Hulk #21

Busy week this week. Green Arrow has gone rogue, New Krypton is falling under the assault of Brainiac, Namorita is alive again (sort of) and Spider Man is given a taste of godhood even greater than when he wore the mantle of Captain Universe. Oh, and Namorita is not the only one, Thanos is back.

Let me take this point-by-point. Although the slaying of Prometheus by Green Arrow in the wake of Justice League: Cry For Justice is a logical progression of the story, haven’t we been here before? Green Arrow considered dangerous and on the run from his comrades?

It’s not new to have a hero on the run, pursued by former allies and the forces of the law (although the law has yet to get involved in Oliver’s pursuit, maybe the League want to police themselves). It is a little newer for said hero to actually be guilty of whatever they have been accused of I suppose, but not tremendously so. What a disappointing consequence to what was actually an excellent series. Now we also have Red Arrow/ Speedy I (erm, II if you add in the pre Crisis On Infinite Earths continuity) crippled, and obviously going to receive some form of cyborg arm in the near future. (It would be nice to see Roy gain some form of mystical healing instead, and send him into the weird area of the DCU. After all, with his chequered past, his interaction with Checkmate and other agencies and a new hook for readers, I can see the potential for a hit series with the right writer).

Meanwhile, the second (or third) Speedy is poised to take a moral descent herself, with an arrow pointing at the Electrocutioner’s head.

I still think we have been here before. This is not what I pay my bucks for people!

In contrast, the Last Stand Of New Krypton is wrapping up many of the plotlines hovering in the background of the DCU for the past few years, from the machinations to war by both General Zod and General Sam Lane, to just what the Legion Espionage Squad is doing embedded in the beginning of the twenty-first century, to just what Luthor has been doing since his escape. This is sheer spandex drama at it’s finest.

The most comparable event to this is the Fall Of The Hulks, which we are seeing unfold before our eyes in a most chaotic fashion. I highly recommend that, but don’t expect it to make sense just yet, every reveal just causes more questions, never mind figuring out where this crossover sits in relation to the other big events like Siege.

Ooo, Siege. I’m not saying a word, except I really enjoyed #3, and #4 looks incredibly promising. Not the ending I was expected, but that is good. It’s too early to issue a spoiler on that one. Or on Green Lantern Corps #47, but that also had a nice twist I was not expecting (although in retrospect that was more my bad memory than a dramatic twist).

Now the lead up to Realm Of Kings continued in Nova #35 and Guardians of the Galaxy #24. The conclusion of the Sphinx storyline in Nova was okay I suppose, but then I am often disappointed with Sphinx stories in the last decade or so. Anath Na-Mut is a character that has so much potential, but he is frequently reduced to a two-dimensional villain, as he is eventually here. The resurrection of Namorita we could see a mile off, I only hope that this is some nasty effect of the Fault, and she is actually some soul eating beastie. I used to like Namorita, but this rebirth simply feels cheap.

The Guardians issue is far more promising, as the cocoon on Sacrosanct is opened to reveal Thanos as the newest Avatar of Death. One question here, what is Oblivion doing, selecting the Avatar of Death? Isn’t that Death’s job? Doesn’t Oblivion have avatars of his own?

My final recommendation is Spider-Man and the Secret Wars #4, a fascinating if disjointed tale, set just as Doom claimed the power of the Beyonder. It doesn’t really add a great deal to the continuity, it’s simply a fun romp.

Blackest Night #7 The End draws nigh!

Blackest Night is fast drawing to a close (Praise the Light!), and now the Guardians greatest secret is out. Life in the universe originated not on Oa (or rather Maltus, but let’s just ignore that slight continuity error), but on Earth. This is the secret the Guardians swore to keep.

On Earth? Come again?!?

Ignoring the cosmological arguments against this, considering that it was ten billion years ago that Krona’s experiment shattered the universe, erm, then didn’t anymore until Alex Luthor’s tower kicked in and then it did again, and the earth itself is only 4.54 billion years old, this still strikes me as ridiculous.

This is a fictional universe, so one could say that the Guardians altered the evidence to make Earth appear that it is a lot younger than it actually is. I suppose this also allows a period of history where the Homo Magi walked the earth and gives a home to all of the old fantasy titles if they don’t already have a realm to be placed in, which almost makes me want Conan to be part of the DCU rather than the Marvel universe.

Conan is currently licensed by Dark Horse, but then Kulan Gath is still part of Marvel and he started life as a Conan character, and it seems that Marvel are happy to use the Micronauts again, so I assume that the Hyborian Era is still part of Marvel History.

Anyway, I digress. What began for me as a spectacular crossover seems to have descended into a number of clichés and unoriginal plot devices. Having the Light Entity resident on Earth could have been explained through any number of reasons, such as due to it now being the centre of the Multiverse after the events of the various Crises, rather than saying that humanity, or at the planet is older than the Guardians themselves. Not only does this turn decades of DC cosmic continuity on its head, but it seems vastly egocentric, and leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

That is also not to mention the redistribution of rings throughout the Earth-based characters, forming the ‘New Guardians’. I just want to look at these.

Red – Mera. Now this one sort of makes sense, Mera has always had a rough deal and it figures that she would be angry about all that she has suffered. However she has always comported herself with a most noble bearing, and the wearing of the Red Ring seems to be the equivalent of slumming it. Also the Red Ring may well be the way that the writers kill her off considering that it has replaced her heart, and that would be a great waste. Still, if Guy Gardner can survive it, I suppose Mera can.

Orange – Lex Luthor. Cheesy. Very very cheesy. Still, I must shamefully admit it is pretty cool at the same time.

