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.