"WETTING" The Appetite!

So, what are the commonalities between Phoenix and Aquaman other than their orange/green/yellow color scheme? They've both been killed and resurrected before. DC Comics has just released this beaut of a teaser image; the cover of BRIGHTEST DAY #2, drawn by the newly DC exclusive David Finch! Okay, we saw this coming if we've been reading BLACKEST NIGHT. Writer Geoff Johns, who seems to be able to single-handedly restore the best elements of DC's heroes, set up the perfect way of resurrecting dead heroes (and maybe villains) with BN, establishing a greater story behind the death and revivals of various characters. Hopefully DC will have learned a lesson and REALLY think several times before killing off another character. I've said this before, but there's no more drama to be had in the dying of a hero; it's been done to death (pun intended) and it never sticks anyway. Johns will also be writing the new 26 issue maxi-series, BRIGHTEST DAY, which will be a story about second chances for many characters, Aquaman chief among them as has been hinted. Aquaman has sometimes been the butt of jokes when it comes to heroes, but if you've ever read any of his stories, they have been deadly serious and ahead of their time. He's been married before heroes got married. He became a father before other heroes had children. His son was killed by his arch-rival Black Manta, in an era before villains ever did that kind of thing with any regularity. He cheated on his estranged wife when heroes never did that. He had his hand cut off. He decalred war on the fictional nation of Cerdia and became its de-facto ruler. He helped an entire section of San Diego deal with becoming mutated water breathers as their town sank into the ocean. What the hell is so funny about any of this? This is a great character with a great history, that I'm hoping that Geoff Johns will utilize and make popular in the same fashion that he did with Green lantern and Flash. If anyone can do it, Johns can, and I for one can't wait! Take another look at the drawing. His classic look is back too! LONG LIVE THE KING!

Is there Hope for Jean Grey?

If you've been reading Marvel's "X-books" for the last couple of years, particularly the "Messiah Complex" storyline and the subsequent issues, you'll know that there's a little "red-headed stepchild" floating arpound the X-verse that bears a suspicious resemblance to none other than Phoenix.

Let's backtrack a bit to the horrendous end of Grant Morrison's run on NEW X-MEN where the "superstar" writer (read that as "over-inflated hack"), in a burst of originality (sarcasm), decided to kill Jean Grey/Phoenix for the umpteenth time.

Then jump ahead a couple of years where the Scarlet Witch goes all "Dark Phoenix" on us and manages to alter humanity so that no more mutants will be born. However, being that Phoenix is a creature of resurrection, a mysterious mutant baby girl was indeed born, to parents we have never seen; a baby girl with the same hair and eye color of Jean Grey who also managed to grab Cyclops' locket, which contained a picture of Scott and Jean, signifying an important connection. Hopefully this isn't a "red herring." Scott silently acknowledges that this child must be protected, as it has been revealed that she may either be mankind's savior or destroyer, depending on which alternate timeline you come from, and he sends the baby girl into the future with Cable (who oddly enough may be Jean's son from an alternate timeline).

So, Cable has now been with the red-haired girl for what appears to be 17 years and the child named "Hope" looks exactly like Jean Grey. In fact as a child the Phoenix raptor was seen in her eyes in one panel of CABLE, and now "Hope" has manifested telekenetic abilities.

In the "present" day, Emma Frost had a vision of Jean/Phoenix returning, and the last we actually saw of Jean was in PHOENIX: ENDSONG, where Jean disappeared from existence, supposedly to reconstitute all her parts in what is called the "White Hot Room," which is a label for the existentialist crap that Grant Morrison named as the place where Jean awaits resurrection. Ah but... Jean has now become the White Phoenix, a complete amalgamation of human host and Phoenix force, no longer seperate entities.

Is being reborn as an infant, growing to full maturity and then manifesting the Phoenix raptor, the last stage of the Phoenix, signalling the return of Jean Grey once and for all, or is Hope a character that is misleading all of us?