Yellow – Scarecrow. Okay, so fear is his shtick. That’s about as far is it goes, he is neither being used to the best advantage, nor is he necessarily the most appropriate character for this role, where a more minor character could have had a greater spotlight. Wasteful, if you ask me. Plus how much do Sinestro and Scarecrow really have in common? It strikes me they would knock heads nearly as much as Larfleeze and Luthor, as one is order and the other chaos.

Green, well, do I really need to go here?

Blue – Barry Allen. As a symbol of hope, yes, I get it. If the ring is using him to spread hope, that makes sense. If the Ring has chosen him due to his personality, then no, I don’t see that. One thing that has proven to be the foundation of the Flashes is love, as embodied with Joan Garrick, Iris West and Linda Park. Surely the Sapphire Ring would have been a better choice? Plus, I think combining the Flash costume with the Star Sapphire armour would look far more impressive than the current choice. Blue Flash doesn’t do it for me anymore than Wonder-Sapphire.

Indigo – Atom. Indigo represents compassion. So Ray Palmers history of slaughtered loves and betrayal through love and then constantly running away from his problems makes him a suitable candidate for the Indigo light? I rather feel that someone was making up the numbers here without a great deal of thought.

Violet – Princess Diana, the Wonder Woman. Now in concept, this one sort of works for me, and her mini-series was well put together. Still, her Star Sapphire costume mixed with her traditional armour looks abysmal, making this combination cheesy.

These new Guardians seem to be opportunities that have been missed. More minor characters could have been given the opportunity to bear the rings and grab the limelight. Since DC are absorbing the Milestone and Red Circle characters, wouldn’t it have made good business sense to have seen these somewhere in the action? If the Superman titles have managed to include obscure references to them, then I am positive that the major universe-wide crossover could have given them at least a tacit glance, if only to introduce them to new readers.

Secret Six #17

Reading through today’s shipping list, I noticed DC’s Secret Six #18 coming out, one of a relatively few Blackest Night crossovers this week, and I realised I hadn’t read the previous issue. And so I went and did exactly that.

I’m not sure how it slipped my mind, we have all the Suicide Squad ingredients as we saw in the issue of the same name released recently, Amanda Waller pulling the strings, Belle Reve as a battleground, the Bronze Tiger being as warm and cuddly as ever (oh how I have missed that), and former members raising from the dead.

With the Suicide Squad, that’s a fair number, and not in a nice X-Men way either. Oh wait, scratch that…………

I am sorely hoping the Secret Six do fall under the control of Amanda Waller, because as major player in the DCU she needs a regular home, and let’s face it, we all want to know what she is up to.

For instance, what is her position on the whole General Sam Lane thing? He still remains to be brought to justice, I had rather thought that the World Of New Krypton would bring that particular plotline to a close, but obviously not. I don’t know about you, but I’m actually starting to like General Zod!

Still, there’s no way that Lane can pull off everything he has done so far without Waller knowing about it, surely? Unless I missed an issue that shows she is on the payroll already. I suppose that would make ssense, but something tells me that Amanda wouldn’t go that far. (Oh boy I hope I can back that up, please be nice to me writers!)

So, Suicide Squad and Secret Six have reawakened my enjoyment of Blackest Night, although I have to say, I do miss the weekly-issued crossover event. You know, the one that’s over quickly? Still, there is a glimmer of dawn on the horizon.

Still, as for my hopes for Waller, well, I think the Secret Six will remain free. After all, that is the whole dynamic of the team, and they are a good bunch of characters.

So, let’s give Waller a home people. Or bring back the Suicide Squad for good.

Oh, and recommendations? How can we refuse Adventure Comics #7, and the adventures of Black Lantern Superboy Prime?

Later addition.  Oh.  It’s Conner.  Gutted. I’m still waiting for Prime’s redemption here!

Jack Kirby and his Marvel creations

TechDirt (surprisingly, it’s not the first place I expect to find my comics news) was the blog that alerted me to the fact that the heirs of Jack Kirby intended to reclaim the copyrights of various Marvel characters, such as the Hulk, Iron Man and the Avengers, among others (but not Spiderman as written in the article). Mike Masnick does a grand job of looking at the legal aspect of this case, and the hypocrisy inherent in Marvels argument. Centring around a point of law called the termination right of copyright, the Kirby estate is trying an approach similar to that used by the heirs of one of the creators of Superman to reclaim some rights. The argument hinges basically on whether Jack Kirby was a ‘worker bee’ in a work-for-hire situation, or as the heirs points out, Kirby worked from home as a freelancer with neither contract nor employment agreement.

Now Marvel is not known for treating its creators well (unless your name is Stan Lee), else we would never have seen the birth of Image comics. But similar to the Superboy case, I have mixed feelings.

If anyone should stand to profit from the esteemed Jack Kirby’s work, then surely it should be Mr Kirby himself. I would ask just what precisely his descendents have done to deserve any form of remuneration? I do not know what their circumstances are, and if I were to discover one of them had a severe medical issue and was struggling to meet the expenses associated with that, my opinion would no doubt change. Otherwise, it’s too little, too late.

Researching, it is still not clear what actually occurred with regards the Siegel/Superboy/DC case. However, some of the rulings that came out as the case progressed show what a morass the whole copyright issue truly is. Here’s an example from August last year:

The court ruled, for the most part, that the Siegels successfully recaptured most of the works at issue, including those first two weeks of daily Superman strips, as well as key sections of early Action Comics and Superman comics. This means the Siegels, repped by Warners’ nemesis Marc Toberoff, now control depictions of Superman’s origins from the planet Krypton, his parents Jor-El and Lora, Superman as an infant, the launching of the baby Superman into space and his landing on Earth in a fiery crash.

