In this episode, Chris H and Josh P read an email, and boy do they ever stretch it out! Also there's discussion of summer movies and comic books. You know the drill.
West
Coast About Heroes - Episode 28
We have a twitter account! For more frequent comic-oriented updates, follow us: TWEET. Also, feel free to email us: aboutheroes 'AT' gmail.com.
Authors: Phil Jimenez & John Wells
Publisher: Del Rey
What I would have given for this book to come out five years ago when I was re-reading my Wonder Woman trades and I needed a source of information to fill in the missing gaps not reprinted. Sure that information was vaguely available online, but for a character that has been around longer than Spider-man, the X-men, and Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) she sure didn’t get that much spotlight and the resources were very limited. I couldn’t think of a better person to write this database on information than Phil Jimenez (since he did have a run on the book for four years), well I guess other than William Moulton Marston.
Of course William Moulton Marston could write an encyclopedia on the character he created in 1940, but didn’t get introduce to the DC universe until 1941. He is also the creator of the polygraph machine, which I’m assuming might have something to do with the lasso of truth. See, its information like this that you will absorb just browsing through the book. You will also find the complete story of Diana’s origins, as imagined written by various creators from different generations and even her creator Marston. There are biographies of every major character in Wonder Woman’s universe, including her mother, Hippolyta, who was Wonder Woman herself back in the Golden Age. Her sister/reincarnation/daughter/replacement/ Donna Troy; Yes Donna Troy could have an essential encyclopedia all to herself. Her lover or sometimes just ally Steve Trevor. And what is a handbook without a complete guide of her villains such as Hades, Giganta, Silver Swan, Circe as well as classic foes like Ares, Cheetah, Darkseid, and the members of Villainy Inc. Although the almost 500 page massive book is printed in classic black-and-white pages there are 32 pages of full-color artwork inserts and an original cover illustration by fan-favorite artist Adam Hughes. We are still waiting on that All Star Wonder Woman Adam, don’t think we’ve forgotten! Did I mention the awesome introduction by Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman, and Secret Six author Gail Simone?
Don’t think this book is just for the hard core Wonder Woman addict, anybody could pick up the book and enjoy it. However, I wouldn’t consider this a coffee table book either; it is definitely intended as a reference guide than a book anyone can just pick up and browse through. Instead of having a constant narrative like most books that have covered this particular subject, Jimenez and Wells make this book into a handbook as it has alphabetical listings of each character, the issues they first appeared in and the stories behind their first appearance and in case they are dead, their last appearance. For those that want to become experts on Wonder Woman and her huge cast of secondary character this is the book for you. If you have ever wondered the difference between Gods, Demi-gods, Titans, and New Gods…well look no further. You want to know why Princess Diana surrenders her powers to become Diana Prince, student of Chinese martial arts mentor I Ching; this is what you’ve been looking for! It is an exceptionally thorough work that seems like it was years in the making and is everything most every fan of Wonder Woman or just casual fans that are interested in the character would ever need or want. A
In this episode, we read and discuss an email from a fan and discuss upcoming movie news. First comic mentioned is The Boys. Blackest Knight is in there as well. There's some flash and a teensy bit of marvel, but it's mostly Ultimate-oriented. Listen, and listen well my friends.
West
Coast About Heroes - Episode 23
We have a twitter account! For more frequent comic-oriented updates, follow us: TWEET. Also, feel free to email us: aboutheroes 'AT' gmail.com. And as promised...Tobey is ugly.
Siege is discussed (at length) and the group is surprised to have genuine, earnest and well merited positive feelings towards Marvel! Mark your calendars, kiddies, this is one of the first times the West Coast Crew has unanimously agreed on something (we haven't fact-checked that). Also discussed: The State of the Ultimate Universe, Jeph Loeb (getting better!?), John Romita Jr., Blackest Night, Batman and Robin, Spider-Woman (and cross-dressing as her), Captain America (and his stream of justice), New Krypton, and your humble servant, yours truly, get's spit on and taken for granted. Woo! Take a listen, NERD!
West
Coast About Heroes - Episode 22
We have a twitter account! For more frequent comic-oriented updates, follow us: TWEET. Also, feel free to email us: aboutheroes 'AT' gmail.com. And as promised...Tobey is ugly.
Scooper Dustin Chisam sent in a link to Slashfilm showcasing some concept alien art from the new Green Lantern Movie. I'm digging me some Kilowog....
Aaaaaand just for funsies, here's that awesome fan-art of RR in GL duds. Looking good, Van. Lookin' good.
Thanks Dustin!
If anyone else wants their swag posted, just send it to aboutheroes@gmail.com and it'll find it's way up onto the site. Unless it's super-hero porn, then it just goes to my hard drive.
