Comics are Awesome III

A general discussion forum, plus hauls and silly games.
User avatar
andersonh1
Moderator
Posts: 6323
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:22 pm
Location: South Carolina

Re: Comics are Awesome III

Post by andersonh1 »

Hawkman #20 - Having taken on Hawkman's continuity and multiple versions head-on and having built his series around it, Robert Venditti continues to use the idea that Hawkman has been many people in many times and he continues to introduce new versions of the character. Present day Carter Hall is still the Earth-3 version at the moment thanks to the Batman who laughs infecting him, with Carter as nothing more than a voice in his head (and the dialogue between the two is well-written this issue). Hawkwoman is pursuing him to try and change Carter back to himself, with both the Ray Palmer Atom and Adam Strange helping her. The Earth-3 Hawkman, Sky Tyrant, wants to kill as many people as he possibly can so he'll never atone for his past murders, and will keep on reincarnating forever, because he doesn't want to die. In pursuit of this goal, Sky Tyrant goes to a planet in search of information that a previous version left behind, but it's guarded by a Titan dressed as Hawkman.

This is another of those middle chapters with no real resolution to the plot, but there's a lot of good character material here. Venditti continues to build connections and friendships between Hawkman and other characters like the Atom and Adam Strange, and to really ground Carter as part of the larger DC community of characters. I've read a lot of Hawkman series in the past, and this one is the first to really get the balance between Hawkman as a strong hand to hand warrior and Hawkman as scholar and explorer just about exactly right. Geoff Johns made him too brutal, and the 90s series around the time of Zero Hour did the same, with seemingly no other idea of how to treat the character. Hawkman as a character striving for redemption in life after life is an interesting concept that's being well used here.
User avatar
andersonh1
Moderator
Posts: 6323
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:22 pm
Location: South Carolina

Re: Comics are Awesome III

Post by andersonh1 »

Flash Forward #5 of 6 - Wally West has been traveling throughout the multiverse cleaning up dark matter at the behest of Tempus Fuginaut, some sort of cosmic being. At the end of the last issue he found his children Jai and Iris on a planet at the center of the dark matter "infection". There's a great two page spread to open the issue where Wally's entire life up to this point is depicted, starting with getting his powers, his time as kid Flash, with the Teen Titans (all in original costumes), the Crisis, taking up Barry's role, meeting Linda... it's all there. There are a lot of revelations in this issue, including the revelation that Wally somehow created this planet that's infecting everything. The end of the book promises "the end in every way possible", which does not sound promising... but it's been a good series so far, so here's hoping it ends on a high note. I don't trust DC to do much but screw over Wally West and his fans, but I remain hopeful.

Aquaman #56 - I haven't been buying this book because after reading the first arc she wrote, I don't like Kelly Sue DeConnick's writing, and I don't like the way DC is trying to make Aquaman like the movie version (shirtless, tattoos, long hair and beard, less intellectual), but this issue is a flashback by a guest writer, set at the time of Arthur and Mera's engagement, right around the beginning of Rebirth. The Extinction Machines storyline that was running in Justice League is given for reference. It's short hair, orange shirt, no beard, trident-carrying classic Aquaman, and it's good to have him back for an issue. At a party to celebrate the engagement, a friend of Arthur's from Amnesty Bay asks Mera if she and Aquaman plan to have children. They discuss it, aren't sure they really can given what their lives are like, and are then called away to deal with a Trench attack on a refinery, where Aquaman rescues what is apparently the new queen, a child Trench (he had killed the old one and sealed them in in the first New 52 story arc). After which Aquaman and Mera talk some more and leave the possibility of children open. Cut to the present day, and Mera's pretty close to giving birth. I'd read about this, so I wasn't entirely surprised, but that pregnancy has progressed quickly. That's two books this week dealing with a superhero being a father.
User avatar
andersonh1
Moderator
Posts: 6323
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:22 pm
Location: South Carolina

Re: Comics are Awesome III

Post by andersonh1 »

Justice League #39 - Scott Snyder's final issue ends on a cliffhanger with the Justice League losing their fight against Perpetua. I have to admit, I did not expect that. I thought they'd pull out a last minute win, but they don't. I can't imagine Snyder letting this story drop at this point, so he's likely going to pick it up again somewhere, possibly in the Metal sequel?

Green Lantern Blackstars #3 - Why this wasn't simply a story arc in the main series eludes me. Everything is explained, and it all falls into place reasonably well. There are some interesting observations about Hal Jordan's character along the way, but I'll be glad to get back to the main universe and actual Green Lantern stories.
User avatar
Sparky Prime
Supreme-Class
Posts: 5225
Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:12 am

Re: Comics are Awesome III

Post by Sparky Prime »

Star Trek: Picard Countdown #3

Laris and Zhaban bring escort a "captured" Picard and Musiker to the Romulan castle so that they can communicate with the Verity. Picard is surprised to see the Romulan governor answer aboard the ship. Picard tells her it's not so easy to take over a Federation starship, to which she admits there are some sub-routines preventing her from taking over complete control. Picard also tells her his crew is likely working on taking back control, and in short order, the governor and her fellow Romulans are beamed to the brig. Picard then invites Laris and Zhaban to join him to beam up. In the brig, Picard confronts the governor. She still believes the Federations offer to help evacuate them is a ploy to destroy the Empire, but Picard points out if that's what they were true, they could just sit back and let the supernova wipe them out. She tells Picard that she has already altered the Empire to his "treachery".