But Warners/DC still owns other elements, including Superman’s ability to fly, the term “kryptonite,” the villain Lex Luthor, Jimmy Olsen, and some of Superman’s powers.

Now as seen by the recent Adventure Comics series, DC is once more happy with using the name Superboy, and many have wondered if there is some form of agreement reached behind the scenes. Jeff Trexler on Newsarama wrote last year stated that maybe DC might have figured that it’s better to share money from successful characters than to kill them off or end their adolescence prematurely.

I cannot find any real evidence of this, but then somehow I cannot see Marvel being as forgiving. Then again, if it was not for what has become a very successful movie franchise (about time too!), would this even have been an issue?

After the Crisis On Infinite Earths, DC had the option to not include Superboy as he was officially no longer in the continuity. Now Marvel do not have that option, these are far higher profile characters. As a reader, I want to know that the creators are fairly reimbursed for their work, but what I really want are quality stories, featuring characters that I know and love. Anything that can detract from that I would rise up and protest.

However, I would like to see this resolved reasonably amicably, but Marvel have their bottom line to protect and ill fight tooth and nail to dismiss this. The first volley has already been shot across the boughs with Marvel going to court to insist that Kirby has no right to the characters. Then again, “it is believed the Kirby copyright terminations would become effective beginning in 2014 but it is unclear to which property that date refers.”

So sit back and grab the popcorn, because this could get very interesting indeed.

My recommendations for this week, REBELS #12, and if last weeks excellent Blackest Night crossover issues like Suicide Squad and Weird Western Tales were anything to go by, Power Of Shazam #48.

New Mutants #9, it's not what it appears.

Well, now we have it, the explanation of who the current Magik/Illyana is, and we discover the 2.0 version we now see comes without added Illyana. She is simply the Dark Chylde, resurrected and abandoned by Belasco, and claims she has no soul, only the body and mind of the deceased sister of Colossus.

Which begs the question, why did she even return to the X-Men fold? This is put to her by Emma Frost, and somehow I would have thought this confrontation would be more dramatic, yet it is almost as if they are simply sharing a nice cup of tea together. Even stranger, that a young girl would have the upper hand over the former headmistress of the Massachusetts Academy. Yet when asked about her absence after she left San Francisco, Illyana reveals that she had been searching for years for her Blood Stones (fragments of her soul conjured by Belasco) and when she had returned to the team, she had travelled back in time. The smile on her face as she offered Emma a peek into her mind seemed so mischievous, and as Emma discovered that it would have been by her own hand that Legion would finally have been defeated and slain, but only after he had destroyed most of the X-Men, this demonic creation comes up smelling of roses.

While Emma is left shaken to her core. Oh, Kitty would have been so proud.

The other comics to read this week – Siege: Embedded #1, and to my surprise, Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #2.

Siege has finally kicked off, for which I am glad, because if I saw one more promo of it, then I would have been tempted to burn the lot of them. In the main story, even the President has finally realised that Norman is ‘out of control’. However, in the pages of Siege:Embedded, we see Ben Urich and an ex-colleague discover Volstagg and follow him for the story that will hopefully topple the new Osbourn empire.

What made the issue for me was the quick Glenn Beck parody, of a TV pundit whom Osbourn decided to recruit as he was so very positive about Norman’s policies. And I quote:

‘But this is a commercial break, and I need to be preparing for the next segment. I’m going to cry on camera. It takes some level of preparation.’

Bwah-ha-ha-ha! Absolutely priceless. Marvel, you are almost forgiven by that one act for your ‘Embrace Change’ flyers during election season.

My other recommendation of Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #2, gives an insight into the events of Blackest Night #6, and Diana’s battle with Mera, the former wife (and Queen) of Aquaman, and with the Black Ring itself. Of course, Diana gets some divine assistance, but it gives quite the insight into what is going on with the ‘resurrected’ characters forced to bear the ring. I didn’t like the ending of Blackest Night #6, I mean just how many people do we need wearing these rings? However, this story goes to somewhat justify that. However, I am beginning to think that this crossover is dragging on for too long, and I am relieved to see that Siege is only a mere four issues. So finally the end of the Dark Reign is in sight. Just in time for the evils of the Fault in Realm of Kings, or the Elder Gods as heralded by the Dark Chylde to arrive. Mayhap they will be one and the same (although I rather doubt it.)

Erm, am I a traitor if I root for Asgard?

Adventure Comics #5

In keeping with following the major crossovers, I want to take a small interlude today to look at a character whom it seems only has a place within a major crossover. He was introduced in one, played the villain in another, and after becoming increasingly depraved has only recently glimpsed the dim light of redemption on the horizon. Even though we all know it will not last.

I am talking of course, of Superboy-Prime.

DC Comics #87 where the character first appeared was one of my earliest DC comics, right in the middle of the Crisis On Infinite Earths. I was not then aware that Earth-Prime, our home, had been visited by the JLA in the past, as it was the home of Ultraa (now there’s a character who deserves a relaunch), and was the tale of a young boy discovering that he was that, er this earth’s version of his favourite hero. In fact the back-up strip that told his origin was the better story of the two, certainly for me, not even in my teens at that point.

So part of me was horrified at what Geoff Johns did with the character. His innocence, his hope, the fact that he was the ultimate in teenage comic fan-boy self-identification was all torn away, and for me, it didn’t really make sense. Surely a Superman couldn’t sink to such depths?

Now, since that point Earth-Prime has been re-introduced to the DC Multiverse, and somehow it avoids the cheesiness of the previous visits. Having young Clarks’ parents follow his exploits by buying the comics was a masterful touch.