In this episode, we discuss Blackest Night #1, Deadpool stuff, SDCC, Twilight hatred, X-Men: Necrosha, Dark Reign, New Avengers, Blabbity blah blah...IT'S COMICS!!!
We have a twitter account! For more frequent comic-oriented updates, follow us: TWEET. Also, feel free to email us: aboutheroes 'AT' gmail.com (I know I say a different account name in the podcast, i made a new one!!!)
West
Coast About Heroes - Episode 11
Well well well, it's finally here folks. The day the Green Lanterns have been talking about since they learned to rhyme. Blackest Night! It's begun, and with quite a bang if you ask me. It practically screamed to be reviewed, so....here I am, reviewing it.
We start out with Black Hand digging up and immediately puking onto / making out with poor old Batman's skull, which, apparently turned it into a Black Ring Pez Dispenser.
But seriously, before going any further, let's just discuss this. Batman's been in the ground for a hot DC minute and already, some asshole's digging him up and using is noggin as the spitoon from hell. The only reason it's forgiveable is because it prompts Alfred to pull a classic Gob Bluth moment...
a reaction...
Honestly though, the reprecussions of using Bats' skull as the black ring dispenser are yet to be seen, but I just needed an excuse to throw those two images up next to each other. Moving on then...
All the super-people and a lot of the citizens out there are using the day of Superman's 'death' as a day of remembrance for those who have fallen in the line of super hero duty. A clever and fitting device to remind all the readers of those top tier few who've taken the heroic "save the universe" dirt nap, along with all the second, third, fourth, and fourteenth stringers that you may or may not heard of.
Meanwhile under the Hall of Justice, Barry and Hal are having the conversation that seems to have been going on for months now. "ZOMG HAL! I WUZ DED FER SO LONG. I FEEEL LYKE I MIZZED AWOT!!!" In non-retarded aboutheroe-writer words, that's Barry Allen woefully catching up with Hal on all the stuff he missed while he was spending quality time with the Speed Force. This issue, the focus of the conversation is....SURPRISE! PEOPLE WHO DIED!
No sooner has Geoff Johns thoroughly reminded us of all the stiffs laying around in the DCU, he flips the switch and starts the party with some horrific, somewhat hilarious guardian-on-guardian throat-ripping.
And there we have it. Creepy-Scar-Face Guardian forsakes her blue kin to be the official Guardian of the Black Lantern because...well she's bored. At least that's what I was led to believe In the latest issue of Green Lantern. Either way, we officially have a Black-Lantern bonanza on our hands. The black rings arrive to earth and resurrect everyone and all their mothers, it seems.
Before you know it, Black Lantern Ralph and Sue Dibny savagely kill and 'eat' Hawkgirl and Hawkman, and just when she was getting around to saying she loves him! I hate it when that happens. Black Mask comes up with some Black Lantern Pez (read: Rings) for the two new converts, and a-waaaaay we go! Issue #1 concludes with a bang.
So there we have it. DC's clever answer to Marvel Zombies has begun, and it looks like it's going to be an awesome ride. I wish I could grant more validity to this review by actually, y'know, REVIEWING it, but I'm incapable of doing anything but drooling over Geoff John's work. As far as I am concerned the man can do no wrong, and nothing's changed with this issue. Pick it up. Read it. Try not to do anything weird like rub your genitals on it (I just want my readers to be better than myself. I have standards....for you.) This is an awesome comic. It's a disservice to the artists to not at least mention that Ivan Reis and Oclair Albert did a fantastic job on art. I hope they keep it up, and in a timely manner. UNTIL NEXT TIME, CITIZENS!!!!
-Joshiebear
In this episode, we discuss all things comic oriented (or at least the stuff we care about). Deadpool, Punisher, Batman & Robin, War of Light, Green Lantern, Iron Man, and debate the stupidity of Knife-Guns. Also, 10 black super heroes are named. Who'd we miss?
It's a post-100 world, folks. We're older and wiser now. It just doesn't show.
We start our episode with a recap of the Cincinnati Botcon and a little talk about the 25th Anniversary Transformers line they previewed at the show. Then we run through some wonderful e-mails and we talk about a few comics from the last two weeks, including Free Comic Book Day X-Men, Blue Beetle 26, Mighty Avengers 12 & New Avengers 40, DC Universe 0 and Green Lantern 30. Then we wrap up the episode with a discussion of the best comic book movie ever filmed, IRON MAN.
Author: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Ivan Reis
Inker: Oclair Albert
Colors: Ranov Mayor
Secret Origin kicks off with this issue and to my recollection this is the sixth time since I’ve been collecting comics the origin of Hal Jordan is retold. But Johns makes this one a little different. Sure it’s that same scene with his dad and the plane wrecking we’ve seen over and over, but it seems there are things in this issue that will set the pieces for The Blackest Night.
