The Hefner's CAVALCADE OF COMICS! News! Scans! Geekery! LJ-Cuts!

[thehefner]

First off, GIP, courtesy of the amaaazing disc_sophist




ITEM: WEDNESDAY COMICS STILL LOOKS FUCKING AMAZING






I, for one, am hugely looking forward to the adventures of HAWKMAN, BAKER and STRANGE ADVENTURES POPE. Joke shamelessly stolen from Rich Johnston.

Seriously, though, look at that line-up of creators. LOOK at it, comic fans, and tell me at least one of them doesn't get you tingly in places. Because if that doesn't do it, surely one of these must, or else you need to check your fun-o-meter:











I'm so nervous that this is going to flop, though. Response from fans has been a lot of concern about the oversized format and the price, capped off with this report from a recent convention:

At Saturday’s DC Nation panel, editors Ian Sattler and Brian Cunningham provided fans with a first-ever look at a printed copy of “Wednesday Comics.” The weekly, star-studded, 16-page comic produced on massive newsprint pages, was described as one of the most unusual, impressive, projects in DC’s recent history, a “Kramer’s Ergot” #7 with superheroes.

But DC Nation, or at least the cross section attending the panel, showed more interest in the tedium of DC continuity. Not a single question was asked about “Wednesday Comics.”

DAMN IT, FANDOM. DON'T RUIN THIS FOR US.





ITEM: I DON'T WANT THE HAL JORDAN HATERS TO BE RIGHT, BUT, UH, IS HE ACTUALLY BEING A DICK HERE OR WHAT?


Holla at my GL flist buddies--particularly nymphgalatea, kali921, and kagome654--What think you of James Robinson's depiction of Hal in these preview pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE # 1?

I mean, I've been a bit unimpressed by Geoff Johns' take on Hal, so this suddenly proactive take on Hal is rather cool. But is it in character? It definitely seems to be more in keeping with the Hal that Parallax exploited, but that Hal wasn't really in character in the first place.

I guess what I'm trying to ask is, when you look at this page, do you think, "BADASS" or do you think, "Wow, what a dickhole"?







On one hand, hey, awesome, he's actually showing off leadership capabilities, and it's keeping with someone who has crazy huge amounts of willpower! On the other hand, even Scott Summers might think Hal should cool it down a little.

I look forward to seeing how this storyline pans out. Either way, I want smart-ass fun-loving wise-cracking Hal Jordan back. My ideal Hal is like the bastard child of John Crichton and James T. Kirk with liberal dashes of Bruce Campbell thrown in for good measure.




ITEM: ONE OF THE MOST INTRIGUING PAGES FROM A GOLDEN AGE COMIC EVER





Scan courtesy of doop over at nu-scans_daily.



... huh.

I can't even call crack on it, like Golden Age Wonder Woman, because damn, it actually seems damn well straightforward! So to speak.

And damn, Zatara is a sharp motherfucker. But then, he's the father of Zatanna, so he'd have to be. We need more dash and top hats in comics, says I.




FINAL ITEM: COMICS THAT MADE US CRY

The Robot 6 blog did a piece on "The 6 Comics That Made Us Cry," and folks have been responding with their favorites. For me, there have been several, but only one gets me choked up just thinking out it: the one-two punch of that issue of I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S NOT THE JUSTICE LEAGUE, when they find Ice in Hell.

First, when Guy Gardner, of all people, just keeps whispering, “Please come back, Tora. Please come back. Please come back.”

And second, at the end, when Bea and Guy hold each other, sobbing.

There was more genuine, heart-wrenching emotion in this silly comedic B-list superhero spin-off than in all of the INFINITE CRISIS titles going on at the same time. I’m getting misty just *thinking* about that issue.

What about you, folks? What comics have made you mist up or sob?

Comments

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

DEADMAN? DEADMAN IS IN WEDNESDAY COMICS? I NEED A JOB SO I CAN BUY THIS GLORIOUSNESS.

