Issue #64: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, July 15, 2009 & Is Superman Too Old Fashioned For DC Comics And Warner Brothers?

Action Comics #879 (DC)

This week I wasn't able to go to my local comic book store at Acme Comics http://acme-superstore.com . I had some other things I had to do and didn't have time to go this week. If I don't make it on Saturday I'll have to wait until next Wednesday.

This week I thought I would take this opportunity to comment on some quotes by DC and Warner Bro's. executives from the recent court ruling in the ongoing Siegel family lawsuit against DC Comics. I won't quote them directly here, they can be found on any comic book news web site. Their comments seemed to suggest that they felt that Superman was a little outdated, too optomistic for today's entertainment market. Part of their reasoning may have been to present their case in a more favorable light, but if this is their honest opinion, it is very pitiful.

To me, this is another example of the entertainment industry's race to be first to be second. It's easy to understand that dark and gritty super hero movies, like The Dark Knight, are popular, but some executives, like a WB executive earlier this year, seem to think that "dark" heroes are the only in thing with comic book movie adaptions. While Iron Man had some dark scenes, it had some comedic and light moments, due in no small part to to Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man.

As for the earlier comments by a WB executive about Superman, he seemed to think that the next Superman movie would need to be as dark as the character would allow. With Superman, the character can't be made very dark before he stops being Superman and becomes just another nameless dark and gritty character. Part of the problem with Superman Returns (spoiler alert) was that the film strayed from the classic Superman. Producers felt his traditional colors were too bright and created a costume that sported darker hues. And scenes showing the Man of Steel using his x-ray vision and super hearing to spy on Lois Lane, and then sneak into her home to look at his son. That was too much of a departure for many Superman fans.

That is not to say that a Superman movie cannot be made showing him in a darker world. Superman may be very powerful, but you can break his heart and vex his soul. That would be a way to make a "dark" Superman movie without straying from the classic character, and please trend following movie executives. Showing Superman overcome the conflict of a darker world without compromising what makes Superman the Man of Steel would make an original story, instead of playing to the trend of "dark" comic book movies.

It's not Superman that is the problem. DC and movie executives who seem to want to make Superman not be Superman are the problem.

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Superman Fan Podcast can be found at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com . Expanded show notes are at http://supermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com , and e-mail about this podcast can be sent to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com .

Issue#63: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, July 8, 2009:

The Mangalicious Tick: The Rise Of The Setting Sun #1 (of 4) (New England Comics)
Superman: World Of New Krypton #5 (of 12) (New Krypton #32) (DC)
After Watchmen ... What's Next?: Tom Strong #1 (America's Best Comics/Wildstorm/DC)

The Mangalicious Tick: The Rise Of The Setting Sun #1 (of 4) (New England Comics) * * *

I have always been a fan of The Tick comic book, animated and live action series, so it was a pleasant surprise when I saw this title on the shelf at Acme Comics (http://acme-superstore.com/). I missed seeing it on the new release list this week at http://http://www.diamondcomics.com/ . The story is about someone dressed in ancient Japanese samurai armor poppint into the city from a time or dimensional portal. The Tick seems to be sucked through a portal to ancient feudal Japan while Arthur has to deal with the samurai warrior. The art is drawn in a manga style. The quality of the art reminds me of the crude style of Ben Edlund's earliest Tick comic book stories. I'm not much of a manga reader, but the art seemed a little too crude for my taste. But I'm such a Tick fan that I will be getting the other issues. What I do like is that New England Comics has collected all of the Tick mini-series in five paperback volumes. I have the complete Edlund series in several volumes, and I look forward to getting the others. I have only a few issues of the other series. Something I can put on my wish list for birthday or Christmas.

Superman: World Of New Krypton #5 (of 12) (DC) * * * * *

Kal-El and one of his subordinates are on trial for treason, prosecuted by General Zod, in a switch from the Superman movie. This has seemed inevitable since Superman resettled on New Krypton temporarily (?). What made this issue such an enjoyable read was that, as familiar as we have become with these characters and New Krypton, creators Robinson, Rucka and Woods have thrown several plot twists into this issue that I did not see coming. That is the mark of great storytelling. And the last page of the issue was the most shocking of all. It's a great time to be reading Superman comic books.

After Watchmen ... What's Next?: Tom Strong #1 (America's Best Comics/Wildstorm/DC) * * * * *

While I have heard of Tom Strong, as well as the other Alan Moore creations, I have not had the pleasure of reading any of these stories, other than Watchmen and some of Moore's regular DC stories. If it's Alan Moore, it's bound to be good, to borrow an old advertising slogan. Of course I was not disappointed. Tom Strong reminds me of the old pulp character Doc Savage. The introduction, drawn in a cartoony style, of a boy getting his Tom Strong Fan Club membership package in the mail, before he goes to school, was a fun way to begin the story. He reappears between sections of the origin story, reading the comic book while he rides on public transportation. He reads along, blissfully unaware of the adventure happening just outside his wondow. After reading this issue this title is going on my list of titles I have to one day read in trade paperback, along with all of the other Alan Moore titles.

