Ok, So Blog A Day, Numbah Cinco! The Apathy Of Wednesdays (A Rant)

Wednesday used to be one of my favorite days of the week, probably for the last 20 years or so.  Why, do you ask?  Well, Wednesdays have always been Comic Book day around the Latteboy house. Back when I used to go to the comic store, it was nothing for me to go weekly and drop 15 to 30 bucks on various comics and/or trade paperbacks (TPBs) before lunch (yes I was THAT guy who would sit in his car and wait for the store to open) and head someplace where I could eat and read through lunch.  It was tradition and I loved it.  I also loved finding new series in trade formate (The Walking Dead, Runaways, etc.) and laying on the couch and reading a block of stories all at once.  I think I bought the first 10 TPBs of Walking Dead in the course of about a week and a half.  I couldn't get enough.  I've always been a DC boy at heart, and have boxes of old Teen Titans, JLA and various Batman titles in a closet in my dining room to prove it.  I stuck with comics through the horrible mullet and pouches times of the 90's, I bought my die cut and metallic covers, I stayed with books I hated because it was the only place to see Black Canary or Donna Troy.  I did so because I loved the idea that something really cool was just around the bend and that I would receive validation for holding on.

Then a couple of things happened.

1.) In September of 2011, DC Comics cancelled all of their titles.  All of them, including Action and Detective, comics that have been around since the 1930s.  All of the titles started back at number 1, and all of the titles received new creative teams and a new common shared universe.  The majority of the characters received new "updated" costumes from Jim Lee, and all of the stories would be intertwined in some way.  While upset by the cancellation of some long time titles (Action and Detective, just because of the perceived lack of respect it showed), I tried some of the titles, and talked about them on his blog 3+ years ago.  Some of the titles shined (Batman and Wonder Woman, specifically) while others...well, they tried hard enough, but never seemed to have a genuine feel, like they wanted it too hard.  A prime example of that is Geoff Johns' and Jim Lee's Justice League.

Justice League is a title I have TRULY wanted to love.  It should be the company's flagship title.  All of the main characters that are well known in the non comic reading community, fighting together against the biggest villains the company can offer.  There should be drama, there should be action, there should be a reason that you want to root for the team.

Instead we have a group of douchebags that spend all their time grandstanding agains the other ones and arguing.  No one seems to get a long, no one trusts anyone else.  Now, for reasons I don't completely understand, we have Lex Luthor on the team (It's a long story), and the main goal of the JL having him on the team is so that they can find something on him to arrest him with?  The feel of Justice League seems to be that of a group of comic book store employees sitting around after hours in the back of the shop, talking about "Wouldn't it be cool if...."  It seems like there is no rhyme or reason to their thought process.....

But apparently, there is, which is reason number 2 for my nerd annoyance (not rage, which would imply overwhelming anger)

2.) Currently, in the DC universe, they are publishing not one, not two, but THREE weekly titles.  These titles are supposed to be taking place in the past (Batman Eternal) the present (Earth 2: World's End) and the future (The New 52: Futures End).  Some of these stories are intertwined somehow, but the whole thing is so convoluted and, again, when you add in the douchebag factor of some of the main characters, it makes it very difficult to even remotely care enough to figure out when these things are happening.  It also doesn't help that many of the comic book websites are given information by DC TELLING THEM WHAT WILL HAPPEN!  (ooh, there's a little of that nerd rage).  Why bother reading the books if you already know in GREAT detail what will happen?!?!  When you add onto THAT a story by Grant Morrison that is introducing multiple earths and timelines, and a planned event in April that will tie everything together over the course of EIGHTY NINE issues in NINE WEEKS, you can see where I would throw my hands up in the air and just say, "To hell with it."  Alas, the 14 year old comic geek in me is holding out, thinking that if I just stay a liiiiiiitttttle more patient, everything will work itself out.  I'll get back my old Superman with his red underwear on the outside.  I'll get back Donna Troy.  I'll get back a world where Superman and Wonder Woman aren't banging.  I'll get my quality time on the couch back, where I can sit and read through all these books and feel the heroes I loved as a kid are still out there somewhere fighting the bad guys and keeping me safe.

But that's not all!

