Merry Christmas

To those who celebrate the holiday... Merry Christmas.

Thursday Night Thinking #128

This Christmas Eve is Thursday Night Thinking! So here are some holiday thoughts from the one and only Batman:

Rest assure, you'll be seeing more from Batman tomorrow.

Crossovers

RRARRR! Black Lantern Azrael here to talk about the solicitations for March. Did you jerks notice that they mentioned my old employer the Order of St. Dumas? What do you think that means?

I don't care what you think. Know that I think it means they might actually mention me. They'd better, or I'm going to march right up and tear out Michael Lane's heart. Of course, I'm probably going to try and do that anyway. RRARRRR!

Where's the Azrael/Blackest Night crossover, huh? Stupid new Azrael probably can't carry a book for too long without some sort of big name crossover. Give me the chance to fight my replacement. I've earned that much, haven't I? RRARRR!

What's Going On?

So I hear that the Blue Beetle co-feature in Booster Gold is being dropped.

I'm not sure exactly where I read that, but I'm pretty sure I also read that the Wally back-ups in the upcoming Flash series aren't happening either. Is DC reevaluating co-features?

Black Canary isn't going to be sharing a book with Green Arrow any more. The Manhunter back-ups are reportedly being stripped from Streets of Gotham. What exactly is happening? I was a big proponent of the co-feature idea. I still am; I really like getting multiple stories in a single comic. But maybe I'm the only one. Are they not selling? Are they hurting the books?

I need to get more information as I don't really want to watch that interview of with Dan DiDio over at Newsarama. The man's voice makes my ears bleed.

Red Circle

I've got a question for the readers out there: am I the only one reading the Red Circle books? I don't care one way or another. I'm really enjoying them, but I'm not going to tell you that you should buy them (especially since they're $3.99 books in this economy).

I'm reading them, and I'm wondering if anybody else is as well. If you are do you like them? Hate them? Do you like the main stories or the backups? Are you interested in the additional stuff coming down the pipeline?

Or have you never touched a Red Circle book and plan to keep things that way? Inform me, friends.

Enough is Enough

Have I mentioned how weary I am of all the New Krypton stuff?

I was sort of digging it at the start. But now I'm just sick and tired of all these jerks from Krypton. Honestly, I'm beginning to feel relieved that the planet was destroyed when it was. The Kryptonians remain the "assholes of space" even after all this time.

I want Superman back in his own books again. As much as I dig Mon-El (and I do dig Mon-El) it's just not the same. Superman needs to be back where he belongs. I know that that's most likely the endgame for this whole story arc, but I'm tired of waiting.

My hope is that we'll get back to a more normal status quo one of these days soon. I'm hoping we won't end up with many Kryptonians running around after this is all over. I like Flamebird and Nightwing well enough, but I still miss the simple gravity of Superman as "The Last Son of Krypton."

JSA in March

Doing my Friday post early today so that I don't forget to actually do it. I have a bad tendency to get busy on Friday nights and not post at all. I'm going to try to avoid that in this exciting new universe.

Anyway, the covers for the JSA family (wow, there's a JSA family now) have been posted over on the DCU Blog Let's see what's coming up, shall we?

Justice Society of America: Looks like we're getting a whole lotta Nazi in the main book. This isn't unprecedented, of course. The JSA has a long history of beating the crap out of Nazis. They make for easy villains as the only people who defend Nazis are Nazis themselves.

That said, if you take a look at the cover you'll see that it's missing something. Namely all the swastikas. I assume, of course, that they'll be added on for release in countries that don't have a ban on the symbol. I mean, it's not particularly effective with just circles. And if you take a close look you can see that they missed the on on Kid Karnevil's knife.

JSA All-Stars: I'm really excited to see Sand getting some face time again. Especially if it means he's going up against one of the best Golden Age villains not actually created in the Golden Age. Johnny Sorrow may be a modern invention, but he feels like he was created in the 1940's.

He's also really f%&#ing creepy. Now that we know he's been the villain behind things Icicle's remarks about meeting his boss being "the worst thing that ever happened to him" make perfect sense. Nobody wants to meet Johnny Sorrow. Ever.

Power Girl: I really like this cover. I especially like the fact that one of the guys is holding a copy of Jonah Hex. I wonder if (like in the Watchmen universe) non-superhero comics are the most popular in the DCU. If that's the case, I bet Jonah Hex is the number one seller.

Magog: Go away! Go away Magog! Go away and never come back!

Art sure is pretty, though.

Thursday Night Thinking #127

Yes, again the time has come for Thursday Night Thinking! Tonight: a classic Superman thought from he cover of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen:

I love that one of the first things Jimmy apparently does when granted super-thinking powers is to get himself a desk and put his name on it.

What Are You Going to Do About It?

RRARRRR! That jerk Doctor Polaris might not want to be a Black Lantern, but I like it. Do you think I'd ever have the guts to call him a jerk otherwise?

Being a Black Lantern really frees you up to say what you think. I'm not going to take any more crap from Doctor Polaris or anybody else. Especially not "Batman." I'm going to get you, Dick Grayson. I'm going to pay you back for never trusting me when I was trying to help protect your pathetic city.

I'm going to find Tim Drake, too. He was almost as bad. And you know what? I never met Damien but I think I'll probably want to rip out his heart too. RRARRR!

How do you like the new Black Lantern Azrael, huh? Do I make you angry? Good.

And So...

Lo, for it came to be December the Thirteenth which was and is the date of this blog's founding.

Long have I written upon this virtual parchment. And know that I am thankful for each and every one of you who reads my word.. It has been four long years and I am grateful for each of them.