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Superman Fan Podcast can be found at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com/ . Expanded show notes are at http://supermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com .

Issue #61: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, July 1, 2009!

Terry Moore's Echo #13 (Abstract Studios)
Fantastic Four #568 (Marvel)
From the back issue bin:
Action Comics #484, June 1978 (DC) 40th Anniversary Issue Superman Takes A Wife

Terry Moore's Echo #13 (Abstract Studios) * * * * *

This issue everyone's plans seem to start to unravel. An emergency calls Ivy off the chase of Dillon and Julie, whose sister has escaped the mental institution she had been staying in. The news channels are at the scene of the crater that wiped out the highway and the bear of a man Dan Backer goes to the offices of the HeNRI corporation. He is there to claim the bodies of his four brothers who were killed guarding Dillon and Julie when they were attacked by the crazy old man with the metal covered hand. The heat is being turned up on the entire cast, and it looks like nobody is going to have a good day next issue. Terry Moore is doing an excellent job of crafting a suspensful science fiction adventure story, complete with excellent covers.

Fantastic Four #568 (Marvel) * * * *

Ben's fiance Debbie begins to experience the bad side of being engaged to a super hero who does not have a secret identity. Doom's master spends most of this issue toying with the Fantastic Four and presenting Reed Richards with an impossible choice. Of course Reed says there is a third option, but at the end of the issue he faces a challenge from an unexpected source. Next issue is the conclusion, not only to this story but to Mark Millar and Brian Hitch's run on the FF. They have certainly presented themselves a challenge to wrap up this story, and I can't wait until the next issue to find out how the FF win. Hey, it's their title, isn't it?

From the back issue bins:
Action Comics #484, June 1978 (DC) 40th Anniversary Issue: Superman Takes A Wife!

Since this was a light week for me, I could not resist this back issue I had my eye on for a while. I first read this story on a web site while doing research for an episode of my podcast, Superman Fan Podcast. This story was the original Clark/Superman marries Lois story from 1978. It was not an imaginary story, but the story of the Earth-2 Superman and Lois Lane. Readers of Crisis On Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis can read this story of how the Earth 2 Superman and Lois finally got together. It is told in typical silver age style, so it may seem old fashioned to younger readers. For older readers like me, who grew up on these stories (even though I never read this story for myself until now) it was one of the better silver age style stories. If this story interests you, in case a back issue is not available, this story was reprinted in the trade paperback Superman In The Seventies.

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Superman Fan Podcast can be found at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com . Expanded show notes can be found at http://supermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com .

Issue #60: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, June 24, 2009!

Sgt. Rock: The Lost Batallion #6 (of 6) (DC)
Superman #689 (New Krypton #31, World Without Krypton)

Sgt. Rock: The Lost Batallion #6 (of 6) (DC) * * * * *

This mini-series that combined WWII history with fictional DC war characters comes to a fantastic end. Johnny Cloud of the Losers makes an appearance, bringing key supplies to the haggard Lost Batallion, along with a needed morale boost, before the final battle that will break out the Lost Batallion (no spoilers here since this is actual history). The issue ends with some post war history about some of the characters, including some conjecture about the ultimate fate of Sgt. Rock, and an epilogue by an elderly William Killroy. This has been an excellent series which showcased army veteran Billy Tucci's exquisite research. It doesn't overwhelm the story, but provides a "rock" hard foundation to build the story on (pun intended). If you haven't read any of the issues or just a few, I would strongly recommend getting either back issues or the trade collection to come.

Superman #689 (New Krypton #31, World Without Superman) * * * *

This issue reintroduces Morgan Edge to Superman continuity. Edge owns Metropolis TV station WGBS and issues some strong statements doubting Mon-El's motives as Superman's replacement in Metropolis. Meanwhile, Mon-El continues his travels around the world, but can't keep from getting involved with local battles with supervillains wherever he goes. The Guardian has one more encounter with 31st century Legionnaire Tellus. And John Henry Irons continues showing his new friend Tom around the Ironworks. It was great to see Mon-El's encounters with various super heroes arpund the world, some, if not all, of whom are minor characters in the DC universe. The different plot threads between General Lane, Mon-El, the Guardian and the Science Police, and John Henry Irons make for interesting reading, and keeps me interested in this title from issue to issue.

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Superman Fan Podcast can be found at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com/ . Expanded show notes are at http://supermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com .

Issue #59: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, July 17, 2009!

Supergirl #42 (New Krypton #30) (DC)
Action Comics Annual #12 (DC)
Invincible #63 (Image)

Supergirl #42 (New Krypton #30) (DC) * * * *

This issue shows several characters dealing with the death of the person who had been Superwoman. Lois begins following the trail of a story that will probably lead to things even she suspects. The story of Reactron continues. Supergirl makes a decision about where she needs to go to learn more about Superwoman, and Lana receives some health news. While this was the epilogue of the Superwoman story, the consequences will be felt in the following storylines. Through the trials she faces, Supergirl is slowly maturing into an adult superhero, and we get to read it as it happens. That is why I will continue to subscribe to this title.