Also, I think I might have actually cried toward the end of Tellos. Absolutely slayed me.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Indeed he is! And by a creative team I know absolutely nothing about! He'll definitely be one of the wild cards there.

I didn't know you were a Boston Brand fan! Hey, d'you know he'll be a Black Lantern in THE BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN? He'll be fighting alongside the Zombie Flying Graysons! No, seriously!

Oh man, I've never read TELLOS, but the 'Ringo factor alone could only add to the tear-jerkiness of that ending, methinks...

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

My very first comic ever was a DC Digest with a Deadman story. I still have it! I don't know much of his recent/current continuity, though.

Tellos is something you have to read from the start (at least the main series - even I haven't read all of the one shots released since it ended), and you just need to realize everything is not what it seems. I don't know how you feel about talking animals, but... yeah. Remain zen and read on.

It's all been compiled in trades now, I believe. You can probably find it in one of the libraries around you if you're home (or request they get it in for you).

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Update: he's still dead.

Ah, great idea! I'm sure it must be in the library. I'll check it out!

[final question:]

[fragmentedsky.livejournal.com]

355, and everything that came after.

Re: [final question:]

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that really did seem to be one of the big recurring ones in those comments. That, and SILVER SURFER: REQUIEM. Dear lord, I need to finally buy that trade paperback.

[mellifluous-ink.livejournal.com]

I WANT TO HAVE ZATARA'S BABIES OH MY GOD SERIOUSLY WE NEED HIM BACK COULD WE HAVE SOME REVIVAL?

We need a series made up of DC's various swells and etc.

In related news: Joker. Is he a swell? He certainly can be said to dress sharply, if colourfully. Discuss. XD

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Sadly, Zatara is very, very dead, but his daughter Zatanna carries on the legacy of swellness with style and pizazz matched by no other superheroine! Seriously, she's one of my very few actual true no-bull comic crushes. Especially when written by Paul Dini, who bases her on his own hot magician wife.

Oh, damn swell! He doesn't even *have* to be colorful! See icon, and below:

[mellifluous-ink.livejournal.com]

I KNOW RIGHT? This is one of the reasons I totally want to raid Joker's closet. Because seriously? SERIOUSLY??

[kosher-jenny.livejournal.com]

Who's doing the art for Sgt. Rock? The style looks really familiar.

I still think that being DM-only will hurt Wednesday Comics, but running the Superman feature in USA Today was a good move, I think.

As to the last question: I was an emotional wreck after reading We3. I'm not talking misty eye'd or a few shed tears here, but a full-on blubbering, snotty mess. Really the only other emotional response to a piece of media that can compare was when I was eight, watching Snoopy Come Home in an hotel room just after we'd moved to a new town.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Why, it's none other than Joe Kubert himself!

Agreed about the DM and USA TODAY thing. They need to be doing more, though, much more. But the DM alone... if I read one more person whine about not wanting to "spend $3.99 for a 16-page comic" I am going to tap into some dark magic that will actually allow me to reach into my computer screen and smack them.

Oh yes. Yes yes yes. I'm increasingly frustrated toward Grant Morrison, and don't really understand why so many people fawn over his work, but still like WE3? Hoo, oh yes. And ALL-STAR SUPERMAN too. When he and Quitely work together, it's usually magic. I still have my reservations about BATMAN AND ROBIN, though...

[harper-knight.livejournal.com]

even Scott Summers might think Hal should cool it down a little

Hah! yeah.. Perhaps just a little. However, I mean, Hal is a bit like that. I think it's a bit exaggerated, but not too badly.

Also, the Scott Summerism that you refer to is why no matter how much I love Scott (he's done some pretty amazing things in holding the X-Men together in the boss' frequent disappearances, and he's altogether pretty good at what he does) I can't seem to convince my friends of it.

