Pop Culture Chronicles

Interesting Stuff; Spring 2010

Here is some upcoming stuff that interests me.

Floppies

By "floppies" I mean monthly periodical comics:

Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne - I may actually purchase this six part series as it comes out, beginning in April. From the looks of the covers, it appears that Bruce Wayne makes his way forward from the beginning of time with some interesting historical stops along the way. This one is written by Grant Morrison, which could be great (i.e., All-Star Superman) or not-so-great (i. e., Final Crisis).

Legacies - A ten-part History of the DC Universe from the viewpoint of a man on the street. Now hasn't Marvel done something like that already? (i.e. Marvels)? But the retro appeal, including some Golden Age era stories, makes this right up my alley. This one begins in May.

The Twelve: Spearhead - A World War II era one-shot guest starring Captain America. This one just came out. Maybe there is still hope of Marvel concluding The Twelve limited series sometime. 

War of the Supermen - The series will launch with # 0 given away at Free Comic Book Day. Then I'll decide whether to purchase the series.

Trades & Hardcovers

Who's Who in the DC Universe- I could buy the 15 issue limited series that begins soon, but I choose to wait for the trade for a more encyclopedic feel. It's also easier to take a volume like this off the book shelf as a reference than it is to thumb through single issues in boxes.

The History of the DC Universe - I think this will be a one volume book updating the universe since the alterations brought about in the last few crises. 

Other Titles I May Read in Trades

Batman and Robin - A good series, but I just can't read everything.

Fantastic Four- With Dale Eaglesham having done art chores for this title, I cannot refuse.

Green Hornet - How can I ignore all of Dynamite's hype for this new series? It's got retro appeal too, but I'll wait for the trades.

Zorro- Another good title I haven't collected since the first couple of issues. I'll check out some of the trades.  

Current Pull List (11/08)

Here is what I'm collecting and reading these days:

Marvel

Age of the Sentry Now this is just a fun comic! Set in the Silver Age with plenty of Silver Age spoofing. Hilarious, but great adventure for all ages. Watchdog is a great spoof of the super-hero pets like Krypto and Ace the Bat-hound.

Avengers/Invaders (Alex Ross co-plotting and covers) Nostalgia, time travel, and Alex Ross. What's not to like?

The Twelve The strength of this book is character development as obscure Golden Age heroes are re-introduced. The art is great too. This 12-parter is over half way to conclusion.  

Dynamite  

Project Super Powers (Alex Ross co-plotting and covers) The seven-issue first volume has concluded and I was going to check out after that. This series was just too chaotic and overcrowded. Unlike The Twelve  there wasn't much character development. Too many characters were coming out of the woodwork (or the urn) at once. The redeeming thing about this book was the Alex Ross "class photo" style character drawings in the back pages of most issues. I am undecided as to whether I'll collect volume 2, but my sheer love of the Golden Age keeps me coming back. Dynamite is creating a whole new superhero universe from public domain characters.  

Black Terror (Alex Ross co-plotting and some covers) I was prepared for disappointment after the fiasco that was Project Super Powers. Black Terror seemed very one-dimensional in that series. But if this book is any indication, it appears that the Super Powers spin-offs are going to be a lot bigger on character development. After one issue I'm beginning to care about the character. It helps that his background was developed and I am now more sympathetic with his plight to find Tim, his missing partner. I chose the Greg Land cover which I thought was awesome. 

It's clear now that the Project Super Powers universe is not our universe, but a world in which the "Super Powers" of nations have become corrupt and tyrannical (at least I don't think this is our universe) and so the heroes with super powers have been self-appointed to provide checks and balances. Interesting premise, but it would also have been interesting to see these Golden Age heroes in a setting more similar to ours, as Marvel has done with The Twelve. I can't wait for Masquerade and Death-Defying Devil to have their own books. 

DC

Justice Society of America (Alex Ross co-plotting and covers) This is the only ongoing title I am seriously collecting. The others are mostly limited series. If I only read one comic, this would be it. 