Phoenix is arguably Marvel Comics' only iconic female character and second in X-Men popularity, only to Wolverine. In fact, CBR just voted "The Dark Phoenix Saga" the second most important storyline in comics, right behind WATCHMEN.

Marvel better not be playing with us with their hints about Jean's return as Phoenix this coming March, 2010. We had better be seeing Hope actually being a stage of the Phoenix, with Jean's memory and history fully restored! After that, take her out of the X-Men, give her a comic of her own, have her join the Avengers, and NEVER KILL HER OFF AGAIN!

LONG LIVE PHOENIX!

FINALLY, A NEW COLUMN!

Hey Folks, it's been awhile! For those who don't know, I've been directing and shooting a film for the last several months, which is why there hasn't been a new weekly report in a LONG TIME! Go to www.youtube.com/dynamarcfilms and check the weekly webisode series called FU MANCHU'S WEAPON OF EVIL.

So, instead of my original plans, I'm going to spew some opinions on what's good and bad in comics lately. Ah, where to begin?

How about the JUSTICE SOCIETY? I'm surprised that I'm loving the series since the departure of uber-writer Geoff Johns. Point of fact, the series has been completely refreshed! Yes, it has been prey to some standard comic book-isms, but there's been a level of danger and excitement that has kept me comig back. How about that new Doctor Fate? My money is on the theory that this new version of Kent Nelson will turn out to be the original one, somehow mystically recreated. Time will tell.

Over in BATMAN, surprisngly artist Tony Daniels has turned out to be one of the better writers of the new Bat-status quo. In fact, I'll take his work over the mind-f--cking that's being done in BATMAN AND ROBIN by overrated hack, Grant Morrison (c'mon, you saw that coming).

X-MEN lately has been slowly but surely getting back to being the powerhouse series of books that they were in the past. Loving Chris Claremont's trip back into memory lane with X-MEN FOREVER, and even Scott Gray has started getting the hang of the past X-Men with UNCANNY X-MEN FIRST CLASS. How about Warren Ellis and Phil Jimenez on ASTONISHING X-MEN? Outstanding, to say the least. Even the regular X-books are gearing up for some major excitement. Hey, YOU BETTER BE BRINGING BACK PHOENIX/JEAN GREY!

The SPIDER-MAN books are still a mess despite attempts to reintroduce the classic villains. Too many writers equals too many voices on the book that do not make a cohesive whole, and like some of the X-books, The CLONE SAGA mini, which is telling stories of what was supposed to originally happen with that story, is better than what's going on in present in-continuity storylines.

The SUPERMAN books have been great, but I insist that the story could have been told without the need to separate Superman from his books and shunting him into WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON. If that story could have been contained in SUPERMAN and ACTION COMICS, and shortened, it would be even better. As for the new SECRET ORIGINS book, uh-uh; writer Geoff Johns wants to recreate SUPERMAN THE MOVIE into the comic book continuity. So many things that have been well thought out since CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS are being left by the wayside here.

GREEN LANTERN and BLACKEST NIGHT have been superb. Geoff Johns again knows how to write an event! However, it's a great story but character bits don't seem to stick on Hal Jordan. It's a good thing Johns knows how to create story-driven epics because his characterization falls a bit short. Even FLASH: REBIRTH needs some character work amidst what is turning out to be an excellent stroy. Did you read issue #5? Why didn't anyone ever think of things like that before?? I won't spoil it, just read it. It was simply brilliant despite some reviewers bitching about the fact that the book was so delayed.

The negativity continues to abound over on the WONDER WOMAN section of the DC MESSAGE BOARDS, as expected because they are turning on writer Gail Simone, who in my opinion finally has created a relatable protagonist in Diana. So what's the complaint? People don't like the fact that Diana isn't "perfect" anymore. Oh, perish the though that Wonder Woman may have a little angst in her life and come across as a fully realized "human" character when instead she can be the automaton of the Gods!! Grow up people! WONDER WOMAN under the guidance of Simone and the beautiful art of Aaron Lopresti, continues to be one of DC's best reads from month to month... except when fill-in artist Bernard Chang on occassion draws Diana into the crapper.