3.) The iPad.  I read comics on my iPad now.  The idea of finding space for all these books in my little house is overwhelming, and I don't want to throw away something I've paid a couple of bucks for every week.  (I feel guilty enough doing that with magazines, and I only get MAYbe 3 of them a month.  Having all the comics I'm reading in one place is lovely and it helps that I can read them anywhere, in bed or at Starbucks, and not have to lug a pile of the around.  The iPad, however, has been a blessing and a curse.  Because I'm not buying all these comics (I'll admit it), I don't have as much as an emotional dependency on the stories.  It's nothing for me to breeze through a book barely reading the words, just looking through at the pretty pictures. I tend to do that mostly through the books of the Avengers right now. (We get it, Jonathan Hickman, you're clever.  It's Captain America, not quantum fucking physics.)  I find myself annoyed with titles more easily, but I continue reading them because, well, they're "free."  The annoyance I have for these titles often dilutes some of the enjoyment I have for OTHER books and it makes the whole experience kind of.... muddied.  BUT, I will say this - comics I HAVE bought digitally (say, for example, Saga or Fatale) have been a WONDERFUL experience, but that may be because when I'm reading them (or digitally purchased copies of books I read/bought as a child) I am totally focused ON them and that story. And that is not to say all of the books DC puts out are shit.  Their digital first series Sensation Comics and InJustice: Gods Among Us are titles I look forward to each week, and I cannot WAIT for Wonder Woman '77, a series that will be based in the Lynda Carter television series.  But for now, I read comics when I get around to it, not because there is any sort of overwhelming excitement about Wednesdays and what enjoyment I may be getting.  Having comics on the iPad is kind of like going to an all you can eat buffet.  You gorge yourself the first time you go, but in order to avoid a stomach ache, you need to refine your palate and find things that are more more enjoyable the second time around.

Ok, So An Invisible Car?

So, DC Nation on Cartoon Network shows little short cartoons during commercial breaks, and has some really neat takes on them.  They finally got around to Wonder Woman in these three short films, and while it is clearly not the Wonder Woman that we know and love, I really enjoy the animation style and take on the character.

And Taffy, before you ask, together they only take about 4 minutes to watch.

Ok so...A comic book for all times...

Stay Golden...Pony Boy!

Ok so...Superman as a Zombie?? Vampire??

...Either way, this should supply a certain Babaloo with some wet-dream inducing thoughts...

Ok, So A Hard Read...And Not In The Fun Way....

So, after working at it for three weeks, I FINALLY finished the trade paperback, The Wonder Woman Chronicles, Vol. 1. It's easier to just let the solicitation at the DC Comics website explain what the book is all about ,so ...

Collecting Wonder Woman's adventures in chronological order for the first time from the pages of ALL STAR COMICS #8, SENSATION COMICS #1-9 and WONDER WOMAN #1. Don't miss Wonder Woman's origin and her search to find her role in "man's world."

Beings Wonder Woman is one of my all time favorite characters, right up there with Black Canary and Donna Troy, I figured that this book would be a joyous romp through a time long gone. All I can say is that I am disappointed with just about every aspect of this book, and to say I am surprised the character managed to survive for 70 years is quite an understatement.

Taking the time period the character was created into consideration, this version of WW is lovestruck immediately with Steve Trevor, she follows him around while both of them get into trouble, and, while her cohorts Superman and Batman were off saving the world or Gotham City, Diana was stopping the world's milk supply from becoming too expensive for the children of the world, or saving elephants at a circus. And at the end of every story, the people responsible for these dilemmas were always nazis or "Jap spies." (Her words, not mine) The art was CLEARLY completed before the scripts were, as much of the dialog and or descriptions are ham fisted into the artwork that stories don't make a lot of sense. And knowing what I know about the creator of Wonder Woman, William Moulton Marston, and his private life (inventor of the lie detector, lived with his wife and his mistress...in the same house...), some of the more kinky predicaments that Wonder Woman gets herself into make sense...kind of.....

All that being said, the production of the book is actually quite beautiful. The inks and colors look great for books that were 70+ years old, and, while I kinda hated this book, I know myself well enough to know that I'll get Vol. 2 when it comes out...because, you know, I'm a glutton for punishment...and I like when things match on my bookcase. It's a sickness, sue me.

Ok, So As Promised...Mega-Con Pics....

Well, this happened....tragic....

Green Arrow and (one of my favorites) Black Canary...She made both those costumes for them, apparently.

It's a lime R2 Unit!

Happiness...again, don't wander around with your tits out and no expect people to stare...(i.e. The Taffy Huffington Life Motto....)

The official "cute guy in a costume" of Saturday's con. There was another guy dressed as Lightning Lad with a huge sock in the front of his tights, but I didn't get my camera out in time. Plus, that is an AWESOME Ms. Marvel Costume...very much what I would expect it to look like in "real life."
Sora from Kingdom Hearts, one of my favorite video games ever! When will KH3 come out for the PS3?!?

