Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Picklist: September 10, 2008


  • Booster Gold 12
    Oh, come on. Of course I'm going to be reading this. Booster Gold is one of my top three favorite comics out right now. And I'm only saying top three, as opposed to number one, because I'm too lazy to think through all the titles I'm reading to see if there's something I like more. Screw Trinity; they should make this a weekly.

  • Dark Tower Treachery 1
    Another Dark Tower mini! Yay, Roland! I hadn't heard this was coming down the pipes, but I'm psyched to see it.

  • Ex Machina 38
    I like this title. It's not my usual thing, really. I mean, I'm not even sure what world it's taking place in. It's not the Wildstorm world, because that got Blowed Up. And Mitch Hundred managed to prevent one of the Twin Towers from coming down on 9/11, so... I kind of hope they never drag this into the DCU's Multiverse.

  • Final Crisis Revelations 2
    The sad thing is, there are so many bloody Final Crisis titles that I couldn't even remember which one this was. I had to go and look at FC:R 1 to see. That was the one where Dr. Light, rapist and general scumbag, got crisped by Crispus. Burn on him. Heh. Again, I'm not sure where the line is between the DCU and Vertigo anymore. This is some dark and violent stuff. When we left off last issue, the Spectre was about to take vengeance on Renee Montoya, aka The Question. Crispus couldn't stop the Spectre from whacking his own son, so will he be able to save Renee? Inquiring minds want to know, so I'm going to give this another try.

  • Green Arrow Black Canary 12
    This title is kind of blah. I'm pretty much reading it as a matter of habit at this point. I'm honestly not sure why I'm bothering.

  • Trinity 15
    More Trinity, please. Honestly, I haven't been enjoying the backup stories so much, but this book is still going strong. It's way better than last year's horrible Countdown.

  • Wonder Woman 24
    What I said about the Green Arrow Black Canary book? Ditto.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Reviews: August 27, 2008 (part 2)

Adam Strange Special 1
So like I said in the picklist entry, I'm only getting this because it's tied in with the Rann-Thanagar mess (notice how you can't merge the two, like Bennifer, because Ranagar is a place?), and I'm only reading that because I kind of liked the interactions in the Countdown to Adventure mini, even though I hate the hell out of the whole Holy War thing.

So anyway, when I saw the cover, the first thing I thought was, "Is that supposed to be the Spectre?" I mean, wrong color scheme and all, but same wonky pointed hood, and he's Rilly, Rilly Big. Of course, it's actually Synnar.

And you know something funny? I really liked this book. It was wicked cool, with Adam bouncing through time, finding out things that may or may not lie in his future. It's enough to actually restore some interest in the Holy War series for me. Particularly the part where Sardath apologizes to him and admits he was wrong. That part has really bugged me. It's not like I was ever really fond of Sardath, but the whole conversion thing really felt to me like DC taking a swipe at religion. Like if a scientist becomes religious, he's bound to become a total psycho about it. It's nice to see that that isn't going to last forever.

Manhunter 34
Bad art alert. Ugh.

GAHHHHH! Ramsey's grandfather pulled his puppy's head off! That's just gross, not to mention cruel. There has to have been a better way to show that the dog is a robot. Couldn't he have opened a side panel, or something?

And what's with Boomerang Jr? I thought he decided to be a good guy, no? He was hanging out with Kara over in Supergirl and all... when did he go over to the Dark Side? Oh... he didn't. Kate really isn't that good at this stuff, is she? It's a little endearing, actually. She's really trying, but the world is a bit more complicated than she's able to see. And you know... I think I'm glad. Sometimes right and wrong is simple. Saving those women takes priority over the Big Picture for Kate. It might for me, too.

And wow... I bet there's going to be a huge uproar about Todd and Damon kissing. It's okay for them to be gay (just barely), but no PDA. Right... The 'phobes are going to be out in force this time.

See you all next week.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Reviews: September 4, 2008 (Part 1)

Supergirl 33
Now this was nice. It's about time they portrayed Kara as a normal person. The way she trashed Clayface was just lovely. I mean, who doesn't enjoy hearing a supervillian whimper? It reminded me of this.

I think it's nice that she forgave Empress. She's finally really acting like a hero. And the others are seeing her that way, too. "Because she's Supergirl." And shouldn't that be how it is?

