Comic Solicitations: DC Comics June 2010

Personally, I really love reading this kind of crap, so I figured I'd knock one out. At the start of the month DC puts out solicitations for coming comics. I'll look through them, and talk about the ones I feel like talking about.

And with that we're gonna jump into it. Marvel will come soon, and then a "miscellaneous" entry (hopefully, I might just be too lazy).

SUPERMAN #700 - J. Michael Straczynski, James Robinson and Dan Jurgens
Art by Eddy Barrows, Benard Chang, Dan Jurgens and JP Mayer
I'll get to this in a second with...

Batman #700 - Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel, Andy Kubert and Frank Quitely
It doesn't seem like it should work out this way, but whatever. We've also got a Wonder Woman "milestone" this month, but that's coming later. Right now I just want to say this. A Batman comic written by Grant Morrison with art from Frank Quitely is worth $4.99 and worthy of an issue divisible by 100. Say what you will about Starman, but James Robinson is one of the worst writers in comics today (stress the "today" part, he may have been good, but he currently sucks, majorly). And Straczynski has never impressed me. I see what they're trying to do, launching a run with a new writer (on a struggling title) with an issue that would probably sell if Dan Didio Xeroxed his ass for 20 pages.

I hate ranting like this, but the disparity in impressiveness is staggering (but I'm a Morrison fanboy).

Wonder Woman # 600 - J. Michael Straczynski, Geoff Johns and Gail Simone
Art by George Perez and other guys who aren't George Perez
Ahh, Legacy Numbering. dddddddd

No comment on that. But George Perez.

George FUCKING Perez!

I'm a fan. Sadly, Gail Simone's leaving the title for (gasp) JMS again. I like Gail's Wonder Woman, but I'll admit she's stronger on other (dare I say less iconic) titles. It's been good, but Secret Six blows it away. But from what I gather, Straczynski's focus is going to be on Superman. I'd hate to see Diana on the back burner (any more than she already is, anyway), so here I wait mit baited breath.

Green Lantern #55
Wow, there's Lobo looking all Loboey.

I read Green Lantern already, but I'm not sure if this cover would entice me to buy the issue, or drive me away. Such is Lobo.

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?