Ok, So FINALLY, A Story I Have Been Waiting For Since High School

DC Comics announced this week they are finally releasing Games, A New Teen Titans Original Graphic Novel that has been in production limbo since the late 80s/early 90s that was written and drawn by the original TT creators, Marv Wolfman and George Perez!!
Teen Titans is by far my favorite all time comic book, and I have been sad to say that I haven't collected the most recent series for quite some time. It was easier for me to walk away from some of my favorite characters (Donna Troy) than watch the ridiculous characterizations of some writers who apparently never thought to read some of the source material. I know Wolfman hasn't been the best writer in a long time, but I'm hopeful that this will work to his benefit, as this book (120 pages!!) has the potential to feel like something I would have read down in my parent's rec room back in 1986. And George Perez is a god. Nostaligia, hurrah!

Any other comic book fans excited for this?

Teen Titans: Games will be released sometime in 2010.

Ok, So Hello, Boys.....

It finally came in - ain't she a beaut?!?

Ok, So When I Said I Was Done Collecting Floppy Comic Books...

I had no idea that a ton of the comics I collect in either TPB or Hardcover would be coming out over the course of the next six weeks! Starting tomorrow with Jonah Hex, vol. 7, I will be seeing ALL four Avengers Series coming out in trade, as well as Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corp. Add on that the Black Canary statue that I ordered six months ago coming in the week of Thanksgiving, and it's looking like I'll be pacing myself at the comic store over the next few months!

Ok, So Nerd/Geek + Completist + Little To No Need For These = Taylor

So, the Babaloo and I got home a little while ago from errand shopping, and stopped by the comic book store. I was a little excited to get there today because I had, waiting for me in my pull list, Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corp War, Vol. 2. As expected, it was a great read, not one that I flew through as I am oft to do lately with books (Justice League, anyone? blech.) Anyway, it is in this story that they reveal that there are not just the Green Lantern (Green) and Sinestro (Yellow) Corps, but Corps of every other color in the rainbow....

And they sell T-shirts for all of them.

Call me a nerd, but these WILL be slowly in my dresser drawer over the next few months.

It's a shame ALL the Dial H boys couldn't be at Gay Days this year - we could have shown our....uh, pride with these?

Ok, So I Know I Said I Was Only Going To Get The One Black Canary Figure.....

...but THIS is a beautiful figurine of my favorite Super Heroine taken directly from the cover of a Justice League issue a few years ago....It will be out on November 25, right before my birthday.

Hint, hint.

Ok, So Jumping On The GL Band Wagon....

So, for Babaloo's birthday, I got him the first three Green Lantern trade paperbacks, per his request. (Actually, he just said he wanted to start reading GL, so I thought they would make a good gift. He was pleased with my decision.) Anywho, I just finished reading them myself and have to say I very much enjoyed them. With the exception of one story (the Star Sapphire story at the end of the third trade), I though they were really well written and kept you on the end of your nerd seat. I'm looking forward to the Sinestro Corp Trades coming out soon.

Anyone else reading and or enjoying these?

Ok, So I'm Making Kevin and Michael Proud (aka Geek Alert)

Taffy, go do something for a minute.

I bought my first action figure today in almost 25 years, and the first one from DC Direct. It's a Black Canary, circa Justice League International era. I know most people hated this costume, but I always liked it. I have never been much of an action figure guy, but I knew that this particular costume would probably never be made into an action figure again, and heck, one or two action figures isn't all that bad, is it? I would just like for her to have ears, I guess.

Oh, and to compare the action figure to the original costume, I found this art from Justice League #5. It also happens to be one part of one my favorite comic scenes of all time.

Ok, Taffy, you can come back in now...

Ok, So Another Podcast Four of You Would Enjoy....

So, I have been listening to a bunch of new podcasts on top of the other podcasts I listen to regularly, and one stands out as a must read for Michael, Walt and the few others of you who love DC Comics...in particular Bronze Age stuff. "Tom vs The JLA" is a daily podcast (most episodes are 10 to 12 minutes) where Tom Katers from AroundComics.com comically reviews an episode of the original Justice League of America...in order. He started at issue 163 (though the earlier issues were reviewed in blog form) and comments on recurring themes, a lack of any kind of physics or logic in some stories, and how Superman is a big d-bag. The funny thing is I remember a LOT of the issues he's talking about from when I was a kid, and can picture the art in my head as he's going along. I can't wait to hear him rip apart the Detroit JLA years (yes, I know only two or three of you got that - ain't inside jokes fun!?!) Anyway, you can check out Tom vs. The JLA here.