The issue starts with an inner monologue by Hal Jordan. Reminiscing of his dad and how he told him he could be whatever he wanted to be. Bam! We are back in that popular scene that Johns always goes back to; Hal’s dad flying a Ferris plane and Hal admiring from below holding his dad’s jacket. His father’s plane blows up in front of his eyes (ohh yeah and Carol Ferris was there too). Hal grows up and purposely gets kicked out of the air force academy to visit his dying mother. Seriously this is nothing you haven’t read before, even if you’ve just started reading GL with John’s run. The only difference I see here is there is more detail about Hal's mother and the appearence of Abin Sur and his revelation about Blackest Night.
The connection between Hal and the Blackest Night doesn’t really happen until the last page and last panel to be precise. But, this is really nothing new either, since it’s all been hinted in recent issues of GL. That’s why I love the GL series so much, the writer’s ability to hint to the readers a great conspiracy behind the origin of Hal and the GL Corp without actually going back and doing an origin issue. So this is why I have mix feelings about this. Don’t get me wrong the story is still solid and you really get an emotional depth from the characters, but so far this seems like a director’s cut of Emerald Dawn. You still get your money’s worth in this issue though, with the fantastic art of Reiz and Albert and the great colors that Mayor provides. Even though Reiz seems to be playing around with his style. Fans old and new should still enjoy this issue and even though it won’t be in your face thrilling action that the previous GL issues have been, it will still move you as much. B
In my second week off, Omar, Melanie, Chris and Nick talk about Kickass 1, Young Liars, Cable 1, Buffy 12, X-Force 2, Green Lantern 28, Detective Comics 824, Countdown 8, Uncanny X-Men 496, and the latest issue of Wormwood. Next week, I'll make my triumphant return and whip these guys back into shape.
Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Mike McKone
This issue of Green Lantern marks the end of the Sinestro Corps War Epilogue and the three-part Alpha Lanterns story, but really it is the first stepping-stone to the War of Light, which will bring on the Blackest Night. In this issue we get a ton of small events that move the overall scope of the next two years worth of events forward.
I say first stepping-stone but it could be argued that the first stepping-stone was part 11 of the Sinestro Corp War. But in this issue we get the second new law and it pretty much paves the way for the war grants so much more freedom to the GLs. We also get the upbringing of two more emotions: Rage and Greed (Red and Orange). Though it seems there was no problem creating the rage rings and power battery, greed is going to take some extra time to develop for reasons that haven’t been addressed yet.
Laira has her trial, which is extremely short and though it probably wouldn’t have been the most interesting piece to read about, I would have preferred a much longer court battle. The issue was not nearly as black and white as the arguing sides made it out to be. There was a lot of gray area within the crime itself, and if it was all going to be swept under the rug and ignored than they should have written the crime in a much more obvious direction. Basically what I would have liked was a greater argument on if Laira was justified in killing Amon Sir because he still had on his ring and the law made it clear that though the initial war was over the fight against the Sinestro Corp threat was still going on. I didn’t agree with how the Guardians and the Alpha Lanterns ruled, but I think that was on purpose, we—the readers—are supposed to find holes in the Guardian’s arguments. I wanted more opposition to the Guardians and the AL than just Hal and Laira. I feel like the trial and the AL themselves were pushed aside to further the other sentient emotions coming into existence. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing how those other spectrums come to life but I wanted the story to be about what it was supposed to be about. The side note should have been the spectrums, when instead I think the trial was the side note. I mean we already have a new color lantern at the end of this story, I thought the rise of the Light War was going to be much slower. And I was excited about that. I wouldn’t mind each color getting its own story line; they all seem interesting and important.
The amount of foreshadowing in this book is truly overwhelming. I didn’t know foreshadowing could really be so overwhelming to be perfectly honest. It seems like without a doubt the Guardians are going to become evil or at the very least corrupt and in some way side with Sinestro, hell I see Sinestro taking over the GL Corps in some twisted way for a short period of time. I don’t know what that means for the Sinestro Corps, I guess they just become the Yellow Lantern Corps then. Though this issue was awesome for the fan boy inside of me, I wanted more from it, and the more I think about it the less I liked it, B-.
Shannon Wheeler, creator of Too Much Coffee Man and the new book Screw Heaven, When I Die I'm Going To Mars, joins us for an interview. We also talk about Captain America 34, Batman 673, Emperor Vulcan 5, Green Lantern 27, Ultimate X-Men 90, and Mighty Avengers 8, as well as what we think Batman's death would mean to the DC Universe.
Also, this week (and from here on out), we've got actual show notes! Click on the "Continue Reading" link for links, images, and a few videos.
Episode 90 - You Should Sell Your Comic at Starbucks
Here's nearly an entire show dedicated the the conclusion of the Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps war, as well as our picks for best of 2007!