In the recent Adventure Comics #5, Prime is forced to face his demons by donning a Black Ring. The Ring attempts to bring him to death, but when it initially fails, he is confronted with each aspect of the emotional spectrum.

Green willpower – his demand for respect unearned. Blue compassion, his regret for what he did to Laurie, not that we have seen what he did, but let’s face it, we all assume the worst. His desire for approval creates the orange light of avarice. His own personal kryptonite, his comics collection and the heroes that it contains are the yellow fear he refuses to acknowledge. And the red rage that consumes his soul? That rage he holds for himself, for the atrocities he has commited.

Why a Black Ring should mutate into the rings of other colours is not even touched upon here. Considering that with the Black Rings, it is they that wear the body and not vice versa, this does not make a lot of sense. However, here we see Clark transforming eventually into a Red Lantern (vomiting blood and all), which I think is another clue as to just how many of the dead will be resurrected. The obvious choice being Batman.

Even if the conclusion of Final Crisis did rather intimate that Bruce was alive and well on the new Earth 51, now the alleged home of Kamandi and the reborn New Gods, not that we have seen them yet. Now there is a story I am eagerly awaiting,

I really hope that this is the first step in redeeming Superboy-Prime, although I’m not so sure about his undead girl-friend. Then again, in Outsiders, the zombie-Terra seems on the up-and-up. So far. Not that we are all waiting for that axe to fall.

However, the thought of a wholescale resurrection of everyone does not fill me with enthusiasm. One thought though – if Nekron’s reign over the dead is toppled, but the Black Rings keep working, without the need to empower themselves by eating hearts, now that might be cool. Anybody up for a Zombie-Lantern ongoing series? Or a zombie-Batman in Blackest Knight?

X-Necrosha The Gathering One-Shot

Now this is a week where I wish the major companies had sorted out their digital offerings, as my bank manager would balk at this weeks delivery.

Nation X starts this week, as part of the X-Necrosha crossover, joined by X-Necrosha: Gathering One Shot. And the regular issue of Deadpool.

Realm Of Kings is being a little more gentle, with only the second issue of Imperial Guard.

Zombie Watch is also busy this week, with Blackest Night crossovers in Adventure Comics #5, Booster Gold #27, Doom Patrol #5 and REBELS #11.

Ouch.

Of course, this is not counting the various Dark Reign themed tie-ins. Now don’t get me wrong, on a story level I am loving these, and it is only natural that to Big Two compete with respective crossovers of their own. But three crossovers, just at one company? That’s too much.

Now as fans we have admired the connections between titles for years. It was that very web of associations that attracted me to comics in the first place, but boy, do I miss the era of single issue stories. It’s tempting to defect totally to the Marvel Adventures line.

I remember in the mid-nineties when I ran my own shop the cost of paper spiralled some 300% in an unbelievably short period of time. Environmental considerations aside, this is an expensive hobby.

I’ve often thought that the very ‘shape’ of comics (like that of the study of history or politics) mirrors the form of the internet. In this new age of technology, surely those of us who wish to dispense with paper, or even just make room for an expanding family, deserve an alternative. Especially one that doesn’t break the bank, or criminalise someone. The comic companies have not yet followed the example of the RIAA or the MPAA with regards file-sharing, but it is only a matter of time. They need to realise that this would be a very profitable market. After all, we do we buy the comics?

We’re hooked, that’s why. Now if they offered digital product there’s lower production costs, no printing companies to pay, and nigh on infinite product.

Which would make it so much simpler to follow these huge crossovers.

Guardians of the Galaxy #20

Guardians of the Galaxy #20 this week hinted at what I hoped to see the direction that Realm Of Kings is going in, and it looks like we shall receive the best of both worlds. Primarily focused on character development, the issue shows hints that the Magus is not as dead as the Guardians would like to see (which can only be a good, erm, I mean bad thing), and the Lovecraftian menace from the universe the other sidfe of the Fault makes its presence felt on Knowhere.

I don’t think I have mentioned just how much I adore the idea of Knowhere, the head of a decapitated Celestial containing the Continuum Cortex, the organ with which the former Celestial remained in telepathic contact with his brethren across time and the Multiverse. It is sort of a mix between the Nexus Of All Realities and the DCU’s Vanishing Point. It floats near the ‘end of the universe’ and all different species from all different points in space and time come to Knowhere to study and observe the end of the universe from the closest accessible structure.

With this, and the recent addition of the Infinite Avengers Mansion, the scope of the Marvel Heroes seems to have vastly increased. This is a welcome relief from the darkness of what’s going on on Earth currently, I have even found myself turning to Deadpool for some light relief. Still I cannot criticise the Dark Reign at all, it is spotlighting characters that otherwise would have languished in obscurity (such as Ghost in the Thunderbolts) and is making me hungry to see the overthrow of Norman Osbourn. However it is nice to take a break from it.

Looking at the other side of the fence, Blackest Night #5 picks up the pace of DC’s crossover event, with an ending that rather took me by surprise, although I rather think we can see how Bruce Wayne will be returning from the dead. I dearly hope I am wrong here, I would like to see him remain dead for a good few years yet. After all, we know he will return, that’s a when more than an if.

If anything should bring Batman back, it should be Darkseid. After all, whoever is slain by Darkseid’s Omega beams can be resurrected by the very same. Then again, the Dark God is dead, although we have not seen anything of the new Kamandi’s world where the New Gods are apparently reborn. If New Genesis is there, Darkseid cannot be that far behind.