(One negative - I HATE the theme music...I mean, really, it gets in your head and you can't get it out....but I've learned to just turn off the episode when the closing music starts.)

Ok, So Dork Olympics...With Commentary From Taylor and Michael

From Megacon 2008:

We have no idea what they're doing, either.....

Ok, So Rodan May Get A Second Chance At One His All Time Favorite Movies.....

Pasted from Newsarama's blog:

Although it probably should be taken with a spoonful of salt, this gossipy item may be worth noting because it’s the first time in probably five years I’ve seen mention of a Supergirl movie as still being in play.

In short — and you can’t get much shorter than the four-paragraph brief — actress Mischa Barton, of The O.C. fame, apparently passed up a role on The CW’s Gossip Girls because she wants to play Supergirl “in the new comic movie.”

Aside from speculation sparked by the character’s appearance on Smallville – and that always seemed geared toward a spin-off TV series — the last talk of a Supergirl movie may have been back in 2002, when FilmJerk.com reported Akiva Goldsman was developing the project for Warner Bros. (Has there been a more recent mention that I’ve missed?)

I may be off-base, but I linked this in my mind to The New York Times article about the Justice League of America movie — particularly the bit about Warner Bros. viewing the project as “crucial to broadening the studio’s rewards from its subsidiary DC Comics.” Perhaps Warner Bros. sees more than a launching pad for spin-offs starring The Flash, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. Maybe the plan is for Justice League to serve as a hub for even more DC Comics-based movies, such as Supergirl.

(Hey, if Marvel can offer up Ant-Man and Deathlok, DC should get another crack at the Maid of Might.)

Or maybe there’s nothing to the item at all, and I’m just spinning my wheels

Ok, So Do You Have Relationship Questions?

Ask Golden Age Wonder Woman here.

Ok, So NOT. FUCKING. COOL.

From www.variety.com,
"Justice League" is no longer moving faster than a speeding bullet.
Warner Bros. let the options lapse on the young cast that director George Miller chose to play DC superhero staples. The studio, which had set Tuesday as its greenlight deadline for the pic, confirmed Wednesday the project is on indefinite hold.
Project now most likely won't get under way until late summer or fall at the earliest.
Cast members were informed late Tuesday their options would not be exercised, but they were also assured the studio is determined to make the film with them in it. But before that can happen, there are several problems to be resolved.
The studio's reasons included not getting the official response it needed on tax breaks from shooting in Australia. And while WB execs like the script they got from Kieran and Michele Mulroney, it would benefit from a little more work, something that isn't possible because of the writers' strike.
Some were surprised the studio didn't exercise cast options anyway. The deals gave WB the flexibility to exercise the deals immediately, or in July, and the actors will be making salaries in the low six-figure range. While Adam Brody, cast as the Flash, has a track record, most of the cast comprises such newcomers as Armie Hammer Jr., who plays Batman, and Megan Gale, who will play Wonder Woman.
The studio risks losing them to other film jobs. But it is likely most if not all the cast will make sure to be available starting late summer and fall, just in case. That's because of the starmaking potential of "Justice League."
Studio had set this week as the deadline to greenlight the superhero tentpole, which it was racing to get into production for 2009 release. That was always considered a dicey proposition, particularly when the writers went on strike, and because the film needs to be completed before the SAG deal expires in June.
With "Justice League" on indefinite hold, the studio has a superhero gap on its 2009 slate; status of the next "Superman" pic is also uncertain.

Ok, So I've Read Most Of These....

DC Comics has put a website called the Essential 30, listing their best 30 trade paperbacks in their publishing history. There are some great stories in here, and if you are interested in comics, or know someone who is, check this link out and you'll be in the know.

Or ignore it, like Taffy will.


http://www.dccomics.com/sites/essential30/

A comics page a day keeps the boredom away (for about 30 seconds)

Ok, so I love the fact that Newsarama (see the link on the right) has begun posting a page from the series Powers every day. The book is about two police officers who work in a city where Superheroes are the norm. The first trade paperback, "Who Killed Retro Girl?" recently finished, and now they have begun posting the second TPB, "Roleplay." Great art, amazing (not safe for kids) writing and all around enjoyable, I have this site posted in my favorite places to check every day. Here is a link to the first page of the first story arc:

http://hiddenrobot.com/POWERS/PDAILY/

Even those of you who are not normally readers of the comic books (Taffy) may enjoy these stories.