And that's it for now- GO READ SOME COMICS!

　

THE WEDNESDAY COMIC REPORT FOR 9/9/09

Actually it's a Tursday report for this week.

WOW! What a week! It seems that everything I've written about recently seems to have just exploded, full circle. Let's start with the digital future of comics; If you read my column (check somewhere below) on this topic, you'll have read about my predictions for the future of comics and I didn't expect to be so right so fast. This December, Apple will be realeasing the Apple Tablet, a 5x7" digital reader that's similar to Amazon's Kindle, that will support full color graphics for things like comics, and it doesn't end there! Sony will also be releasing the PSP digital comic reader, made specifically for comics, and of course Marvel is on board. Sony's player will be much smaller, but hey- it's starting. Anyone want to take bets on when comics go fully digital?

Director Guy Ritchie will be directing a big-screen version of DC's LOBO, which leads us into the next big story:

So, right on the heels of the Disney acquistion of Marvel Comics, DC just went through a major shake-up this week. DC Comics has been owned by Time Warner or Warner Brothers for years and now the parent company has changed DC's name to DC Entertainment and put new DC President Diane Nelson in the place of Paul Levitz (Levitz claims to have resigned to return to being a comics creator and will assume writing the LEGION, which he has long been applauded for in the past). DC will now report more to its parent company, but Nelson (who spear-headed the most successful Harry Potter marketing franchise for the films) claims that she is not there to control any of DC Comics' creative content at all, but rather it will now be her job to make all DC properties marketed heavily into other areas to make the company and its characters more visiable and viable in other mediums. This includes a new film division that Nelson claims will now take the Flash and Wonder Woman film rights back to get these movies made. My opinion? Good idea! In this economy, moves like this can only assure the future of the comic medium and finally we might get a Wonder Woman film which has been in development hell for a decade under producer Joel Silver. So now Marvel versus DC, Disney versus Warners, ie: Mickey Mouse versus Bugs Bunny again!

COMICS THIS WEEK INCLUDE:... another day late because of the Labor Day holiday in which Diamond Distributors once again can't figure out to ship books a day early (bastards), but hey they're here. RED ROBIN #4 takes Tim Drake's search for Bruce Wayne one step closer as he sees the Bat Symbol that Bruce left painted in a cave in the past. Makes me wonder how Dick Grayson is gonna feel considering that Tim and Dick are not getting along now, which you can see in this issue as the two share a fight in costume. BLACKEST NIGHT BATMAN #2 is out and most of the Batfamily is together in what is one satisfying crossover with the main story of BN. Especially loved Barbara Gordon's portrayal in this story. Speaking of the former Batgirl, if you look at the current issue of TOYFARE, there's a "Spoiler" of what Stephanie Brown's new Batgirl costume looks like. It sucks! ... Kyle Rayner has to deal with the dead in his past in the new issue of GREEN LANTERN CORPS, another BN tie-in, which of course is great as thankfully all BN-related stuff has been. Patrick Gleason continues to amaze me with his art. .... In the Superbooks this week we have WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #7, and I am enjoying the twists and turns in this story as Superman is now made military commander of the planet in Zod's absence. However, artist Pete Woods is not his usual great self this time out as some pages looked rushed and sloppy. Superboy also has some tender moments in ADVENTURE COMICS #2/505 as he has a bittersweet reunion with Wonder Girl. I like how writer Geoff Johns is trying to make Connor readjust to his life before starting a major story and the art by Francis Manapul is a bit inconsisitent too this month. It's sometimes gorgeous and sometimes too sketchy. He needs an inker! Over on the Marvel side of things, THE MARVELS PROJECT's second issue came out with the story of the beginnings of Marvel's heroes unfolding in a fluid way with an incredible story by writer Ed Brubaker and artist Steve Epting, who also made CAPTAIN AMERICA the best comic that Marvel currently produces, and they continue to work their magic here. So that's it for now, and I'll see you this coming Sunday for first of my "top ten" lists!