Musiker informs Picard they have company, as a Romulan Warbird (I believe, like the Verity, is a design from Star Trek Online) arrives. However, they inform Picard they are not there at the governor's request, and don't answer to the Senate, they are Tal Shiar. Picard informs them that two of their operatives are on board, which was all part of the plan as the Warbird asks agents "Noctis and Avem" to report. Zhaban reports he is in sole control of the Verity, much to Laris' surprise. Turns out, the mysterious benefactors that gave the governor the access codes was the Tal Shiar. But the access codes were incomplete. He explains to Picard, it was always the Tal Shiar's plans to destroy the Verity, and gain access it it by getting Picard's trust. They are ordered to initiate the self destruct, but Laris refuses, having made her choice months ago to help the Federation. Suddenly, two D'Deridex Warbirds decloak, but they are allies to Picard, and heard the entire conversation. The Tal Shiar ship still demands that they complete their mission, but Zhaban continues his explanations... While he thought the idea the Federation was plotting to overthrow the Empire was more believable than the supernova, but Laris helped open his eyes. He refuses to go through with the plan, and returns control of the ship back to Picard.

With the Romulan plots foiled, the evacuation is set to begin as soon as the ships under construction at Utopia Planitia is finished, as Picard communicates to Geordi that they had some problems but the future looks bright....

***
So... I think the story of this comic has some issues. I don't understand why the Romulans would believe the supernova was part of a Federation plot, when the first issue established the Romulans own scientists were the ones who discovered the impending supernova to begin with. The Federation only found out about it FROM them. The twist with Zhaban working against Picard, only to turn around and betray the Tal Shiar felt too easy. Why would he report he had taken over the Verity in the first place if he had no intentions of going through with the plan? I also find it a hard to believe Picard would still trust him after that, let alone invite him to come live at his home on Earth.
User avatar
andersonh1
Moderator
Posts: 6323
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:22 pm
Location: South Carolina

Re: Comics are Awesome III

Post by andersonh1 »

Hawkman #21 - the editorially mandated Year of the Villain drags on and on, so Hawkman is still the villain in his own book. Venditti is doing the best he can with that and has turned in some fairly interesting issues as Hawkwoman, Adam Strange and the Atom attempt to capture Sky Tyrant and find a cure for his condition. I'm not normally a fan of Fernando Pasarin's art, but he's doing a good job

Green Lantern #1 This should actually be Green Lantern #16 if we count the "first season" and the Blackstars mini-series. Arbitrary renumbering of series irritate me. That aside, the issue is very good and is a dense read that takes more than two minutes to read (JL #40, I'm looking at you). Hal is rightly lauded by both the Corps and the Guardians for ending the Blackstar threat, and despite wanting no reward for doing his job, Hal gets an upgraded power battery. Then the old Guardians head off to fight some cosmic threat, leaving Hal to go to Maltus and find some new Guardians. After a cameo by Jessica Cruz and John Stewart, Hal heads to Maltus with a potential recruit, fights some psychic lizards and upgraded gorillas (picture Grant Morrison craziness here), and eventually returns with a new set of young Guardians of the Universe, who promptly send him back to Earth, the very place he told John and Jessica he didn't want to be.

It's about time that a writer had the Guardians praise Hal for the outstanding job he routinely pulls off, over and over. He quite literally saved the entire universe this time, with his fellow Lanterns and the Guardians praising him. It's refreshing after years of obtuse, secretive and hostile Guardians doing more damage to the morale of the Corps than good. Cheers to Morrison for this.

Justice League #40 Venditti is the new writer on this book (which means I'm reading a title formerly written by him and two currently written... odd how things work out sometimes), and it does not pick up where last issue's cliffhanger left off. The whole Perpetua storyline is ignored entirely (and I think Snyder will finish it in the Metal sequel), instead picking up with a story about the League and Sodom Yat facing the threat of the Eradicator bringing a small army of Daxamites to Earth. It's a threat on a level suited to the JL's power level, and the art and dialogue are good. But man, it's a huge tonal shift from everything Snyder wrote.
User avatar
Dominic
Supreme-Class
Posts: 9331
Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:55 pm
Location: Boston
Contact:

Re: Comics are Awesome III

Post by Dominic »

And....Marvel is pushing $5 an issue with "Iron Man 2020".