Now if Power Girl is not the Power Girl of the Earth-2 in the new multiverse, but the Power Girl of a now dead universe, there could be hope that the missing Earth-2 Superman could be found alive. Wouldn't that be cool. And I still wonder if there is hope of seeing a Golden Age Batman sometime. Did I pick up a hint in issue 20 or was it just my own wishful thinking?  

Final Crisis I really don't like this book, but I'm following it to see what, if any, sweeping changes come over the DC universe. Besides, I've got all the other crisis limited series so I'll complete the collection. But this one cannot hold a candle to the original Crisis on Infinite Earths which was far more intriguing, although I didn't like the outcome. 

This particular series shares the darker tone, grittier edge, bloodier violence and profane language (although often expressed as @#*#!%) of many of today's comics. This is also typical Grant Morrison, whose writing I enjoyed in All-Star Superman, but that's about it. His stuff is usually just too "out there" for me. You don't know what's going on until the end, if you even know then. Nor has much been revealed about the multiverse to this point. 

Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds Perhaps the only redeeming tie-in to Final Crisis, with original crisis artist George Perez and the best-current-writer-in-the- business, Geoff Johns. Some of the usual things I don't like about today's comics are present in this book as well, but the story, art, and multiversal storyline are excellent. 

A few things I'll note about my pull list: 

1) Alex Ross is connected with four of the titles I collect as co-plotter and cover artist. I am a huge fan of this man who provided the art for Marvels and Kingdom Come. He brought a new brand of realism to comics.         

2) Justice Society of America remains my only ongoing title. With limited series I can make shorter commitments. With the exception of JSA I may start waiting for the trades. 

3) Seven of the eight titles I'm currently reading have a large dose of Golden or Silver Age nostalgia. Another hint of my dissatisfaction with the direction of modern comics. But I'm not called Dr. Retro for nothing.          

Reviews: Justice Society, Avengers / Invaders

Justice Society of America 15-16

Plotted by Geoff Johns and Alex Ross, with alternate painted covers by Ross. The interior art by Eaglesham and Rollins is outstanding. I'm enjoying this story arc in spite of the so-called New Gods and fourth world stuff, which I could typically care less about. But Gog is an interesting character and some happy events actually take place in # 16. Do comics always have to be dark? 

Issue 15 is basically a battle issue with the JSA against Magog. While character development might at first seem sparse, the characters are developed as individual members' powers are showcased in various panels. The final page of this issue promises a return of Earth-2 and its Robin and Huntress (but we already knew that, right?). Both issues 15 and 16 hint at a return of Isis, a character created to be killed in 52. I do hope she comes back. I liked her. 

I'm glad Cyclone is around. It's great to have a descendant of the original Red Tornado on board. But I do wish she'd replace that utterly ridiculous costume. She looks more like she belongs in the circus than with the JSA. 

Avengers / Invaders 1-2

In addition to JSA, Alex Ross is co-plotting and painting covers for this Marvel/Dynamite series. I wasn't going to add anything else to my pull list. But my love for Golden Age characters, combined with the free sketch book, and Ross' life like painted cover for the first issue made this a must read. It takes me back to the Roy Thomas Invaders series I read as a kid in the 70s.  

The Invaders accidentally travel forward through time from the battlefields of World War II to  present day NYC. They get there through a most creative and mysterious means. And they unknowingly take an American soldier with them. What havoc might such anomalies play on the timestream? 

Will the WW II Captain America learn that the Avengers he meets were his friends in the present, but that it's a present in which he is already dead? Will Bucky meet his older self, who I hear is the new Captain America? Will the outcome of WW II be altered in the Marvel Universe?

This is one of three current titles in which Golden Age heroes find themselves in their future, which is our present day. The others include Marvel's excellent series, The Twelve. It may be that the Black Widow of that series may appear in this one along with some other forgotten Golden Age heroes. The third title with Golden Age heroes is Project Superpowers. As with Justice Society of America and Avengers / Invaders this one also includes painted covers and co-plotting by Ross. 