Go read some comics!

THE WEDNESDAY COMIC REPORT FOR 9/2/09

I'm sure just about everyone's heard the news: DISNEY BOUGHT MARVEL! I'm also sure that speculation on what this means, buth good and bad is running rampant, so allow me to throw in my two million cents (inflation, y'know). This can only mean good things for Marvel and comics in general. DC has benefitted by the financial backing of parent company Warner Communications and has pretty much been allowed to operate as its own entity with no interference from "Daddy Warner Brothers." Now Marvel has the backing of an equal financial powerhouse which will pretty much grant Marvel much stability for its future and I'm sure that Disney will allow Marvel to operate on its own the same way the Warner/DC coupling does. The odd thing is that Marvel's two main cinematic properties (SPIDERMAN and X-MEN) will not benefit from the Disney film division because Sony and Fox have indefinite theatrical rights to those franchises, as long as they keep films coming. Go figure!

As for our beloved comics, I didn't buy that much this week. BATMAN #690 came out (man, I can't wait til #700, which is my guess for Bruce's return), and I'm starting to like Dick Grayson as Batman less and less. I don't like seeing someone "play" the role as oppesed to being the role, and Dick is just too laid back and good natured to be the dark avenger of the night. This whole Bat-mess has been getting a lot of good press, but it's not working for me and I've said in past columns that I can't wait for Grant Morrison's influence to be forever removed from Gotham City and its residents.Judd Winick, who has never been a good writer is doing better than normal here, but still it involves a bad mix of character and costume. Mark Bagley however, shines on the art! Speaking of shiny art, JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #3 is also available now with painted style artwork by the incredible Mauro Cascioli. While not quite in Alex Ross' league, he is still really good, but the script by James Robinson once again doesn't resonate with me because the characters are.. out of character, which starts to make sense when you read Robinson's text piece and how he reveres Grant Morrison. Man, what information is Grant holding on people? Read past colums, Grant sucks and he needs to be gone from comics!

SUPERGIRL ANNUAL this week gives some interesting backstory on the origin of Superwoman, and of course, do I need to even mention that Superwoman's story is far from over? Writer Sterling Gates takes lemons and makes great lemonade with the whole current Krypton saga, which I admit is starting to go on a bit long for me. RED TORNADO's first issue of his new mini came out. Take a pass on this. 'Nuff said there.

See you on Sunday for a lighter hearted column on comics, where I'm going to play favorites!

COMICS AND THE CURRENT ECONOMY

Comics, like everything else are being affected by the economy. Rising costs, and somewhat declining sales as people try to hang onto their cash have driven the average cost of our little goodies, up. But there has been two different approaches by the two leads in the industry. Marvel has raised the price of some of their comics as much as a dollar to make up for the afore mentioned cost and sales issues. Some, I say but not all. Their thinking revolves around charging more for lesser selling books in order to recoup production costs and keeping the book on the market, while books that sell well will retain the current average price because their sales still make them profitable. However, you aint gettin' any more bang for your buck. Same page count and more money being shelled out of your pockets, which in my opinion isn't exactly fair. DC on the other hand has tried something different. They've added 8 more pages of story content in the form of new "back-up" features, which they snarkily refer to as "co-features." Hey DC, a back-up is a back-up. So, for the extra dollar you get more, but the question is, do you really want it? TEEN TITANS has Ravager, DETECTIVE COMICS has the Question, ACTION COMICS has Captain Atom, STREETS OF GOTHAM has Manhunter... and we fans may have to pay that extra buck for these features that we don't really want to read anyway. Seriously, I don't want to have to spend that extra cash on stuff which I'm not interestested in getting. I mean, there's a reason these back-up characters are relegated to that back-up status; the interest in them isn't really there. Look, I can't claim to have solutions here, but to me, I want to buy a book with a main title and have it be just that, and not buy anthology series, which traditionally haven't done well in decades anyway. The economy may be turning around soon, so Marvel and DC- GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER and really think about how not to rip off fans. Your charging extra money for comics will only further decline sales as people have to cut back more. It's really simple economics.

