what makes the comic nerd in Heffie happy

[thehefner]

First, for those wondering when this was coming out, behold: the official solicitation of WEDNESDAY COMICS:





In July, DC Comics gives a fresh twist to a grand comics tradition with WEDNESDAY COMICS, a new, weekly 12-issue series by some of the greatest names in comics today!
WEDNESDAY COMICS is unique in modern comics history: Reinventing the classic weekly newspaper comics section, it is a 16-page weekly that unfolds to a sprawling 28” x 20” tabloid-sized reading experience bursting with mind-blowing color, action and excitement, with each feature on its own 14” x 20” page.
Spearheaded by DCU Editorial Art Director Mark Chiarello, whose past editing credits include BATMAN BLACK & WHITE, DC: THE NEW FRONTIER and SOLO, each page of WEDNESDAY COMICS spotlights the continuing adventures of DC heroes, including:
• BATMAN, WEDNESDAY COMICS’ weekly cover feature, by the Eisner Award-winning 100 BULLETS team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso
• ADAM STRANGE, by writer/artist Paul Pope (BATMAN: YEAR 100)
• METAMORPHO, written by New York Times best-selling writer Neil Gaiman (bolded for those among you here who might be interested) with art by Eisner Award-winner Michael Allred (Madman)
• THE DEMON AND CATWOMAN, written by Walter Simonson (Thor, MANHUNTER) with art by famed DC cover artist Brian Stelfreeze
• DEADMAN, written by Dave Bullock and Vinton Heuck, art by Dave Bullock
• KAMANDI, written by Dave Gibbons (WATCHMEN, GREEN LANTERN CORPS) with art by Ryan Sook (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, ARKHAM ASYLUM: LIVING HELL)
• SUPERMAN, written by John Arcudi (The Mask) with art by Lee Bermejo (JOKER)
• WONDER WOMAN, written and illustrated by Ben Caldwell (Dare Detectives)
• GREEN LANTERN, written by Kurt Busiek (TRINITY, ASTRO CITY) with art by Joe Quiñones (TEEN TITANS GO!)
• TEEN TITANS, written by Eddie Berganza with art by Sean Galloway
• SUPERGIRL, written by Jimmy Palmiotti (JONAH HEX) with art by Amanda Conner (POWER GIRL)
• HAWKMAN, written and illustrated by Kyle Baker (PLASTIC MAN, Special Forces)
• SGT. ROCK, written by Adam Kubert (SUPERMAN: LAST SON), ilustrated by legendary comics artist Joe Kubert
• THE FLASH, written by Karl Kerschl (TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE, THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE) and Brenden Fletcher, illustrated by Karl Kerschl
• METAL MEN, written by Dan DiDio with art by Ian Churchill (SUPERGIRL)
WEDNESDAY COMICS will arrive in stores folded twice to 7” x 10”, with the first issue set to reach stores on July 8.

Issue #1 on sale July 8; Issue #2 on sale July 15; Issue #3 on sale July 22; Issue #4 on sale July 29 • 1-4 of 12 • 7” x 10”, 16 pg, FC, $3.99 US


I haven't bought single comic issues for a couple years now, but I will be picking up every single issue of this. Daring concepts like this need to be supported, and the fact that it's featuring some of the greatest talent working alongside hot-as-hell indie newcomers on some of comicdom's greatest characters is just gravy.

Honestly, the only thing that could make this even better is if I could find out who this girl is and propose to her:



Found via box_in_the_box, with whom I will battle in the Pit o' Death for this lady's affections. I mean, I love Plastic Man, but she pulls off ol' Eel's costume so much better that it's a wonder it wasn't a female character's outfit from the beginning! I tells ya, the Golden Age was a strange combination of innovative and questionable costume designs.

The fact that someone at Box's LJ responded to his query as to this girl's identity with "... Rachel Maddow?" just makes her all the more gloriously maddening. I must know who she is, if *only* to partner up costumes at a convention. But the question is, which female character should I man-itize to wow and woo Plastic Woman?

Sigh. Someday, Lady Plas. Someday.