Comics that make me cry.. I couldn't tell you right now, it's been too long since I've read many comicses. There've been a few tho.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I think folks below nailed it by saying it's more of a Hawkman characterization, and that pretty much everybody in that preview feels "off." There's some of the real Hal there, but I dunno, the only time he's ever really acted like that was when he was possessed by a giant space fear bug.

But yay for other people liking Scott! I'm not a huge X-Men myself, but I've always had a soft spot for him, if only because I feel he's been unjustly hated for the simple crime of being Wolverine's straight man. I've had a hard time of trying to find a good number of examples (aside from two or three Joss-penned issues) that can really convince people of Scott's worth and excellence as a character and a leader.

[harper-knight.livejournal.com]

As to decent Scott-ization, The latest example I recall was the arc *directly* after House of M. I haven't read much of since then, although I hear it's been weird. And of course there's the Warren Ellis run on.. I can't remember which X-men title, but y'know, RAGING fanboy here. Warren Ellis is my internet jesus. He gets almost everything right.

I do agree about Joss' run as well though, I liked that.

Back to Hal, you're right. Altough I haven't read much Hawkman, I've preferred modern Adam Strange. The Rann-Thanagar war stuff is excellent.

[suburbfabulous.livejournal.com]

-Wednesday Comics needs to NEVER END.
-That ain't Hal. That's Katar Hol talking through Hal's mouth. HAL would say "They keep grouping, and we'll keep ringing 'em in" or "We'll have to keep a close eye on things, make sure this doesn't happen again." Hal is not a Fascist of any kind. This fails worse than me as a vegan.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

AGREED. Quesada joked, "I love WEDNESDAY COMICS, I hope it works! If it does, we'll steal the idea!" I know I'd certainly approve!

Dang it, yeah, I shoulda included you in the above GL fans! Because you're totally right. Dead-on. That's way more of a Hawkman way to act. You get the sense the Guardians and Sinestro alike would both applaud this new Hal's actions.

[kali921.livejournal.com]

Fails indeed. The only way this scene would work is if Ollie suddenly sits up in bed, turns to Dinah, and says "Jesus Christ, I just had a nightmare where Hal takes over the JLA. MEDIC!"

Meanwhile, in Wednesday Comics, Carter is off teaming up with Arthur to beat up giant raptors and yet another slew of idiots trying to hijack a plane. Did I not just demonstrate why hijacking a plane around Carter is a bad idea?

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I, for one, welcome seeing more suckers trying to ice skate uphill when it comes to Hawkman.

Furthermore, I was thinking of devoting an entire LJ post to the following, with the words, "This? This is how FUCKED you are."

[suburbfabulous.livejournal.com]

WORD.
As I explained to the children:
"Hawkman doesn't need superpowers. He has a winged vest and melee weapons. That oughtta do."

[kagome654.livejournal.com]

Okay, I must first offer a belated 'Welcome back from Montreal!' before I begin my rambling...sooo, welcome back from Montreal!

'Wednesday Comics' looks amazing. I really appreciate that DC is trying new things when it comes to format and design (and yet they're the company that is constantly accused of being too backwards thinking! I mean sure, this is a retrospective project, but it's not reactionary in spirit!). There are just so many talented artists and writers involved that I can't help but be excited. I'm sure there's something in there for everyone. My LCS guy said I was fourteenth person to put the title on pull on Friday alone, so I kind of hope that means others are willing to support it.

As for Hal...I like some aspects of Robinson's writing, but sometimes his characters sound 'off' (even in Starman I thought some of the dialogue and speech patterns were strange). I felt that way about his Superman on occasion and I definitely feel that way about Hal.

None of the characters come off looking terribly good in this scene. Hal's anger is misdirected and if he is at ALL in character he is going to start kicking himself for being so antagonistic the minute he is out of sight. Ollie is surprisingly subdued (Ollie, if you have something to say then just SAY IT! When has that EVER been a problem for you?). As for Superman, well, he comes off as an ineffectual chump. Hal may as well be talking to a cardboard cutout of Superman. Clark should realize that Hal is hurt and angry (is this Hal in mourning?) and I expect him to actually be able to make legitimate arguments and address Hal's feelings instead of offering useless platitudes and cliches. Saying that they'll keep doing what they always do (and solider on) is NOT inspirational when you just buried two old friends.