I am reading the 2020 stuff out of curiosity more than anything. But, the $5 price tag is enough to make me scale back on comics.
User avatar
andersonh1
Moderator
Posts: 6323
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:22 pm
Location: South Carolina

Re: Comics are Awesome III

Post by andersonh1 »

Flash Forward #6 - The series concludes on a partially happy note. Wally is able to end the dark matter threat and convince Tempus Fuginaut to return his children, Jai and Iris, back home. When they get there, it's like a switch is flipped and Linda Park remembers them and Wally. Wally, however, ends up paying a price. He sits in the Mobius Chair, losing his identity to some extent, but gaining all the knowledge of the chair in return, along with something more. Dr. Manhattan interacted with the chair at the end of Darkseid War (now I have a reason to have read it), so Wally gets his influence as well. He can see everything, past, present and future, and has the power to affect events.

It reminds me very much of when Hal Jordan became Parallax, except Wally isn't crazy or power mad... not so far anyway. He's Dr. Manhattan for all intents and purposes, down to a blue costume and the circular symbol on his head. So at the end of all this, his family has been restored, he's saved all the universes, and he's left with nearly unlimited power and knowledge. It's a better place than where Heroes in Crisis left the character at least. Should be interesting to see what's next.
User avatar
Sparky Prime
Supreme-Class
Posts: 5225
Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:12 am

Re: Comics are Awesome III

Post by Sparky Prime »

Dan DiDio is no longer with DC comics. Details of his sudden departure are currently unclear. According to the linked Newsarama article, Comicbook.com apparently reported he'd been removed from his position as co-publisher for DC comics, but have since removed that part from their article. Other articles simply say he's leaving, making it sound like he left on his own terms.

All I can say, whether he was fired or quit, I think it was long overdue.
User avatar
andersonh1
Moderator
Posts: 6323
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:22 pm
Location: South Carolina

Re: Comics are Awesome III

Post by andersonh1 »

Sparky Prime wrote:Dan DiDio is no longer with DC comics. Details of his sudden departure are currently unclear. According to the linked Newsarama article, Comicbook.com apparently reported he'd been removed from his position as co-publisher for DC comics, but have since removed that part from their article. Other articles simply say he's leaving, making it sound like he left on his own terms.

All I can say, whether he was fired or quit, I think it was long overdue.
I agree, long overdue. I wonder just how much of the haphazard "throw things against the wall to see what works" approach of the last decade or more is his fault?

https://www.bleedingcool.com/2020/02/21 ... dc-comics/
Bleeding Cool now understands that yes, DiDio was fired this morning by Warner Bros at 10.30am PT in their Burbank offices and he left the building straight away. I am told by sources close to the situation that he was fired, for cause, for 'fostering a poor work environment' – as evidenced, as we previously stated, by significant departures at the publisher by editors. Dan DiDio has a reputation of being a micro-manager from some, for being very involved in projects from others. And DC Comics was heading towards a big change in its publishing programme – one aspect of which was the much-rumoured 5G – or Generation Five. Which would have seen DC's major figures Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Diana and more aged out and replaced with new characters taking the roles of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman as part of the new DC Timeline. And some folk at DC Comics were very much against this. But opposition never worried Dan, after all he was at constant odds with the direction the company line was pushed for pretty much his entire career as Publisher, and was always was striving to put comics first, as he saw it.

But in recent months, there seemed to be editorial backtracks on the direction given, details changes and a general sense of frustration that the clock was ticking and that nothing was being done. We saw a rapid departure in DC editorial of Pat McCallum, Alex Antone, Molly Mahan, Rob Levin and others. Could this have been a factor?

Certainly, DiDio's departure was a surprise – to him as it was everyone else. I understand that it was internally announced at a series of small staff meetings at Burbank today. Though no one seems to have told the executives attending ComicsPRO, who had to read about it on Bleeding Cool on their mobile phones – and who sharply exited the conference as a result. Jim Lee is the remaining Publisher and CCO at DC, and so will be steering the ship for the foreseeable future. Is it too late to change the upcoming C2E2 panel Meet The Publishers to the singular now?

Also at ComicsPRO, there was a lot of discussion amongst retailers about DiDio's firing, with comic book writer Scott Snyder's name being mentioned a lot as a factor. Internally at DC Comics, Snyder was seen as someone opposed to what was being planned with 5G, and thought it could harm retailers.
The whole 5G idea of replacing DC's big name characters is something I want nothing to do with. I won't be spending my money on replacements. I agree with Snyder, I think that could finish off DC if it crashes and burns, which I think it will.


Here's a very long, interesting read about Didio from a few years back: https://www.comixexperience.com/savagec ... dan-didio/
User avatar
Dominic
Supreme-Class
Posts: 9331
Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:55 pm
Location: Boston
Contact:

Re: Comics are Awesome III

Post by Dominic »

What do we make of the rumors about the 5G reboot? Specifically, if it fails (however that failure might be defined), DC will go to primarily or all-digital.

Thoughts?
Post Reply