Comics are awesome.

[Dominic]

Is "Zero Hour" even in context, (or even institutional memory), at this point? So much of it has been undone/over-written that one could argue it does not count for any purpose.

But I still like to be made aware of things!

FrankenCastle sounds pretty awesome, though, it's too bad they're already setting up a return to the status quo on him. I'd love to see a character go through a change and actually *stick with it* for a while.

Yeah, I sometimes pick up comics based on reviews that others write for them.

And, yeah, it would be nice to see comic companies actually stick with the changes they make, or simply avoid making changes.


Dom
-oh, and Kitty Pryde is getting wanked back to life.

[andersonh1]

Is "Zero Hour" even in context, (or even institutional memory), at this point? So much of it has been undone/over-written that one could argue it does not count for any purpose.

When the JSA series began in 1999, Zero Hour had occurred five years before, which can't be all that long in comic-book time. So the deaths of various JSA members like Dr. Mid-Nite, the Atom and Hourman had only happened recently. In addition, the Justice Society only needed to be re-formed because it was destroyed during Zero Hour, so those events would certainly have been relevant to the characters at the time.

[Dominic]

Okay, you have accounted for context. But, what about institutional memory?


And, here are some comic reviews:

That last batch of FCBD left a really bad taste in my mouth. And, there is enough indie stuff at the top of the pile to make even I, the ever intrepid Otaku Dom, cringe. (Some of it looks to be of the "oh, look how whimsical we are" variety.) In other words, I had to read something that was *not* self-indulgent indie wangsting before diving back into FCBD reviews.

Megaman Megamix (Udon):
I picked this up on a whim last Friday. "Megaman" was one of my favorite series of video games when I was younger. (I could actually beat the 2nd thru 5th in one life.) Despite my fondness for the games, the franchise has generally disappointed me. The best toys I have found are some old Japanese model kits. The US released roto-cast figures are awful, as evidenced by the fact they are still available over 5 years after the were released. There were some passable figures in the 90s, and even those were surpassed by the con-currently released PVC figures. And, who can forget (and believe me, they would want to), the unwatchable cartoon from the 90s?

Ah, but this is supposed to be about comics. This one is pitched to manga purists. The page formatting is in that pretentious yet vapid "right to left" style. (Because, real manga should ony be read right to left you see.) And, presumably in the name of authenticity, the translation is terrible. (Japanese is one of those languages that does not translate well or directly to English. It either needs multiple rounds of translation and editing, or needs to be transliterated by some body who *really* knows what they are doing. The fact that the base story is middling to poor does not help.

Grade: D Lovely art. And, the story gets points for not adhering too slavishly to the games. But, the story is just kind of meanders along between cliches in typical anime fashion.


The Best of Optimus Prime (IDW):
I normally skip IDW's "best of" volumes as they are often random reprints of things I have presented more completely/in context in other volume. But, this volme had two things going for it, an old UK story that I have not read and an introduction explaining how each story was chosen. (Given IDW's usual no-frills approach to this sort of thing, I figured I would reward good behavior.) Included stories are Marvel issue #48 (early Prime origin and plot similarities to the 2007 movie), "And There Shall Come a Leader (origin from an old UK annual), IDW movie adaptation #1 (for the famous Prime/Megatron fight)), "War Within" #1 (another Prime origin), IDW's "Spotlight: Prime" (modern iteration of the character and self-discovery), and "Storm Bringer" #4...for reasons that elude me.

I can think of issues I would included in place of some of IDW's selections. But, aside from "Storm Bringer" #4, most of the selections here make sense. And, the intro/explanations are a nice touch.

Grade: B One has to wonder if Figueroa an Budiansky would have formatted IDW's movie adaptation differently if they know how often they first issue was going to be reprinted for the (understated) Prime/Megatron fight.


Dark X-Men (Marvel):
Like much of "Dark Reign", this was an example of a book I liked despite inclinations to the contrary. I have hated the "X" books for about 16 years or so now. And, Marvel's events tend to be of the sort that one feels dirty reading and enjoying. But, like the rest of "Dark Reign", "Dark X-men" is better than it has any right to be. The plot, tone and pacing are all, (within the bounds of a 5 issue limited series), very much in the style of Claremont, but with a dark twist. Rather than make this another "Secret Six" or a watered down "Dark Avengers", (with the characters just being assholes "becuz they are teh guyz omfg"), this story is written like a Claremont era story...but with bad guys, complete with a climactic mindscape battle in Norman Osborn's head and bits of trivia presented as important characterization.

Grade: B Better than it has any right to be.


Dom
-will attempt to plow through the FCBD pile this week.

[andersonh1]

Okay, you have accounted for context. But, what about institutional memory?

I'm not quite sure what you mean. Are you referring to the DC writers and editors?

[Dominic]

Exactly. There has been so much turnover in the last 16 years that "Zero Hour" might well be forgotten by now.

Dom

[Shockwave]

138 "No one else here cares about Marvel, I don't know why I do it, really" Scourge

I do, but I don't pick any up on account of budget. Although for some reason I have no trouble plunking down the ridiculous amount of scratch I have for the Henkei figs lately.