Trinity 14
So What Now?
Okay, so the Crime Syndicate is on the Antimatter Earth. So who's on Earth-3? Is Earth-3 the Antimatter Earth? Grrr...

So Superman gets marked. Now all three of them have. But damn, on his forehead? "That's gonna leave a mark", as they say. I'm glad that Vixen, at least, got that they were all acting like each other. And I have to say that Enigma is shaping up to be the most interesting character in this whole series. My guess last week that he's the Eddie Nigma of the Syndicate's Earth hasn't been confirmed yet, but the way he charged in all white knight makes me think it even more.

--Let the Burning Begin
So... it's nice to see Geo-Force looking better after trying to slice his own throat with a sword over in DCU: Last Will and Testament. Oh, right, I forgot. None of DC's comics have anything to do with any other DC comics any more.

They throw a human sun into the Sun. And "Supergirl barely shields us in time". With what? A teenaged girl shields Rex Mason, Brion Markov and Carter Hall? Three strapping dudes? I mean, the Silver and Bronze Age Superman (and maybe Supergirl) would have used their capes. But I don't think Supergirl's costumes are indestructable any more, let alone infinitely stretchable.

I'd talk more about the story, but there wasn't much of one.

Angel: After the Fall 12
CORDELIA!!!!!!!

Gawd, I've missed her. But... but... she's only back to make Angel's final death easier on him? And Angel's willing to go... why? Because Wesley gave him a vision of Angelus destroying everything? Honestly, I'm not sure I understood what was happening here.


Buffy Season Eight 18
Ah, yes, teenybopper centaur porn. What could be better?

When I read Fray, I wondered what happened to all the Slayers. I mean, I think Joss wrote it before all the potentials became actual Slayers, but I figured there had to be a way to make it fit. Buffy is really freaked out to find out that it was all, seemingly, for nothing. I would be, too.

Willow watches BSG! "Frak," she says. Twice. And if Kennedy is "Ken-doll", does that make Willow "Barbie"? "New, from Mattel. It's Dark Barbie! Watch her eyes turn black as she decides to destroy the world. Comes with one yellow crayon."

"Ridden hard and put away wet." ICK! But it's a Forestal. Straight from Garroting Deep, it's Cairroil Wildwood. Or Lorelahn, as he's called here. Cool... but we didn't see enough of him. I imagine he'll be back next issue.

So... is Future-Dark-Barbie-Willow-Madwoman a good guy or a bad guy? She wants Fray to kill Buffy, but she seems to have some good reasons. Maybe. Argh, cliffhangers irk me.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Picklist: September 4, 2008

Ah, Labor Day. One of those lovely days that can transform a Wednesday into a Thursday.


  • Adam Strange Special 1
    I haven't been enjoying the Rann-Thanagar Holy War thing. But on the off chance that it improves, this tie-in is going to be necessary.

  • Angel: After the Fall 12
    I'm not sure, but I think this is the last issue of the series. It's definitely not as strong as the Buffy continuation, but there's no way I can miss it.

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer 18
    This cover is so over the top. Honestly, teenaged centaur porn? Ick. But I've been loving this. I have to admit... my favorite sequel to the TV show has been WaTchers. So I'm considering Joss's Season 8 as a sort of Earth-2 Buffy. I know that's probably bass-ackwards, but WaTchers was here first, and I think the stories are actually better. But like all good things, it's coming to an end, and I'm glad Joss is doing this one.

  • Manhunter 34
    So... Kate and the Birds of Prey in the desert (with the candlestick). I like Manhunter. I have since it started. Even when it's lagging, it's still better than most of the books out there.

  • Supergirl 33
    In all honesty, I didn't entirely get what happened last issue. Supergirl spends then next 50 years or so trying to deal with not saving Thomas? I'm hoping that this issue clears things up a bit.

  • Trinity 14
    "A cataclysmic event that will change the world Рbut not like anyone involved expects". I think I just threw up in my mouth. How many cataclysmic events that will change the world can we have? And if those involved are surprised, it's probably only because they don't read enough comic books. Still, Trinity has been solid, and I'm not going to let a clich̩-ridden promo deter me.



Seeya Thursday (or Friday), assuming I don't find something to rant about before then. Like the horrible Dark Knight movie that I shouldn't have gone to.