Hal has point (though that's not how I'd imagine he'd articulate the point, as suburbfabulous mentioned). The superheroes know the criminals have a network. They know that Calculator and the heads of the Society run things from behind the scenes, but instead of acting like the FBI and infiltrating and taking down the organization at its roots, they behave more like beat cops, waiting for the criminals to move and reacting to them. Of course there are arguments against the 'bust em' up before they have a chance' and 'root em' out, don't let em' come to you!' mindest, but no one is making those arguments, they're just whining about the 'League' and doing things like they always do. It's frustrating.

I think Hal is being a dick, and the macho posturing is just stupid, but I don't think Superman (as the voice of opposition) is coming off as terribly sympathetic either. It's a bit of a mess. I hope it evens out as the book progresses as I was initially really looking forward to this title. Hal, Ollie, Congorilla...what's not to love? However if Hal doesn't straighten up (maybe Ollie can influence him positively...or more likely he'll make things worse) the only place I can see this team going is down. In flames.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's grand to be back! At least, until I have to hit the road again, on my way to (and hopefully from) Dread Winnipeg.

I think you're right on about the new-and-retrospective project aspect! People badmouth DC for living too much in the past, reveling in old characters rather than exploring anything new, but with the case of GLC at least, we've seen they needed to take a step backward in order to make a giant leap forward.

That's what I always loved about STARMAN and why I preferred it to Ron Marz' GL. The latter was all about "forward, forward, forward, and fuck the past, this is GL now and you're all going to like it," and sure enough, many did. But STARMAN adored the past, reveled in nostalgia, all the while taking that love huge leaps forward! I far prefer my superhero comics that way, especially with DC. They're so much stronger when they hold to their rich past as they bravely march forward, but too often, they don't do either one.

See? You're already in good rambling company!

But yeah, I'm agreed that Hal does have a point and that he would articulate the point better, but even if he weren't, Superman wouldn't just be standing there like a dope. That's really the lazy person's depiction of Superman, a strawman character for others to yell at. Superman is a character who, with a single sentence, can deflate and reassure even Green frickin' Arrow! And even angry, in mourning, and chock full of testosterone-fueled-willpower, Hal's still more reasonable and willing to listen to Clark than Ollie on his best day!

Still, yes, we do get Congorilla out of this deal. And hopefully, we'll get some great Hal/Ollie moments, at least something to really make this faulty setup pay off.

[angrylemur.livejournal.com]

Hal's 90's-tastic arms there aside, man that guy is a pretty serious space-fascist. "I am the law"? Really?

HAL: I am the law!
BLACK CANARY: Well I didn't vote for you.
HAL: You don't vote for the law!
BLACK CANARY: How'd you become the law, then?
HAL: The council of OA... [Angel chorus begins singing in background] gave me the Green Lantern ring, so that I would protect this sector with it's power. [Angel chorus ends] THAT is why I am the law!
SUPERMAN: Listen. Weird old guys sitting in towers distributing rings is no basis for a legal system. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical space ceremony.
HAL: Be quiet!
SUPERMAN: You can't expect to wield supreme power just 'cause some wrinkly old pervs threw a ring at you!
HAL: Shut up!
SUPERMAN: I mean, if I went 'round saying I was the law just because some collection of Oldie VonMouldies had lobbed a piece of jewelry at me, they'd put me away!
HAL: Shut up! Will you shut up?! [Grabs SUPERMAN and shakes him]
SUPERMAN: Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system!
HAL: Shut up!
SUPERMAN: Oh! Come and see the violence inherent in the system! HELP, HELP, I'M BEING REPRESSED!

