Category: ultracomics

Yes, it does, don’t you think? Man, I loved the first issue of Desolation Jones so much that I was gasping for air when I finished reading it. It’s funny and dirty and fucked up, which is my passport to happiness.

What’s even better is knowing that Warren Ellis enjoys following his bizarre ideas to their conclusion. Grant Morrison, for instance, is another crazy-plot-point factory, but he’s more likely to just throw down nutty ideas left and right to set the scene rather than to gather them all up and deliver the punch line. What makes me more excited by the first issue of something similar by Warren Ellis is knowing that these freaky tidbits usually lead somewhere. Anarchy is fun, sure, but when it comes to storytelling it lacks payoff. I can’t wait to see how Desolation Jones ties together the Hitler porn, the visions of angels, LA’s secret intelligence underground, and whetever else comes our way during this mini. Wheeeeeeee! Let the fun begin!

Isn’t it about time to limit Wolverine’s appearances to only, maybe, 40 or 50 books instead of the current million or so that currently feature him? I know the fanboys can’t get enough of all that testosterone he radiates, but hasn’t it gotten a little out of hand yet? (Wow, considering recent events, that’s one shitty pun, eh?) If there’s an X-book, he’s in it. If there’s a team book, he’s in it. If there’s a shameless marketing stunt, he’s in it. Enough already! Jeez. Thank goodness he’s a giant collection of schtick, so his characterization is consistent enough. Well, except for no one making any damn effort to coordinate what he’s doing while he runs around with every single other character in the Marvel universe. At the moment, by my count, he’s possessed by the Hand, trapped in the Savage Land, being turned into an alien killing machine, fighting the sentient Danger Room, fighting every tech-enabled Marvel villain, fighting a zombie samurai, fighting another resurrection of Jean Grey, and on and on and on. For all I know, he’s also battling Galactus, voting for a new pope, curing sub-Saharan famine, and giving Aunt May a sponge bath. He’ll probably be personally delivering your subscriptions next, just because he can be everywhere at once, like Santa Claus. Hmmmm, maybe that could be yet another mini-series for him…

Check out this amazing satellite view of Beale Air Force Base in Yuba City, CA:

Notice the trusty SR-71 Blackbird sitting there? If you can squint real hard, you might even be able to see a beam of bright red light, or a short Canadian being thrown in the air by a big shiny thing — wait, is that lightning and a small cyclone in the corner?

(Courtesy of Google Sightseeing and their collection of airplanes found in Google Maps.)

Despite my inexplicable fascination with Captain Marvel, Jr., I find Shazam Family comics almost impossible to read, at least the golden age ones, and all the kiddie versions that DC published for so long. Mr. Mind, though, was always a genius idea for a super-villain. I was so pleased to thumb through a copy of the JSA recently and discover that he’s still around.

There’s no particular reason for this post, other than that I found this panel while going through some old issues of Shazam and I just love that drawing and that snippet of dialogue. A telepathic alien worm who can survive electrocution! Genius, I swear.

It was entirely too perfect to walk into the comic store this morning to witness on of the regular crew of cliché-ridden clerks earnestly singing along to Radiohead’s Creep.

Yes, it’s utterly awesome that Jacques Cousteau’s grandson has built a shark-shaped submarine, but if comic books have taught us anything, then we should all get ready for this to fall into the hands of a super-villain looking for a gimmick.

I get all moist when I see true love in full bloom, don’t you?

Countdown to Infinite Crisis may be many things — and I’m sure opinions about what thet may be will vary — but I think it’s one of the most touching coming-out stories I’ve ever read. Oh, sure they don’t really say anything, but I’ve run across a lot of these, and I can see all the signs.

Ted Kord is rich computer genius type who’s a little dorky (hot), but despite all he’s got going for him he (1) feels really insecure around the popular guys. He also (2) leads a secret life, running around at night (3) wearing outlandish outfits and having adventures. He seems to have (4) token crushes on Batgirl and Wonder Women, but they (5) just think he’s sweet but harmless. It’s painfully obvious, though, that he (6) is in love with his best friend, the (7) handsome blond spokemodel who (8) mooches off him. After Booster is attacked and hospitalized, poor Ted dashes off to find the culprit, leaving a (9) melodramatic farewell with the nurse. As you can imagine, there are a number of plot twists meant to entice readers into buying more comics during the next year or so. And the biggest very-special-episode cliché of all…? (Warning: spoilers ahead.)

Continue reading “Beetle’s Blue”

Spoiler queens take note! I’m about to rant a bit about the latest issue of Astonishing X-Men. Proceed at your own risk, if you’re the type to get all uppity about that stuff.

Continue reading “Danger Is Her Middle Name”

The Bendis-ification of the Avengers is still just beginning to fall into place, but I’m digging it. I was never especially into the old Avengers (except for the Wasp and her ever-changing costumes, but they sadly managed to tone down the fun, socialite side of her over the years), so I’m not as horrified as some folks by the new cast of characters. I wouldn’t say this is Bendis’ strongest work yet, but at least he cherry-picked a great cast of characters that he knows how to write. The plot may be moving along slowly (a sure sign that the story is being paced out for the trade paperback, an epidemic of sorts these days), but the dialogue snaps, cracks, and pops like a Preston Sturges flick.

With Alias, Bendis made me a fan of Luke Cage, which I would never have thought possible. He also gave the latest (and now the late) version of Ant-Man a real personality, which was miraculous. He put Spider-Woman back in action (and gave her donut jokes!), for which I will be forever grateful. Most of all, though, he made Spider-Man funny again.

Spider-Man is totally my type. Well, I like all sorts, but I keep coming back to smart, funny, sad sacks. Especially if they’re wiry and limber. Spidey’s never lost the wisecracks altogether, but so many folks who write for him play up the unending misfortunes, the hot model for a wife, the tedious angst of it all. It’s so charming, and hence kinda hot, to have him acknowledging all the goofy plot twists that have happened over the years and make light of them all. Now that’s why he’s my friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. You show me a bookish guy with nice arms and a skinny butt who handles adversity best by focusing on the absurd, and then I’ll show you me all starry-eyed and swollen-trousered. He fights crime, too? heaven.

I love this bit of banter as the new team rockets off to the Savage Land (dont’t ask)…

David Finch’s art is also rocking. Spider-Woman looks really glam, and I get a kick out of Cap reading the newspaper, and Luke Cage with his GameBoy or Blackberry or whatever he’s got there. I just like way they’re all nonchalant, like they’re on the subway. It’s a nice touch.