I love this resurgence of Golden Age characters and I'm enjoying Avengers / Invaders as much as I have any comic in a long time. By the time I get to the last page I can't believe it's already over and I'm looking forward to the next issue to see what develops. Sadowski's excellent interior art makes the original Human Torch more realistic than ever. Ross and Krueger have Namor's character down perfect. And of course Ironman and Spiderman play key roles.                     

My Pull List

Sorry I've been away so long. I'll try not to let it happen again. Life has simply got in the way of my blogging, but now I'm back! My About Page is clear that I'm a nostalgia buff and what I collect reflects that.

DC Titles 

All-Star Superman This twelve issue limited series is a great reimagining of the Superman myth. It's reminiscent of the Silver Age stories I grew up reading, coupled with today's more sophisticated story-telling. I hear that this version of Superman may continue beyond twelve issues. If so, I wonder who the artist will be. I can't imagine this title without Frank Quitely.

Since I'm actually a die hard Batman fan, I did collect All-Star Batman and Robin but I quit because..well..it was just stupid.

Countdown to Final Crisis This 51-issue weekly title has been an overall disappointment, but I kept collecting it in hopes that something significant would happen. I was hoping for a more thorough exploration of the new multiverse, but it seems that the earths with any potential were destroyed. The Kamandi origin has been the most interesting thing so far, even if it is a downer. Oh well, one more issue to go. I'm hoping that DC Universe: Zero and the Final Crisis series will be more satisfying. In the meantime, I'll probably have 51 issues for sale.

Justice Society of America  As I've said before, I've been a fan of the JSA since the annual JLA/JSA crossovers. Then All-Star Comics was revived in the 70s. In the 80s it was All-Star Squadron. In 1999 the JSA got their own title and now we have the current title. The JSA has never disappointed me. The Golden Age connection is appealing to a nostalgia buff like me.

Dynamite Entertainment

Project Superpowers  I'm down to this one title from Dynamite which is a revival of obscure Golden Age heroes. Right up my alley. My review is here.

I did collect The Lone Ranger, which likewise appealed to my sense of nostalgia. But this is definitely not my grandmother's Lone Ranger. I was okay with that at first, but after the first story arc I've decided to save my money. This comic just doesn't reflect the traditional values of the original character. So I'm a fuddy duddy. It's also an awfully long time between issues. Hi yo, Silver, Away.

I read the first two issues of Zorro, which excited me at first. But I feel like the origin is being dragged out for too long, has been a little silly in some places, and we haven't been seeing enough of Zorro in full regalia. The 3.50 cover price is also a turn off. I'm not made of money.

Marvel Comics

The Twelve This twelve issue limited series is the only Marvel I read, but I think it's the best comic on the market---bar none. See my review for more details. As with Justice Society of America and Project Superpowers, this one also revives and celebrates Golden Age heroes. My kind of stuff.    

Revival From Obscurity II: Project Superpowers

The 1940s comics had an endless supply of super heroes, many of whom had vanished into oblivion by the 1950s. As with Marvel's The Twelve, Dynamite's Project Superpowers is another new comic in which Golden Age heroes are revived from obscurity.

In The Twelve, a dozen of Timely's 1940s heroes are awakened after 60 years of cryogenic slumber. In Project Superpowers, various Golden Age heroes are likewise rescued from obscurity. As opposed to sleeping, they have been trapped in Pandora's box (or in this case, Pandora's urn). Most of the heroes to be unleashed have not been seen in the pages of comics for decades. They include such names as The Flame, Black Terror, Samson, and the Green Lama (although short lived revivals have occurred in a few cases).

And then there is Fighting Yank, who just happens to have grown old without being trapped in the urn. It appears that the Yank actually did the trapping, but was perhaps duped into doing it.

Until Project Superpowers, my only exposure to most of these heroes were in cover galleries of comic book price guides. Now I can see these heroes in action. Project Superpowers appeals to my sense of nostalgia, as does The Twelve.