However, the recent Outsiders crossover with Blackest Night has made me wonder. Just how much does Nekron control his zombies? The behaviour of the Black Ring bearing terra has made me wonder. She turns up all repentant and upset, not driven by the urge to consume hearts and emotional power from the team, but asking for their help! Is she merely preparing her food so that when she finally feasts, the betrayal is that much stronger? Terra is a mistress of manipulation, but that just seems way too obvious for me. Then again, the younger readers will not necessarily have seen that side of her personality, maybe the writers think we need a refresher course?

Siege #1 cover, released in January

In January, Osbourne launches the Siege Of Asgard, with a central series and numerous tie-ins, the seeds of which have apparently already been laid. I think I need to go read my Thor issues. I rather hope that this will be more poignant that the Dark Reign:The List issues, which so far have been little more than amusing stories of Normans failure.

It’s nice to know there is light at the end of the tunnel, but that light won’t be dawning until at least April, as Siege is a four issue series. However, today’s release of Dark Reign: The List Avengers is included in the Road To Siege Hardcover, so I think that this will be one not to miss.

With the upcoming Necrosha, and Nation X, and the already commencing Realm Of Kings, it looks like the age of the uber-story is here for the duration. Great for continuity freaks like myself, but not so easy on the wallet. I hope once the dust settles from the Dark Reign, Marvel will allow each series freedom to pursue their own plotlines, but the solicitations don’t yet seem to reveal the threat posed by Adam Magus, the new, evil form of Adam Warlock. If they are paying homage to the original timeline of Jim Starlin’s Warlock, then I feel that may yet be waiting in the wings.

So in comparison, Blackest Night is certainly cheaper, but certainly not lower quality. And January’s solicitations have revealed what I knew! Nekron is the big, big bad. The only release this week is Blackest Night:Superman #3, I only hope this series in it’s final issue manages to be as relevant as the excellent Blackest Night: Batman.

My other recommendation for today? Zenescope’s Escape From Wonderland #2. If you haven’t picked any of this series up so far, you have missed a treat. The Wonderland they portray is even more twisted than in the original novels, and if you like your classic stories with a twist, this is the one for you.

Blackest Night - Titans #2 A mothers love

Zombie Watch returns today with full effect!

By far the greatest of the Blackest Night crossover series so far is Blackest Night: Titans. I said this after reading the first issue, and now the second issue has hit the stands, that claim has only been reinforced.

Now my judgement might be biased, I have been following the Titans in all their incarnations for over twenty years. That fact however qualifies me to say that this is a good Titans story. It has been said elsewhere in Blackest Night that the hosts for the

Black Rings were chosen for their emotional impact, and this issue has it in spades. This was what I felt was missing from the Superman tie-in series, but then team books are more disposed to emotional interaction, especially if you have been following the characters for a long time. Basically, this mini is not to be missed by Titans fans.

I started reading the Titans at the time of the Judas Contract, where Terra, (Tara Markov, Geo-Force’s younger sister) infiltrated the Titans at the behest of Deathstroke, captured Changeling’s heart and then proceeded to betray them all.

Of course then there was the Terra who was a member of the Team Titans, and not a creation from an alternate timeline due to the machinations of Monarch/Hank Hall/Extant in the lead up to Zero Hour (and no, I’m not going to try and explain that one here!). She was not the original Tara, but an innocent girl genetically sculpted by a virus to become a duplicate of her. She was later killed by Black Adam in World War III

But now, we see the original back, again after Gar’s heart, accompanied by Lilith, also known as Omen, who makes some very good points about the Titans history, if a little skewed in perspective. Still, one has to admit, the Titans have left a trail of bodies behind them over the years.

The highlight for me however has to be the return of Donna’s late husband and son, Terry and Robert. That was one comics death that really hit me, I had watched the romance blossom between Donna and Terry over the years, and despite the fact it first seemed like the wish-fulfillment of a middle aged man (did I read you wrong Mr Wolfman?), the relationship grew, exhibiting a depth that caused me to become very fond of Terry. When Terry and Robert were cast aside by the writers, in a meaningless car accident, I confess, I was actually upset. It seemed like such a waste, and served only to emphasise how little connection Donna had with the life around her, after numerous continuity re-writes that were nothing to do with her per-se, but she fell victim to them. Wonder Woman rescued her from a burning building. Then she never existed, so it was the Titan Rhea. Then it wasn’t. Then she was a shard of Donna’s soul housed in a mystic doppelganger.

It took John Byrne in the pages of Wonder Woman to make it all make sense. Thanks to the evil Dark Angel, all of Donna’s histories are true, as she was sent ricocheting through time to live a life of misery and loss again and again and again.

So now, Donna is given a connection back to her old life. Her first instinct is to give her baby a hug, after all he will never grow up to be the megalomaniacal Lord Chaos now.

But of course, her baby is hungry, and wants to feed.

The new X-Monarchs?

Maybe I should rename this Zombie Watch!

Blackest Night: Superman #2 was a disappointment to me, and it looks like the entire mini is to be composed of one fight, unlike say the Titans tie in, which really moved the story forward. Don’t get me wrong, it was enjoyable enough, just sadly lacking in anything except battle. It did justify itself however with the closing scene, where Ma Kent inexplicably turns into the woman from the Night Of The Living Dead remake.

Marvel Zombies #4 however was a treat, especially considering the lacklustre performance of the previous issues. Despite the apparent difference in time between the issues (Spidey at school one minute, then we jump to World War Hulk?), now we are seeing some action. I only hope Spidey-Zombie has some plan, and has created some form of cure in the intervening years, as it is pretty obvious he hasn’t infected the world with the plague.

Project Superpowers Chapter Two #3, featuring the new duo of Truth and Dare seemed disjointed, it was difficult to quite tell what was going on, but it contained some great reveals. It doesn’t like this new duo will last very long, and this is not a jumping on issue at all. If you want to give it a try, go and read the trades first. As with any good series, the reveals create more questions than answers, but these reveals were not answers to questions I had even thought of asking, there was no sense of satisfaction with them. Still, am I mistaken, or are there two Kittens?

