Covers: Detective Comics 854

I was already excited by the prospect of a Batwoman title written by Greg Rucka, but this phenomenal cover art is blowing me away. I don't have much to say, but it's easily among the best covers I've seen the past few weeks.

It really sells an action-suspense-mystery atmosphere, I've got a great feeling about this book. With Bruce gone DC's making some great moves with the Bat franchise. Between this and Morrison's highly promising Batman and Robin it looks like a solid run on the horizon. I don't think I need to keep my fingers crossed.

Updates Coming.

Updates coming this month include a review on Power Girl #2, music analysis, and hopefully some other stuff. So, yeah.

TV Troubles: (Lack of) Resolution to "Das Bus"

All things considered, there are worse episodes in the Ninth Season of The Simpsons than Das Bus. Maybe I'll even review one soon (I have a bone to pick with Realty Bites). However, this episode in particular exhibits the growing laziness on the part of the writers to adhere to basic show structure.

Structure is a vague term, and I'm not going to define it here, suffice it to say it's artistically important. The Simpsons structure is dependent on a loose consistancy and a resolved Status Quo at the end of an episode. This episode, to be frank, doesn't end. SPOILER ALERT (as if it even matters): The kids stay lost.

Sure, there's an off-hand announcement at the end, but it's degrees less than I expect from even The Simpsons. If the plot isn't resolved by the end of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, it's no big deal. The show has an established dadaesque structure, and there is minimal continuity. Despite being an animated sitcom, The Simpsons doesn't follow these rules. The Simpsons actually has rules. A cop-out ending hasn't become uncommon in recent seasons of the show, so it may be hard to notice anymore, but this is one of the more glaring examples. I see it as a sign of things to come, the episode is still funny, but the writing is becoming lax. Soon, the show wouldn't even elicit laughs.

It's an unfortunate legacy, but I'd still reccomend the ninth as the last strong season of a once mighty show. The episode isn't actually bad, but is indicative of a larger problem.

Kooky Comics Super Great Panel: "Extinction"

Sometimes in comics you just get a really gorgeous panel, here's one of them.


I'm referring to the last panel, the look conveyed on Vader's impliable armored visage is marvelous. The lighting in the previous panels were beautiful too. But the use of shadow in that expression is priceless. Here's a link to a closeup of the panel in question.

You can also find it in the Trade Paperback, Star Wars Tales: Volume One. It's the first story, called "Extinction". So, get to that!

Kooky Comics: It was the 80's

Yesterday I bought a copy of Fantastic Four #265. I was excited, it's a good little issue, with a great cover, and it's the introduction of She-Hulk as a member of the Fantastic Four. And it was in John Byrne's run, so all told a nice issue to have.

Then reading it I was reminded of the great un-ironic nature of the advertising.



Fancy stuff. You should see the ad for "Joust" on the inside front cover. Classic.

Covers: Green Arrow Black Canary #19

I really don't like this cover. For multiple reasons, actually. But mainly for Black Canary's cleavage. My point: Black Canary doesn't have exposed cleavage. Not just in this book, but ever. Now, I'm not railing against boobs, far from it, but I'd like an at least marginally accurate depiction of a favorite character of mine on her own book. Fuck me, but isn't that a reasonable expectation?

Kooky Comics Critique: Power Girl #1

I previously expressed my love for Power Girl (and not just her cleavage), and now that we've got us a Bona Fide Power Girl solo series, maybe we can get a monthly review going.

Now, this isn't a groundbreaking series. It's not Watchmen, it's not Maus, it's not Bone. It's a Superhero book, and a damn fucking good one. One issue in, the best way to describe the serie(s) is as "fun".

If you've read any other reviews you've already gotten that, sure. Whatever. But it's true. This is a plain fun comic. It is an absolute joy to read. Adding to that (or perhaps the reason) is the fantastic art from Amanda Carter, but more on that in a minute.