Project Superpowers also has Alex Ross going for it, in charge of plot, covers, art direction, and interior paintings. But he doesn't do the script or interior art.

A couple of interesting points about Superpowers. First, the revived characters were not originally the property of just one company, but they range from Standard, to Fox, to Prize. I wonder if Dynamite had acquired the rights to many of these characters or if a number of these characters had become public domain, which means anyone can use them.

Which brings us to the second interesting point. Both The Twelve and Project Superpowers each have their own unique version of Dynamic Man. But there is no question that each version is based on the same Golden Age hero since in each book his alter ego is Curt Cowan. Until now I had assumed that Marvel owned the rights to all the old Timely characters, but now I wonder if Dynamic Man had fallen into the public domain since both Marvel and Dynamite are reviving him.

And I wonder how true these versions of Dynamic Man will be to the Golden Age hero, who was originally an android (as he appears to be in Project Superpowers). Dynamic Man's alter ego, Curt Cowan, was also an FBI agent in his Golden Age adventures. I wonder if either company will do anything with that or if we'll just forget it ever happened. (I also wonder how an android passed the physical to become an FBI agent).

So far, I'm collecting both books, but The Twelve stands out as the better of the two. Yet I look forward to the revival of more old characters in Superpowers. It appears that we might see a return of Silver Streak, Cat-man (aka, "the Cat") and Kitten, and the Woman in Red, among many others. I'm excited whenever Golden Age heroes get another shot at the limelight.    

Revival from Obscurity I: The Twelve

While I'm typically a DC reader, I think that the best comic out there right now is Marvel's "The Twelve." This twelve part limited series brings twelve obscure Golden Age heroes out of retirement and teams them up.

These heroes are so obscure that not one of them had over five Golden Age adventures each. The Black Widow leads the way with five appearances. The Phantom Reporter, the Laughing Mask, Mr. E., and the Blue Blade share in common only one Golden Age appearance each. The remaining heroes appeared two or three times each. None of these heroes had ever been revived until now.

The first issue of "The Twelve" reveals that in the last hours of World War II these heroes were captured by Nazis who put them in a cryogenic slumber in an underground bunker. The heroes slept until being discovered and revived in the present.

Imagine the emotional and and psychological effects of going to sleep for over sixty years. Your friends, family, and the life you knew are all gone. Imagine the culture shock of waking up to a very different world. Such themes are explored quite well.

Under government supervision, the Twelve are not to be told immediately that they have awakened in a new century. Their indoor surroundings are made to look like a 1940s army hospital. How the Phantom Reporter puts the clues together and learns the truth is just plain good storytelling.

The culture shock is also explored. In the second issue, Dynamic Man thinks he is truly a man of the future (as he was billed in his first Golden Age appearance). But his foray into a very different society proves that in some sense he is still very much a man of the past.

A common trait of most of these heroes in their Golden Age appearances was their overt and unquestioning patriotism. Today's military intends to exploit this.

As lover of most things retro, I love the nostalgic flavor of this book. As the first issue began in 1940s Germany, I felt like a kid again--reading All Star Squadron or The Invaders. But as great as those comics were, The Twelve is even more sophisticated. I cannot recall being drawn any deeper into a comic story in recent years, if ever.

Reading The Twelve is like watching a movie, but with an extra depth that is only acquired through literature. The writing of Straczynski and the art of Weston is an unbeatable combination for realism. The character development is unsurpassed in comics.

I love how the look of several heroes is based on 1940s movie stars, adding to the nostalgic flavor. As Weston explains in the series prequel, The Twelve # 0, the Black Widow is unashamedly Veronica Lake, the Witness is James Cagney, and the Blue Blade is "Errol Flynn turned up to eleven." Nostalgia buffs should love this comic. But so should everyone.

I hear that The Twelve is doing well. It's great to see these formerly second string heroes get a second chance. And to think that some of their creators might have gone to their graves thinking their creations were failures. But sixty years later, these heroes get a new lease on life. You just never know.