Action Comics Annual #12 (DC) * * * *

This 48 page annual tells the full story how Lor-Zod (Chris Kent) and Thara Ak-Var became the modern Nightwing and Flamebird. What is different about this story is that it is told mostly in captions, with little dialogue. We also learn more about the religous guild, flamebird and the phantom zome, as well as some possible explanations about Chris Kent's transformations. This issue fills in the backstory of Nightwing and Flamebird. It begins with Brainiac's capture of Kandor and ends with how Chris Kent made it out of the Phantom Zone. It is a great story, showing Thara and Chris's individual struggles and how they become a team. This issue does a great job of developing the Phantom Zone and another segment of Kryptonian society.

Invincible #63 (Image) * * * * *

Any issue that contains a Viltrumite character is always bloody, and this is more so tan most. The Viltrumite named Conquest is slowly beating Invincible to a pulp, and enjoying himself. IN this issue something truly shocking happens to a supporting character. I'm not a big fan of a lot of comics with graphic content, but this title is different. Writer Robert Kirkman is never afraid to put his characters through the ringer, or the meat grinder. But the way he does it develops the characters. He shows the consequences of super hero battles. Instead of the stylized violence of the average super hero battle, Kirkman shows the physical price that is paid between hero fist fights. However, Kirkman doesn't show graphic violence for its own sake. He always is focused on character develpoment and advancing the story. I wonder how this story will lead to Omni-Man's coing war against his own people?

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Superman Fan Podcast can be found at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com . Expanded show notes are at http://supermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com .

Issue #58: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, June 10, 2009!

Fantastic Four #567 (Marvel)
Action Comics #878 (New Krypton #29 / World Without Superman

Fantastic Four #567 (Marvel) * * * * *

This issue is part two of four of the story Doom's Master. It continues Doom's confrontation with his mentor that began at the end of last issue. I read a preview on line at one of the comic book web sites, but did not expect the plot twist that happened in the middle of the issue. It was very shocking, to put it mildly, and bodes ill for the FF. Millar and Hitch have crafted a challenge to the Fantastic Four that I wonder how they will overcome it, or if. And I wonder how Doom will return this time. 'Nuff said.

Action Comics #878 (New Krypton #29 / World Without Superman) * * * *

The Kryptonian Bonnie and Clyde continue their rampage while Gen. Lane continues to strategize against the Kryptonian "threat", while Lois gets to know Thara better. Ever the reporter, Lois picks up some tips along the way herself about what's going on with the big picture. Nightwing and Flamebird catch up to the Kryptonian Bonnie and Clyde, with a little bit of unexpected company. Greg Rucka is weaving another great Superman story with artist Diego Olmos. There are a lot of plot threads developing in the New Krypton / World Without Superman story and I can only wonder how this over arcing storyline involving the Super- titles will conclude. It promises to a very satisfying tale.

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Superman Fan Podcast can be found at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com , http://www.gcast.com/u/Billy_H80/http_supermanfanpodcast_gcast_com_rss_xml.xml , http://archive.org and most other podcast aggregaters. Send e-mail to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com . The podcast theme is Plans In Motion composed by Kevin MacLeod, part of the royalty free music library of http://incompetech.com .

Issue #57: Comic Books For The Week Of June 3, 2009!

Batman And Robin #1 (Batman Reborn) (DC)
Superman: World Of New Krypton #4 (New Krypton #28) (DC)

Batman And Robin #1 (Batman Reborn) (DC) * * * * *

Being such a huge fan of Morrison and Quitely on All-Star Superman I had to check out at least issue #1 of this new title. Needless to say I will be adding this title to my pull list at Acme Comics http://acme-superstore.com . I did not read either the Batman R. I. P. or Battle For The Cowl, but that does not make it confusing to read this issue. It begins in the middle of the authorities, led by a new, hi-tech Batmobile, chasing a getaway car driven by an unusual thief. I haven't read Batman comics regularly in a number of years, but if you are remotely familiar with Batman history, you won't have any trouble connecting with the new Batman and Robin. They have relocated the Batcave to Gotham City itself, in a move similar to one I read about in a 1970's Batman story. Damian, the new Robin, acts like the grandson of Ras al' Gul that he is, and makes a young Jason Todd seem like a boy scout. The end of the issue introduces a new threat to Gotham in a very ghastly manner. This issue had a great mix of action and character development. It is the comprehensible Grant Morrison who writes this issue. That one I enjoy.

Superman: World Of New Krypton #4 (New Krypton #28) * * * * *

The Green Lantern - Kal-El conflict develops in a way that isn't expected, or necessarily depicted on the cover. It does involve a super villain wanted by both the GL's and General Zod. One of the problems with Kal-El trying to influence things from the inside is when his aims conflict with those in authority. At the end of this issue, Kal's conflict with General od appears to have come to a head. Pete Wood's art is excellent as always, as is the story by Robinson and Rucka. This issue left me wanting to come back next month to read what happens next.

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Superman Fan Podcast can be found at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com . Expanded show notes can be found at http://supermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com . Send e-mail to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com .