My favourite so far has to be the Uncanny X-Men #515. In the wake of the ‘victory’ of the Utopia X crossover, Cyclops has to try on a new role, that of statesman, and already the wear is showing. Emma is no use, having to remain in diamond form to contain a sliver of the Void, she has lost what little access to her emotions she had in the first place. Xavier whines and butts heads with Scott again, and in the meantime there is an island full of mouths to feed. Namor, in his traditional brusque fashion adds a dose of reality to Scotts ‘Cabinet’.

The X-Men do seem to have gotten too big. I never thought I would say this, but oh for the days following the Muir Isle Saga, when there was five separate mutant teams, rather than just one large tribe. Some of the more minor characters are not going to get the attention they deserve, even if story wise the whole thing makes sense. Maybe they should start doing 8-page back up strips?

Still, the one thing I liked about Utopia-X? Ariel, from the Fallen Angels mini-series is back, and in the X-fold. I hope we see more of her, and of Cloak and Dagger, who were conspicuously absent.

Nation-X promises to be one of the best directions of the X-Men for a long time. It may only have been made possible by the Dark Reign, but purely on the basis of the last few issues, I think it far outshines it.

For the first time in years, I am X-cited again! Oh, and not to give any spoilers in case you haven’t read it, but guess who turns up on the last page? The more things change…..

Brave and the Bold #27 Cover

My heart-strings were well and truly pulled last night as I read the start of this weeks crop, and surprising enough not by a black ringed zombie trying to eat it.

However, on the matter of the Blackest Night, the latest instalment really picked up the pace. Finally out of the set-up phase, the story begins to move along at a fast pace, as the heroes begin to realise the gravity of the situation, we finally meet the Indigo Tribe and Ronnie Raymond returns! Sort of.

I like Ronnie, and as much as I truly enjoyed John Ostranders run on Firestorm all those years ago, I always felt that Ronnie got a raw deal. And let’s face it, his short run in Extreme Justice really did not help a great deal.

So now we see the history of the universe as told by the Indigo Tribes perspective. The zombies are not the invaders, we are? Wow. Good point, but wow nonetheless. Way to go to make one feel safe.

Meanwhile in that other multiverse, the weekly Marvel Zombies Return has finally put forward a good issue. #3 brings together some of the threads we have seen so far, as we now know at least three (and thus probably all) of the zombies are on the same earth, christened Earth-Z. Spider-Man whines some more as he saves the native Kitty Pryde from the zombie Wolverine. Hearts abound, but again mainly as appetizers.

What really warmed my heart this week was the Brave And The Bold #27, starring Batman and, wait for it, DIAL H FOR HERO!

Robby Reed and his grandfather visit Gotham, and then the H-Dial is stolen. There’s a nice not-quite plot twist at the end, and despite the conclusion dripping in sentimentality,the whole story had a feel of the stories of the seventies, with a slight nineties style realism. It is not revealed which Batman is in the story (although by his words, it’s pretty obviously Grayson I think), but that is irrelevant, this is a story that focuses on Robby Reed, one another and the theme of redemption.

I have followed the H-Dial bearers since I discovered DC. I was too young to read Robby’s original adventures, by the time I discovered the H-Dial, Robby has split into the opposing beings of the Wizard and the Master, the H-Dial had spawned smaller dials carried by Chris King and Vicki Grant. I saw the tragic fates that befell that pair in the pagesof the new Titans, the new bearer of the Dial in Superboy And The Ravers (which is vastly under-rated, and I highly recommend that series, it’s a fun romp), and then the more serious H.E.R.O series. That’s not to forget Lori in the Reboot Legion titles, carrying the Dial into the thirtieth century.

Still, it’s nice to see the Dial back in the hands of its original owner, and I hope we are to see a lot more of Robby Reed. Is it time for a solo series? Or even a back up strip somewhere? Please?

Marvel Apes: Prime Eight #1 Cover

I’m regressing again this week.

Last week was a big week for the Marvel Zombies, but I have to confess, the Marvel Zombies Return #1 was somewhat of a disappointment. It didn’t grab me like the previous stories had done, in fact it seemed more like a sterile intellectual exercise, more a lower grade “What If?” than a story that will keep me coming back for more.

The best zombie action was in my humble opinion in the Apeverse, with the Marvel Apes Prime Eight Special. A selection of Marvel Zombies, close to the original grouping but pretty obviously from yet another alternate arrive on this world, while the grand-daughter of Nick Furry (sic) comes back in time to ensure her timelines continued existence.

It was a long time before I would look at Marvel Apes, the concept seemed too much like another Peter Porker the Spectacular Spider-Ham to me. However, upon reading the later issues (I’m still hunting down the original series), I was hooked. The addition of the natural ‘survival of the fittest’ philosophy where the strongest monkeys raise to the top of their society took the series beyond just a cartoon version of the mainstream heroes. Not very far beyond admittedly, but far enough to engage me.

I have just developed a love of the Apeverse, and I do not want to see it fall prey to the zombies already, but there looks to be a very slow infection there. Prime Eight barely even touched on the story of the monkey Speedball, the Gibbon and their friends, but in no way did this detract from the issue.

Staying on the topic of zombies, after a very quiet week last week, today sees the release of Blackest Night:Batman #2, and Green Lantern Corps #40. If you haven’t jumped on yet, with the second printing of Blackest Night:Batman #1, now is an ideal time to grab both issues. I was sold on the Blackest Night, but the Batman tie-in has reawakened my love of all things Gotham.