Comments

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Ha! Wow, what a bittersweet thing that must be to realize for a near-literal child of Disney! Whereas I, meanwhile, have had to deal with being hyperactive and egotistical in my own Daffyish ways!

If it ever gets back into print, I wholeheartedly urge you to track down Don Rosa's THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK. I couldn't understand why there was so much hype around a bloody duck comic, until I read it and... well, it's now one of my all-time favorite comics. I need to track down the original classics by Carl Barks, who is worshiped for his duck comics. Arguably, he did more for Donald and company than any of the Disney cartoons themselves have (he created Scrooge, among other characters)!

Oh wow, you've only read those two Alan Moore comics?! Egad, those aren't the best examples of his work! Have you tried WATCHMEN, V FOR VENDETTA, and/or TOP TEN? The last one, I can't possibly imagine you or anyone else not adoring. It's pure wonderfulness: a city where every single person--right down to the cats and mice--are superheroes, and Top Ten are the police force that keep 'em in line!

Well stick with me, kid, and you'll learn plenty about the wide, wide world of comics! I worked at a comic shop for eight years, and I pride myself on being able to customize comic recommendations to people, plus ease them into different and awesome stuff. I bet I could hook you up.

[mellifluous-ink.livejournal.com]

Actually, I rather like being a villain. I mean, hell, look at the best animated heroine of Disney: Jessica herself. She's not above the wrong methods for the right reasons. I'm just a Slytherin, like my fav Disney villain (Forte). I mean, is it just me, or do the villains get all the pretty boys? No, I'm not bittersweet about resembling a WB baby. That's cool with me. I never really could see them as enemies, not after watching Roger Rabbit as a kid.

I have read V for Vendetta. It was entertaining at the time, and seemed poignant, but looking back...it was just like Whedon--it only seems Deep and Meaningful and Cool. It really just tries so hard that it completely misses whatever point it was trying to make, and comes off as wankery.

I'm all for the increasing trend of realism in comics, but reality doesn't have to be depressing! I HAVE enough of that in my real life--can't my reading give me HOPE, instead of taking it away?

I mean, for gods'sake, at least put some pretty gay boys for me to lust over, in there (I've given up on finding women that fit my idea of beauty, in anything I haven't drawn)! But noooooo, the comics industry is so homophobic.... As far as I can tell, only Joker is allowed to even dance at the edge of liking a boy (Batman), and that's portrayed as questionable in terms of actual attraction, so you have to be a slasher like me to even THINK of it!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I too have somewhat... complex emotions regarding V FOR VENDETTA, but I mentioned it because it's so very close to the hearts of many people I've known over the years. It's funny, it's like when it comes to V and WATCHMEN, people who love the one are somewhat cold to the other. In my case, I'm a WATCHMEN boy through and through.

That said, your thing about reality not having to be depressing? All the more reason I'd urge you to check out TOP TEN. Trust me. I can't imagine anyone not liking that, unless they had no sense of fun. Also, if you're looking for hope and optimism in your comics, I might recommend ASTRO CITY and ALL-STAR SUPERMAN. Those are like rays of sunshine in the grim and gritty world of modern superhero comics, pure superheroic joy and awesomeness.

Well, I haven't read MANHUNTER, but I understand Obsidian (who is gay and in a happy committed relationship) features as one of the main supporting characters. And Northstar was recently shown with having a boyfriend, which I understand they never showed before! So bit by bit, there is progress!

[mellifluous-ink.livejournal.com]

I've been combing Wiki since reading this reply, damn you. XD

Maybe I should just really go after drawing my own comics. I mean, I'm going to school for illustration, for crying out loud. Be the change you wish to see in the world, and all that.

Bit by bit. There are a couple of Xmen who are gay (graymalkin and anole), and there's the Kelly Green series.

Seriously we need to hang out sometime. There's a copy of Watchmen in this house somewhere, though it belongs to the owner, not me (I live with housemates).