Josh (Joshiebear) joins us via Skype for this episode, where we finally get back to talking about new books! Discussion includes Green Arrow & Black Canary 1, Superman 668, the Richard Donner run on Action Comics, Green Lantern 24, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man 24 & One More Day, Nova 7, Runaways 28, Booster Gold 3, Captain America's new look, Howard the Duck, X-Factor and Metamorpho Year One.
That's right, for the second week in a row, I kept a list of what we talked about! Thrill to our musings on:
Writer: Mark Waid
Artists: George Perez & Scott Koblish
The first arc of Brave and the Bold is over, and it left something to be desired. While each of the first five issues was fun to see all of the characters interacting and moved the plot along, the final issue where all the characters come together to defeat the villains falls a little flat. The first and third issues were great excercises in fun team-ups, and what I want to see from this title continually. Based on this first arc, I think Mark Waid should write shorter arcs, maybe 2-3 issues long. It's not a bad ending, everything comes together, but the journey here didn't really start until the fourth issue. The Lords of Luck make their grand move to take over the universe and all of time using the Book of Destiny, and it's up to Batman, Hal Jordan, Supergirl, and Adam Strange to stop them. With an appearance from the Challengers of the Unknown in a somewhat contrived plot device, they fight to stop the Luck Lords.
George Perez does his usual great job on art here, so no complaints. With names like Mark Waid and George Perez, this book should be selling like gangbusters, but it's not. People always say that they want more single issues, and if this book went the way of Detective Comics under Paul Dini, it might sell more copies, giving people what they think they want. Waid hasn't failed to put in any less characters by rotating the team-ups, but we could have more exposure to characters like Blue Beetle, Firestorm, and Booster Gold with smaller arcs or one and done issues. I like this book, I like the team, and the way that it manages to usually tell a fun team-up story and have a larger plot in the background, so I will keep picking it up. The minute Perez leaves though, I will re-consider, as I think many fans will. I hope Perez will stay on the book for a good run (24-36) issues, as it seems like he's made for this thing after drawing Crisis on Infinite Earths anyway. This issue is fun, and you can probably read it by itself without the other five issues, but you get more out of it by reading the rest. Which might be how this book is intended to be. Damn. B
Oy vey, sorry I haven't been keeping up with this, I've been super super busy. Ok, so I'll throw two out for this week's Potw just to try and make up for it.
Who's this kid talking about? I have no idea what the context is in this comic, but there's plenty that out there in comics, this kid needs to be more specific.....jesus i disgust myself...
I forget what comic this is, but major props, it's funny.
Writer: Mark Waid
Artists: George Perez & Bob Wiacek
This was a fun book. An old fashioned superhero romp. At first I was not going to pick this up, but as time went on, I said, how can I not? It's George Perez, it's got to be good! Boy was I right. Perez's art-style may be as modern or slick as current artists, but the man can tell a story and frame an action scene. Mark Waid is not one of my favorite writers, but if he can keep each issue of Brave & Bold as fun as this one, he may soon be. The idea of this book is that is a journry through the DCU with a rotating cast. For this arc, it looks to be Green Lantern. Here he teams up with Batman, next issue Supergirl, and who knows after that. At some point it may switch off to another character who was last teamed with Jordan. Hopefully we'll see more than the standard Big Gun team-ups, which was used to launch the book, team-ups with a big character through an wacky adventure with oh, Ambush Bug? That would be a romp. You get the idea. Smaller characters can be explored through these team-ups and maybe get readers to latch on to them and pick-up the books they are featured in. I'm calling for a Blue Beetle team-up. That book needs more attention, but back to the issue...
A murdered man is found in space, and Hal Jordan takes the case to Batman, the premier detective in the DCU for help. The two investigate and get attacked in the Batcave, and travel to Las Vegas. Batman in Vegas? No. Bruce Wayne in Vegas. Let's hear the collective, ahhhhhh.... In a really cool scene we have Bruce pimping the waitresses to get special treatment, and Hal Jordan playing Blackjack so recklessly that he schools Bruce in the game. It was this moment that made the book for me. Both of our heroes bonding out of costume, how often do you see that in super-hero books? Get this book for that moment alone. The way Perez draws the end of the scene is great. Hint, watch Hal's chip count. It's actions like these whether planned by the writer or artist that make comics worth reading, just a little something extra to re-enforce the characterizations. Bully for Mark Waid and George Perez, let's keep it up fellas! A+
This week we talk about....
-Spider-Man : One Moment In Time
-Uncanny x-Men
-Hulk/Red Hulk Discussion
-Inception
-Scott Pilgrim (the books & movie)
-The Expendables
-Machete
-Kick-Ass
-Justice League : Generation Lost
-Upcoming Walking Dead tv series
-Sherlock
...even a little Super Mario Bros talk
All this AND MORE!
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