Another catch-up this week is the trade release of the War That Time Forgot. An excellent series, that if you remember the days of the old war, historical or sci-fi titles of the sixties and seventies, is one not to be missed. It was a treat to see characters that have not been seen for a long time get an airing again. It looks like Merryman stuck in Limbo is losing friends hand over fist.

On that note, isn’t it time for a new Inferior Five series? Or at least Angel and the Ape?

Dark Reign: The Hood #4

Not a lot released this week on the Big Two’s events. Blackest Night – Superman #1, the conclusion of the Dark Reign: Mr Negative mini and the penultimate issue of Dark Reign: The Hood.

I have to comment that the first two really didn’t grab me a lot. In Blackest Night – Superman we see the resurrection of various characters, Zor-El as I had hoped for, and a pair that really surprised me, the original Earth-2 Superman Kal-L and his wife Lois. Now there was a couple that I had hoped were truly laid to rest. I wasn’t happy with how they were used in Infinite Crisis, and even less so now. However, I suppose this did raise the feeling of moral outrage that accompanies the horror of the main series.

Other than that, very little appeared to happen in the issue, but then it was just another set-up issue. We could have spent a little more time on New Krypton, but then I suppose other than Zor-El, very few people have died there yet. It will be nice to see Alura realise that what is in the interests of Earth may easily be in the interests of New Krypton as well.

The Mr Negative mini was okay, but it had the feeling of a back up strip. It was nice to see Betty Brant in the foreground, as I have said before I do not often read Spider-Man, so most of this series was lost on me I think.

The gem for me has to be Dark Reign: The Hood, where we see Parker Robbins basically keeping his minions happy while also concentrating on the welfare of his family. The White Fang sub-plot moves along as the Fang in her civilian guise meets Mrs Robbins, and did I mention Satana is back? YAY!

Another thought before I go, I’m worried about the Justice League. Previously when we have had a League fall apart storyline, it has always led to dire times, not just for the league but for the readers as well. Despite the quality of Justice League: Cry For Justice (which I am really enjoying, I mean Starman Mikaal? Congorilla? What’s not to like?), I hope the main League resolves its issues promptly. The current storyline is okay, but not as great as the previous Star-Breaker/Milestone epic, but even as the writers attempt to turn the Royal Flush Gang into a credible threat, I don’t want okay from the League, I want Great! With a Capital G.

So it looks like out of this weeks comics that I have read so far, once more I will ‘Make Mine Marvel’, but only by default. Looks like I need to turn to the Indies for some inspiration.

Blackest Night #2 Cover

Recruiting today! Excellent new cosmic corps with prospects. Wanted, candidates who can give their hearts to the job. Essential requirements: Dead.

Blackest Night really picks up this week with the release of the second issue and Blackest Night – Batman #1. Both of which rock, and as I thought, all of my doubts have been vanquished. I refuse to give any spoilers here, suffice to say that all of my previous questions have been answered with one of the newest Black Ring bearers – Boston Brand, the Deadman.

The horror aspect of the story is played nicely against the form of Tempest the former Aqua Lad, and Mera, and we also get to see how the magical community perceives the threat of the Black Rings. Briefly. Dolphin shows us just how the rings repair their hosts. Meanwhile, we see the fate of Hawkman and it really sinks home – how many more will fall?

I would certainly add a parental advisory to this title. This is not for the youngsters.

Blackest Night – Batman continues some of the story of Deadman, and for a non-Batman reader like myself, grants a little insight into Damien’s personality and the new status quo (for as long as it lasts) in the Gothamverse.

Another treat this week is Adventure Comics #1, showing Superboy back in Smallville as promised, but the final page of his story has a wonderful twist, giving us another glimpse in Conner’s tortured mind. Yes I think he’s tortured, even at the best of times, wouldn’t you be? He hasn’t even had time to react to the knowledge he is half Superman, half Lex Luthor.

The Legion Of Super-Heroes back up story is promising, but I have one point to make. In a roll-call panel, they mix up Night Girl and Shadow Lass! My purist shock and outrage aside, with the enormous cast of characters in the Legion, this is unforgivable, and confusing (or at least it will be) to new readers.

That aside, we learn how the Legion Espionage Squads mission in the past is not yet over. I will contain my outrage and follow the story eagerly!

After reading the latest issue of Green Lantern, the first Blackest Night crossover, I think my admittedly minor fears regarding this summers crossover are put to rest. We see the Flash and Hal Jordan confronted by the Martian Manhunter, now a Black Lantern, and there was no sign of J’onn simply wanting to eat their brains. In fact, he sounded like himself. Admittedly a dead and angry version of himself, but his personality shone through, reminiscent of his latest mini series, where we really saw the aspect of his anger.

The clue I want to look for is what goes on with the Elongated Man and Sue Dibny. They were doing the Deadman thing, possessing various married couples to assist the Outsiders in their missions (at least I assume it was them), yet we see their corpses as Black Lanterns. What I want to know is do the Black Rings co-opt the spirits of their bearers, or simply the bodies and the personality traces left in the brain? I hope Ralph and Sue will give me the answer.

My other recommendation for today is the Superman family of titles, especially including the World Of New Krypton. This is a one of the best returns of Krypton I have read, combining all of the elements of the various Superman origins over the years. The bright colours of the sixties, the sterility of the Byrne version, and the recent militaristic incarnation, all combined as the various Guilds.

The new President of Krypton, Allura, is hurting after the assassination of her husband, Zor-El. Lucy Lane appears to have been drawn into the battle, gained Kryptonian powers, and died. Talk about throwing the family into chaos. We all know that General Zod is a villain, but could it be that Sam Lane is worse?