They say all good things must come to an end. But not this thing. I know I haven't been a reliable blogger this past year, what with me starting graduate school and all. But I want to thank all the readers who've stuck with me and comment from time to time (and those who don't comment as well). I'd probably still write even if nobody commented... But it wouldn't be half as fun.

Here's to another four, or eight, or twelve years. As long as they keep making comics and I keep reading them I'll keep talking about them. And that's really what it's all about, isn't it?

Not Like Shakespeare

Only a little while in and I am already weary of this Black Lantern nonsense. Divesting my stylish outfit of its color is only a part of the problem.

Really, the whole thing is quite droll. I mean, ripping hearts out with one's hand? Why not simply use your magnetic powers on the iron rich blood pumping through the heart and destroy it from the inside.

Now I am a fan of the dramatic as much as the next super-villain. All of you know this well. But these Black Lanterns (I refuse to count myself among their number any longer) take it to the extreme. It seems like a poorly directed and even more poorly acted community theatre performance of Shakespeare.

All the actors are butchering their lines and we know that that fellow on stage isn't really Hamlet. We can't even manage to pretend as he's playing the part so badly. Are the Black Lanterns fooling anyone? Is anyone buying the act?

Know this: Polaris isn't buying it. If you cannot play the role then retire gracefully. Don't keep butchering the classics.

Thursday Night Thinking #126

It's that time again, friends. Time for Thursday Night Thinking!

You know, I think I may have used one of these thoughts sometime before. Still, three thoughts for the price of one is worth a second go 'round!

The Return of Bruce Wayne

I've been asking for this for almost seven months. When I heard about Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne I knew it was going to be everything I wanted and more.

After all, I asked for Batman fighting Vandal Savage during prehistoric times (which we sure as hell better get). But that's not all we're getting. We're also going to get Puritan Witch Hunter Batman, Pirate Batman, Viking Batman, and probably more.

Grant Morrison's work is sometimes hit and miss for me. But I'll be honest, people. This story sounds like it was created just for me. There are few things I love more than historical tales that play with history. One of those few things is Batman. Put them together?

This is going to be awesome.

War of the Supermen?

War of the Supermen, huh? I guess this was bound to happen.

I don't really have much to say about this (too much schoolwork going on) other than what happened to the J. G. Jones who did the covers for 52 because that War of the Supermen cover kind of sucks.

Also: most of those guys aren't Supermen. They may be supermen, sure. But there's only one Superman. I trust this story will prove that.

Earth One

The big DC news this week is unquestioningly the announcement of a series of ongoing (!) graphic novels that will be set in a shared universe called Earth One. This has the potential to be very exciting. The first two are -- unsurprisingly -- focusing on Batman and Superman.

I was immediately on board with Geoff Johns and Gary Frank on the Batman book. But I hesitated a bit when I heard that J. Michael Straczynski and Shane Davis would be doing Superman. I have no problem with Davis's work, but Straczynski has been pretty hit or miss for me. I loved his work on the initial Web one shot, but his Brave and the Bold stuff has mostly left me cold.

But as I delved in a bit more about these projects I started to change my mind. I read the inaugural interview with Mr. Straczynski (you can get at in through the link) and I was sold. I knew then that the guy gets Superman. And that he really cares. I got all of that from a story Mr. Straczynski told to the interviewer:

True story: I was at Chicago Comic-Con a number of years ago, standing in the dealer's room, when some guy grabbed a bunch of expensive items off a table and made a run for it down the aisle, being chased by the owner of the table. Everybody in the aisle did a fast fade, parting before this guy like the Red Sea. I brought the mofo down and the two of us held him for the police. The con organizer later came up to me and said, "Why'd you do that? He was half your age and twice as big, you could've been hurt." I pointed to where I'd been standing, in front of a ten-foot-tall cutout of Superman. "How could I stand under that, in front of him, and do nothing?" I said.

That was all I needed to hear. I'll definitely be picking up both of the Earth One graphic novels.

Thursday Night Thinking #125

New comics came out today? Too bad I've not time for talking... Only thinking! Thursday Night Thinking!

Tonight's thought comes from the Batman:

I guess it's true that Batman is the best at everything he does. Even when "what he does" is steal your girl!

Grumpy Today

I'm grumpy today for two reasons: 1. I have a ton of schoolwork to do. 2. I didn't get to read any new comics this week.

I know it's because Thanksgiving was last week... But, I have trouble understanding that because Thanksgiving was last week. I understand stuff being delayed when the holiday is on a Monday. But can't people get their $#%^ together over the weekend?

Yeah, I'm a little grumpy. So here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to post a picture of Wild Dog beating the crap out of mobsters with an attaché case. That should make everybody feel better, don't you think?

Ahh, that soothes the soul.

Missing: Clark Kent

Where is Clark Kent?

Now, I know that the answer to that is actually "he's on New Krypton." Because you and I both know that Clark Kent, Kal-El, and Superman are one and the same. But a lot of people don't know that. Perry White, Clark Kent's boss is one of those people.

Isn't anyone asking where Clark Kent has gone? Isn't anyone curious? As far as I know (and I'll admit I may have missed it) this issue hasn't arisen. No one is asking Lois Lane where her husband has disappeared to. Nobody seems to be paying attention.

Now, I know Clark Kent is supposed to be a guy who fades into the background, but this is the sort of thing I'd like to see at least mentioned. Even if it's a simple question from Perry to Lois asking her "how's Clark doing taking care of his mother after his father died during this year long sabbatical I've given him?" Something like that would work.