those nostalgic looks back at the trades of 2010, I thought I might as well do a hopeful look at what's to come in 2011, comics-wise.

This list doesn't just apply to comic books though. Just this once, I'm breaking my usual format to let you know what I'm most excited about in all fields; comics, TV, film, etc. Because this is the Internet, where everyone is equally important. I think that's how it works anyway...

I take absolutely no blame if any of these things turn out to be terrible, by the way. Let none of us forget the disproportionate amount of expectation vs. actual quality regarding the Jonah Hex movie. Also, all of these dates are subject to change. That's not my fault either.

So, what am I looking forward to in 2011?

The Starman Omnibus, Volume One (Classic Review)

Originally released in 2008.

Writer: James Robinson

Artist: Tony Harris (et al)
Publisher: DC Comics
Collects: Starman #0-16

What kind of music does Batman like to listen to? What's Wonder Woman's favourite food? What hobbies does Superman have?

I bet, even with over seventy years of stories, nobody can answer any of those questions. Yet, in just 17 issues, I feel like Jack Knight (Starman) is a lifelong friend.

Nineties superhero comics are often dismissed too quickly. People assume it was all clones and armour without any depth or gravitas, and a lot of it was. But occasionally you find a bright shining star in an otherwise dark sky, and like some ancient explorer, you are lured towards it.

While reading James Robinson's Starman series, I could not help comparing him to Grant Morrison. Both UK writers are huge just now, but both started out with obscure titles (such as Morrison's runs on Animal Man and Doom Patrol) which they could have done poorly and DC would not have suffered. Instead, they proved their worth, excelling in their small corners of the DC Universe, and standing out amongst the noisy and hyperactive 90's mainstream.