The issue opens with a page paying a quick nod to our hero's Kryptonian heritage. Cut to the actual issue, and we get a "fresh start" for Power Girl, she moves to New York, takes up her old identity of "Karen Starr", reopens her company, and generally is awesome. At this point we don't know if she's still in the JSA (I'd imagine so, but still), which may or may not be important. Amidst a pretty cool robot fight, we have flashbacks to Power Girls reemergence as Karen Starr.

It's in these pages that we see the character unfold. The action is action, her alternate life spells out her personality for now. Amid her interactions with new employees and crackpot scientists, there is the air of a real person. She's smart, friendly, and beautiful, but she's not afraid to kick some ass when she needs to. Power Girl has that fiery personality the plain Supergirl lacks. She's fun, but she don't take no shit.

The issue reveals Ultra-Humanite as this arc's baddie. As of one issue, his motives for conflict are unclear, so I can't go into too much detail on narrative. He's an old Superman bad guy, but we've been promised by the writers that we'll be seeing original villians in the future. Here's hoping they're good...

What I can say about the writing is that is presents an adequate level of comic narrative. It's not the greatest thing you'll ever read. It's not that kind of book. What it is is fun. I said it before, but there is some nifty dialogue in here. Just enough to elicit that occasional smirk. Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray give Power Girl the right voice, which is a huge boon in the male-centric Comic writing world.

And Amanda Conner's art, oh the art! Maybe I'll elaborate in further reviews, but it is really something else. This is her first long-term gig on an ongoing series, so I'm really hoping this will be the look for the forseeable run. She is absolutely the right artist for the job, however, and after this I don't want to see anybody else draw Power Girl again. The real treat for me was the facial expressions, which I'll try to have some examples of for the next installment.

I'll end this with Adam Hughes excellent varient cover for the issue. Again, really captures the fun tone that I hope will define the series.

tl;dr: Buy this book. $2.99 at your local comic shop!

Soundtracks That Sound The Same

I really like Howard Shore, but he pissed me off with his soundtrack to Dogma, The late 90's Kevin Smith picture. The climax to the film, in front of the church with the angelic massacre, has virtually the same score as The Lord of The Rings.

I know LotR came later, but its inclusion in this movie cheesed me to no end. I mean, really. It's not like he's as bad as John Williams (who does this all the fucking time, and from whom I've come to expect this), but I expected better of Howard Shore.

A pox on Howard Shore.

Kooky Comics Critique - Superman/Batman: Supergirl

I'm conflicted on the Superman/Batman series. It's a good concept, but it's been used forever. I sort of like the writing, but sort of hate it. Ditto on a lot of the art. I'm not a standard comics art reviewing nerd. I don't get heavy into specifics, because I have minimal visual art training. I just go with what I dig aesthetically, which is what you're gonna get here.

Anyway, this is the second arc of the series (and one of two I've read) so part of the exposition is dependent on the previous storyline. C'est la vie, such are comics.

If you haven't guessed, the arc deals heavily with the long (technically) absent character of Supergirl. We've been through some permutations, but Superman's cousin Kara hasn't existed post-Crisis until now (well, a couple years ago, but deal with it). Now, there are better Supergirls out there, my favorite being Powergirl, former "Supergirl" of Earth-2. By far the better ass-kicker, not to mention hottest.

Not that looks matter or anything.

But on to actual review, if I haven't given too many plot details away (seriously, the major twist is that Supergirl becomes, gasp, Supergirl, don't sweat the ending). Kara shows up in a rocket in the middle of a Kryptonite meteor. Batman discovers the ship under Gotham Bay, Kara steals his Bat-Boat, she goes on a confused "Don't know my own strength" rampage, Supes come in to stop her, and they discover they're related. That's the first issue, and it gives us this lovely image.

It's not just dumb luck she's half-naked, Kara usually dresses like a skank. It becomes all the creepier later when she's walking down the street with Clark, and her thong is hanging out. Doesn't that reflect poorly on him? I did like the half-shirt on the previous Supergirl, but c'mon.