What I would like to see is if Zor-El is worthy of the Black Rings attention. Now that would confuse the mix even further. More to the point, it would be illogical if Zor-El didn’t rise.

In the face of the dead rising; that will come for Superman, for they have promised; I wonder just how long it is that Zod will remain apparently on the side of the angels. It could be for a very long time indeed.

Well, Blackest Night #1 is out on the shelves, and as set up issues go, it was okay. As I feared however, it looks like the Blackest Night is going to swamp the War Of Light storyline in Green Lantern unless that carries on after this crossover is finished, which I doubt. It does run the risk so far of just being a zombie story I think, but I will refrain from criticism until we are at least three issues in.

Speaking of super-zombies however, the Super-Zombies title from Dynamite has sucked me in. A whole new universe of characters, politics and intrigue established from the get-go, and in four issues I have already begun to care about the characters. This has risen to the top of my must-read list, and if you haven’t seen it already, I advise picking the issues up and giving them a chance. Yes you will be confused as to who everyone is to start with, I still am and need to re-read it to check who’s who. However, I started reading the DC Universe with Crisis On Infinite Earths, and you can imagine how much back-reading I had to do to find out who everyone was there. My only regret is that with Super-Zombies, that back material is not available to dip into.

What has me really pumped however is how the return of the Milestone universe is rolling on, this week in The Brave And The Bold #25, starring Hardware and Blue Beetle. Hardware is his usual sociable self and we see the return of his age old adversaries The System. Oh yeah, and the new Blue Beetle was in it as well.

I adored the confrontation recently between the JLA and the Shadow Cabinet, culminating in Justice League Of America #34, where we learnt just how it is that the Milestone Earth is now part of the DCU. The mysterious Dharma used the power of Rift Fred Benson (from Worlds Collide) to merge his universe with the DCU.

(Erm, from pre Zero Hour to the New Multiverse, did he misfire and shoot past the post-Zero Hour earth? Hell of a pattern that, knit one, drop one, knit one. “Ma, I lost a universe, have you seen it anywhere?)

Anyway, for a geek like me that means for once, all the previously titles still stand in continuity. There was some really good stuff in the old Milestone, and I was very disappointed to see it go.

Now, we’ve seen Holocaust, but I can’t wait to see what’s left of the rest of the Blood Syndicate and what they are up to nowadays.

Of course nostalgia seems all the rage at the minute. Anyone else dig that updated sixties-vibe in Superman World Of New Krypton? And how about the latest revamp of the Red Circle characters? !mpact comics was a bit of a flop, although it too had some good stories. However, I am just old enough to remember some of the actual Red Circle comics themselves. The Crusaders, The Fly and Fly-Girl. Villains like the Brain-Emperor and Eterno.

I am pumped about these, and I look forward to seeing the latter four characters again. The legacy of The Fly with the legacy of Shazam – now that would be an interesting mix.

Oh and have you seen Octobers solicitations? The X-Babies are coming back, but get this, WITH PLANET TERRY! I was too old to read Planet Terry the first time round but that didn’t stop me then, and it won’t stop me now.

Recycling in the music industry is bad. But here in the comic world? It’s good to see all of these old friends again.

As long as they are not zombies.

Although it is a phrase you may have heard many times before, there has never been a better time to be a superhero comics fan. The current output of quality material doesn’t show any signs of abating, and even the dreaded crossover event has begun the long trek to redeem itself.

Recession? What recession?

This week, the long awaited Blackest Night begins, as before the War Of Light has even really kicked off in the DC Universe between the Green Lantern Corps and their other-hued counterparts, the dead shall rise.

The boards are ablaze with all the possible pros and cons of this newest crossover, but if the recent Sinestro Corps War is anything to go by, then we are assured an exciting ride, even if everything seems a little convoluted at the minute. My own personal theory is that the Blackest Night will prove to be the birth and baptism by fire of the new Corps that have formed, and they shall be sticking around for many years to come, this may only be the first act in the War Of Light.

Despite the touted horror elements, if this turns into nothing but a zombie-fest (especially in the crossovers), then it will be an abject failure. I don’t think this will be another Marvel Zombies however, the writing on the Green Lantern Corps, and to a lesser extent the Green Lantern title itself has shown itself.

That is not to criticise Marvel Zombies, but we have seen that idea already. However, if you haven’t picked up the current series of Marvel Zombies, it is well worth a look, as the direction has totally changed. The Zombies (well, one of them) have finally reached the prime Marvel Universe, but thanks to A.R.M.O.R (the Alternate Reality Monitoring and Operation Response agency), the earth is forewarned, and characters that have not seen the light of day in a good while (pun intended) have been drafted to contain the outbreak. Daimon Hellstrom the Son Of Satan, Morbius the Living Vampire and my old favourite Jennifer Kale, to name a few. She never did get the attention she deserved IMHO.

Back to the plot. There are a number of projected I am pumped about, and this is one of them. The crossover are being touted as stand-alone minis, and the one I am really looking forward to is the Blackest Night: Titans.

Given the Titans history, this has the potential to be either really really good, or abysmal. I am hoping for the former. The good news is these crossover minis are not mandatory for following the story, just a matter of personal taste; unlike the minis that accompanied the Secret Invasion event. I think we can rely on Johns et al to provide characterisation and action in equal helpings in each issue, rather than relegating action to one and characterisation to another. After all, with an event touted to be as big as this, I can’t imagine a character who wouldn’t be affected, and I don’t just mean an epidemic of Peter Parkers Parents syndrome.

Hopefully, the Blackest Night may prove that after nearly twenty five years or more of the company-wide crossover, it may have finally grown up. We can hope.