[andersonh1]

Exactly. There has been so much turnover in the last 16 years that "Zero Hour" might well be forgotten by now.

Dom

By now, that's possibly the case (apart from Hal Jordan's turn as Parallax). But the previous JSA series started publication 11 years ago, and the writers of that book had to replace the original JSA characters killed off in Zero Hour, so it would certainly have been relevant to them. In any case, they were writing a book with characters that had their heyday in the 1940s, so referring to events that had happened just 5 years earlier would be trivial compared to going back and pulling villains and events from 60 years ago.

And all of that is before "mr. Continuity" Geoff Johns took over the writing. I'm fairly sure that Extant crops up at some point during his JSA run, so maybe the deaths and rapid aging of certain characters will be referenced at that point.

[138 Scourge]

Hey, I arguably care just as much as I do about DC, which is next to none. But I still like to be made aware of things!

FrankenCastle sounds pretty awesome, though, it's too bad they're already setting up a return to the status quo on him. I'd love to see a character go through a change and actually *stick with it* for a while.

FrankenCastle is completely awesome. And yeah, it was pretty clear from the beginning that this wasn't gonna last, but it's already lasted longer than when the Punisher was a black guy. I dunno, when the Bloodstone (power object that's kicked around the MU for awhile) was mentioned to have healing properties, I sort of saw it coming. But he's still a Frankenstein, and this thing'll regenerate him "over time", meaning probably at least this next story arc will have him staying a Frankenstein. That'll add up to...almost a year? Wow.

And, yeah, it would be nice to see comic companies actually stick with the changes they make, or simply avoid making changes.

I'd have to disagree. While it's irritating when a change that you're particularly fond of gets reversed, I'd rather have, say, Dark Avengers end then never have had it happen. Or it's like, what would be worse, having Barry come back, or have had Barry for the last twenty years and never had Wally? Marvel, at least, when they do some kind of gimmicky change, they damn well stick it out for awhile. In comic time, the "Civil War" fallout lasted forever. Dark Reign went a good long time, too. Steve Rogers was dead for an amazingly long time, and Bucky still has the Captain America suit. For some reason Marvel's gimmicky stuff seems to work better for me than it really should, too. The whole Winter Soldier thing should be retarded, but damned if it isn't actually interesting.

-oh, and Kitty Pryde is getting wanked back to life.

Well, there's an image I could have done without. The mutant books, apparently, are totally resistant to anything I said about Marvel's changes sticking for awhile. From what I understand, you could have skipped X-books since the 90's (probably a good idea) and pick them up today and it'd be exactly the same stuff. For god's sake, they even still have Gambit! That's just nuts. In conclusion, except for Morrison's run, the mutant books can suck it. That said, I'm looking forward to the Beast rejoining the Avengers, because the Beast is pretty cool.

So, okay, wow. I was just sort of joking, but damn, that's a cool show of support. I guess I'll keep talking about the Marvel books I pick up, then.

[Dominic]

In a way, i would rather never have had Wally if it was just going to go back to the way it was.

I am not upset that "Dark Reign" ended. I am annoyed that it ended...and things went back to more or less pre-"Civil War" status quo. I found it hilarious to re-read the first issue of "Civil War", with its promises of "nothing every being the same ever again"....a week or so before "The Heroic Age" began. Thor is alive. Captain America is back. And, Ironman is their good buddy.....

I'd have to disagree. While it's irritating when a change that you're particularly fond of gets reversed,

it is not a question of me liking a change or not. I *hate* "Identity Crisis" to the point that Meltzer is on my "drop the book if he takes over" list. I read the first issue and flipped through some of the cross-overs. Aside from ruining a few c-listers and introducting some bad retcons for some a-listers...it achieved nothing.

But, were I in charge of DC, i would do noting to change/undo/fix "Identity Crisis".

I am one of the people who really had to reconsider the hobby when Jason Todd and Bucky came back. But, I would not simply undo either story. I would not mandate that either character be re-killed or that their returns be "fixed" in some way. (Mind you, Brubaker is now on my "avoid if possible" list. And, I am still twitchy about Andy Schmidt being charge of TF over at IDW now.)

In comic time, "Civil War" fall-out lasted *maybe* 2 years. Cap was dead for maybe 18 months of that. How long until the "Captain America" movie comes out? How long until Bucky is out of the costume, (and probably dead again), and Steve is back behind the shield?


If there was one thing I liked about the old Marvel TF comics, it is that the story was linear. I may not always have liked the direction, but dammit if it is not easy to place each issue in relation to the others. That book changed meaningfully over time, and there were no resets. Even the UK series, which featured more older characters later in the run, had a sense of progression, (if only by virtue of being tied to the US series).


Dom
-not even going to touch "X-Men".

[andersonh1]

I'd have to disagree. While it's irritating when a change that you're particularly fond of gets reversed, I'd rather have, say, Dark Avengers end then never have had it happen. Or it's like, what would be worse, having Barry come back, or have had Barry for the last twenty years and never had Wally?

I agree. I've enjoyed having Wally as the Flash for so long. And I'd point out that bringing Barry back wasn't the first option that DC pursued. They tried promoting Impulse first, but that didn't go over well at all.