It was OK on her

And then she gets kidnapped (not for the last time in the book). She gets dragged off to Themyscira for the dual purpose of
A) Getting Wonder Woman (An unlikely abductress) into the book
2) Chick fights

Sorry for the crappy scan.

Did I mention that Kara dresses like a whore yet? And makes sultry looks at Wonder Woman, a woman she should theoretically be stronger than?

I love this book for tossing in a bunch of great/obscure female characters. I make no secret of my love for superheroines, and I was super psyched to see Diana. We also get short-lived Wonder Woman replacement Artemis, and Harbinger. You know, from Crisis on Infinite Earths, and all of nothing else? Yeah, and they kill her off. Off panel. I'm glad to see they still have respect for women/the nameless over at DC.

click to enlarge

I know what it means, it means she gon' die. I really like Batman's cape on this next page. It's totally impractical, but very vampiric.

So that's that for her, but now we have an in to go to Apokolips! Which brings us to a great day for this book, the insertion of Big Barda. And even better, we get Barda in nothing but a towel.

Darkseid kidnaps Kara to fill Barda's place as super-badass-female-warrior. So now they need Barda (Mr. Miracle is off not being in this book) to get them to Apokolips, rescue Kara and look good doing it.

I'll leave what happens there, suffice it to say it's a given that Kara takes up the mantle of Supergirl at the end (it's on the fucking cover), and that the final panel has a schmaltzy tribute to Christopher Reeve. Speaking of which, it's too bad about Christopher Reeve. Good luck up there Chris.

The Venture Bros. series review.

Note: I wrote this for another site, and felt like putting it here too. Not to promote the show too heavily, but I really like it.

Unwilling to take the easy road as a mere shallow parody of Jonny Quest, Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer have instead shaped the complex Venture universe into the best show on television. The Venture Bros operates on the concept of a mix-and-match world of differing fictional universes and genres. In this universe the real world interacts bizarrely with the fantastic, creating what can only be described as a surreal reality. Here we find real characters behind the grotesque masks of Super-heroism and villainy. They didn't choose this world, it chose them. And in their incompetence and failure hilarity ensues.

Failure is the stated theme of the show, Doctor Venture is a mediocre scientist, The Monarch is an ineffectual costumed menace, even Brock, the show's most formidable character, is trapped in a job he's vastly overqualified for. The complex characterization that emerges from the early episodes blossoms into a world of mundane personal problems dressed up in the guise of fantastic adventure. Add onto this Jackson and Doc's esoteric pop-culture references and faux-retro set design and you have a show both funny and beautiful.

And to discuss the characters is even greater. Brock is an inspired creation, the most macho, murderous man on the planet. And a devoted Zeppelin fan. Doc Venture is an effective opposite of Brock, short, weak, and oozing with a creepy sexuality. The titular Venture Bros present a view of isolated adolescence, somehow becoming more awkward than you could ever have imagined being. Doctor Orpheus is just one of many Captain Ersatz characters (in this case Dr. Strange) in the pan-fictional Venture universe, not to mention one of the funniest. And, of course, #21 and #24 are the funniest duo in the history of anything.

What The Venture Bros. presents is a funny, well written, pseudo-realistic, identifiable Television Program. The best on Adult Swim. The best on late night. The best on cable. The best on television.

Peppermint Patty is a Racist.

Yep, total racist.

Venture Bros. Season 3

You know what I hate? When they can't keep the little things straight. This set is advertised as "The Venture Bros. 3rd Season." The others were "The Venture Bros. Season 1 and/or 2".

You know what I love and makes up for that? Motherfucking cool packaging. This Faux-retro Atari package-design is easily the coolest thing I've seen since the boss packaging for the Season 2 set.

And I haven't even touched on the awesome that is the actual show. Maybe I don't need to. If Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick were simply Graphic Artists doing DVD packaging they would still be the coolest cats on earth. Luckily, they also write really awesome cartoons that you should totally watch.