SUPER-MONEY

Take a good look at the attached image. It's Mon-El wearing a reverse-color Superman costume complete with the "S" symbol from an upcoming comic book cover, and it may be a bad sign of something to come. If you've been reading SUPERMAN and ACTION COMICS, you know that the Man Of Steel has been displaced in his own books and starring in one current (WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON) and one upcoming SECRET ORIGINS maxi-series. The Origins series will not revisit the totality of Clark Kent's life, but rather his leaving Smalville and coming to Metropolis. "Why?" Might you ask and "Why is Mon-El supplanting Superman, and why can't the full origin be retold?" Well, this is just speculation, but it may have to do with real life events that have been legally surrounding Comics' first superhero. DC Comics has even stated that something big is building. Could it be that Superman may be lost to DC Comics and has to be replaced in continuity with Mon-EL as the new Superman because of several lawsuits brought on by the Heirs of Jerry Seigel (one half of Superman's creators)? There's even talk that Superman's origin cannot be retold in another film! Before I begin, I want it stated that I am not a lawyer and I'm not versed in every legal part of what I'm going to discuss, but I've been well-read and I'm going to offer a harsh opinion that is based more in ideas of fairness and truth than what lawyers can do in a courtroom. It started with Superboy and the heirs of Jerry Seigel suing over rights relating to the SMALLVILLE television show, and then the "Superboy" name and related concepts in DC Comics publications. The lawsuit forced DC to even "kill" current and most recent Superboy, Connor Kent and not refer to him by his hero name. Thankfully, some deal had been worked out and DC restored Connor to life and has once again been able to use the Superboy moniker, but it seems like the Seigel heirs can't stop smelling potential financial gains. I don't want to seem unfair here, but the Seigel heirs are destroying the name of their father/grandfather and his most honored creation, and are thus destroying the legacy of that man as well.

1938, Superman is purchased under a "work for hire" style arrangement that is common to that day by National Periodical Publications which would later be known as DC Comics. Jerry Seigel and partner Joe Shuster guided the adventures of their creation for some time to come, being published by National Periodical Publications. Long story short: NPP and/or DC thus owned the Superman character and his stories under working agreements of that time, and DC right up until this day has been the caretaker of this most incredible character... the Seigel heirs have not, and nor have they had anything to do with the creation or marketing of this most famous superhero. This has not stopped what I view as money hungry people that as stated, had nothing to do with creating Superman, from trying to receive financial gains by either getting a portion of Super-related monies or from trying to legally steal Superman away from the company that has nurtured their ancestor's creation. One wonders why the Seigels aren't doing something else with their lives to perhaps distinguish themselves in their own right instead of going after DC?

1978, SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE hits theaters with a rounding commercial and critical success and starting the genre' of the extremely popular superhero film. Around this time, in an act of fairness, apparently ( I do not know the full details because I've read conflicting reports) DC's now-parent company awards Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster monies for their creation of Superman and the resulting successes in different mediums. No lawsuit it seemed, but just a goodwill act of thanks to the two men.

The present: Just when things looked to be settled down, the Seigels continue with more lawsuits, further angering fans who love Superman and want to see him remain where he is, because Superman is a staple of the DC imprint across its entire line. Why? Once again, they're smelling the cash. If I was a judge on this case, I would have reprimanded the lawyers who took the Seigel suit to court, and made the Seigels pay DC for their legal fees as a result. I don't feel good about saying such harsh things about the descendants of one of the men who created the most well known and one of the most beloved fictional figures, but they brought it on themselves. So, does that mean that DC now has to prepare for the possible eventuality that they may lose the Clark Kent/ Smallville/ Superman and set about replacing him with a different character? I desperately hope not, I doubt it, and I wish the Seigel family the best in their lives so that they each may succeed at something on their own merits, so they don't have to greedily spoil things for comics fans everywhere while at the same time sullying the name of Jerry Seigel and his creation. Time will tell...