...and so on.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

LOL

Actually, replace Superman with Ollie, and you could easily do a 'shopped scene from classic GL/GA comics. And it wouldn't sound too different from the actual O'Neill/Neil Adams stories!

EDIT: The more I read it, the more I laugh. It's the details that make it, like "I mean, if I went 'round saying I was the law just because some collection of Oldie VonMouldies had lobbed a piece of jewelry at me, they'd put me away!" Thank god I don't have photoshop, or I seriously would dig out my GL/GA collections and spend a couple hours cobbling together pages, ala MGK.

[angrylemur.livejournal.com]

I seriously sat here going, "what's a ridiculous yet undeniably ageist term I can use to describe the Oans?" for several minutes.

I'd be tempted to photoshop some comics myself if I wasn't trying to get a bunch of comics done for deadlines that are varying degrees of looming.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

But yeah, echoing the above, this seems more like a Katar (or Carter, based on that one JSA storyline where he chopped off a villain's arm and said, "Okay, I'm taking over the team. Try and stop me.") move than Hal's. I mean, the GLs are plenty fascist in nature anyway, but do they really have anything on the Thanagarians?

[angrylemur.livejournal.com]

The Thanagarians are like... the church and governments in Europe in the 1300's to 1800's - lots of colonization, cultural genocide, outright slavery, etc. The Green Lantern Corps is more like the governments of "world leader"-countries today - still plenty fascistic, still inherently racist and sexist and all that, but under a friendlier guise, facilitating oppression and genocide, in the name of "security".

Hal in that page definitely seems more like Carter, though. I'd hesistate to say Katar because it depends on if you're reading the silver age comics or the Osterman/Truman revamps of the 80's/early 90's, in which Katar was FROM a violent, fascist culture, but actively resistant to perpetuating that culture on Earth. Silver Age Katar Hol, though, was basically a total dick like that, yeah.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see a GLC story where they do explore those themes. People have touched on it in the past, but few have ever tried to really delve into the ramifications. It could be tricky, as it deals with alien cultures and species, but after years of people hinting at these themes, dancing around them without directly addressing them, I'd like to see someone try.

At least, I'd like to see it done with a more thoughtful hand than Denny O'Neill's, particularly through someone other than Oliver Queen. Who, of course, would never tolerate this kind of talk from Carter/Katar. Ollie yells at Hal out of love, whereas it seems he just outright hates Hawkman, and vice versa.

He sounds like Hawkman with a good dash of Judge Dredd to boot. Granted, I wouldn't be adverse to a panel of "GAZE INTO THE FIST OF HAL!!!!" but still...

...

... at the very least, I'm gonna spend a bit of time scouring over the GL/GA trades to find what panels could work for the 'shopped scene...

[emma-elicit.livejournal.com]

Not entirely sure how you'll feel about this, but hopefully you'll find it as amusing as I did.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I've seen most of those, but not all! haha

If you like that, then here, spend the next few hours scouring the galleries of this site: http://www.superdickery.com/

[emma-elicit.livejournal.com]

Oh lord... I see many hours of entertainment in my future. :D

[nymphgalatea.livejournal.com]

Hal is written way off. He clearly needs Prozac, or something. There's a difference between having willpower and making a complete arsecake of yourself .

Perhaps the comic itself will expand upon his attitude problem & explain it a little more. I have some faith this will be the case, as Robinson is a solid writer; his current run on Superman is an absolute joy to read (it's 22 pages a month of "Watch Mon-El Be Adorable & Doomed" and there are few things I enjoy more than that)

But even if it's rubbish, we have Johns & Busiek writing him in other comics. And oh! How cute is the Wednesday Comics art? Hals' smug grin in that 4th panel is just so perfectly...Hal.

I'm really looking forward to Wednesday Comics. Everything about it seems tailored specifically to lure me in. Hell, I'll even tolerate Didio on Metal Men 'cause it's got Lopez on art duties.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Let me know what you think about reading the first issue. Based on that one extra page of Hal/Ollie not included in the preview, I feel like if anyone was slipped Prozac, it was Ollie. When the hell has he *ever* been, "Hey man, it's your call, I'll stand by you, bro"?