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

All righty, strange-person-I-met-only-a-few-hours-ago-on-the-internet, we totally should meet and talk comics sometime. I'm in town for a couple more weeks before I gotta hit the road to start my tour (Orlando, and then it's off to Canadaland!), but let's definitely figure out a time. BMore is a bit of a trek, but one of my best friends is up there and he lives right near the pie place I was telling you about, so yeah, I'm sure we'll figure something out.

Because yeah, I'm totally gonna try and nudge you toward good comics. It's one of my passions. I'm a comic matchmaker! And yes, you absolutely should be the chance you wish to see in the world, particularly when it comes to art! But ahhh, here's the trick: I firmly believe one should be well-read in many things in your field, because even the things you don't like can give you a better idea of the kinds of stories you WANT to see, and therefore tell yourself! If that makes sense. It's like they say, you can learn a lot from a bad teacher. But I'll do my best to steer you toward quality comics!

Oh! There's Wiccan and Hulkling from the Young Avengers! I haven't read that, but they're quite popular and beloved.

Steal (borrow) that copy of WATCHMEN! Your roommate will understand, it's for the greater good! But just know that it's not a book one can take all in on first reading. Don't expect a masterpiece, oh dear lord, don't. I read it annually, and there are still things I pick up that I missed the first time aroumd, because it's so damn dense. Just try to enjoy it for what it is, and keep in mind that it improves upon rereading, just because there are so many goddamned layers, more than you realize half the time.

[mellifluous-ink.livejournal.com]

I love layers. I mean, not the gratutitous 'I know so much about the Victorian era of literature lookit!' that is in LXG, but layers are great.

I'm okay with bad comics, lol. And I'm a big fan of Riddler now that I have RPed as him (and gotten waaaaay unhealthily attached to him). Penguin and Riddler are my rogues of choice, I think.

O I fully intend to steal that copy of watchmen. I do. I have been told to steal it.

Research is the most important part of taking the plunge into anything. Comics is just so incredibly huge, I don't even know where to start. o_o

Re meeting...yeah, I pretty much treat the internet like real life. n_n;; Sorry if I seem freakishly enthused about meeting for coffee pie. It seems normal to me.... Er, if you'd rather talk over IM or something a bit more, that's cool with me. Just let me know.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Excellent, I love layers too. It's always wonderful to find a work of art that you can keep peeling apart for days or even years to come. LXG is far from his best work. It's fun and all, but he's capable of far better. SWAMP THING, for one. And again, TOP TEN. So much fun.

Awesome! It's always good to meet another Eddie fan. But you love Ozzie too?? Oh, now that IS refreshing! For a character so long considered to be one of Batman's greatest foes, poor Ozzie has really fallen to the wayside, hasn't he? He's so underutilized and underappreciated. It's terrible, really.

I dunno how long you've read my LJ, but if you don't know yet, you might as well know now: I'm probably the biggest Harvey Dent fan you'll ever meet. Just putting that out there. I'm kind of more than a little obsessed.

Aye, of course, comics are huge and overwhelming! I'll do my damndest to help and guide. I'll be the Virgil to your Dante!

Tell you what, I'm thinking about finally crashing in fifteen or so, but if you'd like, feel free to hit me up on gmail at curseyourichards at gee male dot com. I use gchat for my IMing these days. But if you're AIM-centric, you can find me at SamBluestone3383. I'm not on there often, but drop me a line and I can be. Because yeah, we're pushing this LJ thread to the breaking point.

[mellifluous-ink.livejournal.com]

1. I'm definitely scouring the library. I keep forgetting that I read comics at the library for a while. Including some Elfquest! That was fun.

2. My friend misterporcelain got me to like Ozzie again. He is full of the badassery. So is Eddie, now that his time has come and they've figured out what to DO with him (HACKERGOD! Yai!). I...I presume they figured out what to do with him, anyway.

3. Huzzah for Gotham's Apollo! I am seriously in love with Harvey too. He's a great character.

4. What is your beef with Richards, for srs? I mean, I like him about as much as I like getting blood drawn, but...?

5. I'm steamfop on aim, and Rococoboy on gmail (sensing a theme? XD). I have to go to bed soon (up bright and early for a trek up to hell the social services office! Abject poverty yay!), but I'm on pretty much every evening until 3am.