Unless he's learned to be more tactful and careful in light of Hal's whole "going crazy and killing the universe" thing?

I know! I love smug grinning Hal Jordan so much more that rod-up-his-butt serious humorless Hal!

By the way, against my better wishes, I found myself really enjoying BATMAN AND ROBIN # 2. Quitely is exactly what Morrison has needed all along. I actually might have enjoyed the previous run had Quitely or Williams been on art chores. I'm even finding myself enjoying Damien, and I DON'T WANT TO. GAH.

Yes, support WEDNESDAY COMICS! I fear it'll bomb because of idiot customers who are scared off or don't know what they're seeing, idiot retailers who don't know what do to or are afraid of their idiot customers, and idiot DC for not pushing this sort of thing outside of the direct market!!!

[nymphgalatea.livejournal.com]

I didn't get Justice, my store didn't get them delivered. After reading a bunch of reviews, I don't know if I'll bother buying it at all. It's expensive and it seems very...meh. Looks like I'm trade-waiting this one.

And I've said it a dozen times: JH Williams III should have pencilled Batman: RIP. There was no way in hell Tony Daniel could ever keep up with the madness of Morrison, and DC Editorial should have known it. They should have poached Simone Bianchi back from Marvel and alternated him with Williams so it came out monthly & the art style was fairly consistent. And then I could have enjoyed it.

Quitely & Morrison are perfect together. it's one of those teamups where art & story mesh together so well that you could almost believe it was one person doing it all.

And you love Damian. You *know* you love Damian. Everyone who says they hate him is in denial. I re-read Batman & Son, and Batman 666 at the weekend and fell in love with him all over again. Bless his psychotic little heart and his stompy little boots.

(Did you read GL Corps this week? Kyle has had his card marked by that scarred Guardian, oh yes. Between that and sleeping with Sinestros' daughter he is *so* doomed)

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Ray is also acting rather un-Ray-like. I'm kind of disappointed someone on scans_daily didn't post the fact that Robinson killed off not one, but TWO black characters for the other heroes to swear vengeance justice over. I was expecting glorious wank. Ah well.

Man, had that run been alternating between Simone and J.H., even I might have liked it. As it was, there's not enough "ugh" in the world.

NO I DO NOT LOVE DAMIAN NO NO NOt yet we'll see where he's going with him. I might love him more once he seriously got "broken in" a bit by the Joker. Or Harvey! It should be Harvey. He's the trial by fire for ALL Robins. You just know Damian will be all like, "Psh, he's just another loser!" and Dick will remember what he thought about Harvey once long ago. And then Dick will grin and say, "Go get 'im, kid," because no matter which way it goes, Dick will be happy.

I had to skim the issue, so I didn't catch where Kyle had his card marked by Scar, as you put it. I'm almost sad that Nero was wasted like that, but then I remember that I don't care about Nero and that he'll be a Black Lantern as well, so there's that. And dear lord, Natu gets hotter and hotter, I swear.

[nymphgalatea.livejournal.com]

ALL WILL LOVE DAMIAN AND DESPAIR!

I'm fully expecting a Two-Face themed smackdown. Funny that, all day I've had the Ramones stuck in my head, and their lyrics seem very appropriate "Beat on the brat with a baseball bat, Oh yeah, oh yeah, uh-oh"

Damn, now I want to see Harvey humming that as he takes a swing for the moppet.

Natu is hotter than fire. I'm a straight female & even I can see that. Plus, I really love the character. When she & Kyle interact I basically turn into a big squishy pile of glee.

And Kyle is totally doomed. He spoke out against the Guardians, he went all wide-eyed and idealistic at Scar, and he's dating Soranik. If the Black Lanterns don't eat him, I'm pretty sure ol' Daddy-Sinestro will want to squish him.