Lost In Translation

I am genuinely looking forward to the new Phantom Lady miniseries out this week; I've long been a fan of Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray's work and this, coupled with their recent Ray miniseries, gives me hope for a new Freedom Fighters series someway down the line.

However, I've just read the blurb in the Source article and something made me chuckle / wince:

"When she was very young, Jennifer Knight watched her parents get killed by Metropolis’ oldest and strongest crime family: The Benders. Cut to years later and an adult Jennifer is following in her father’s footsteps by taking on the crime world as a reporter … and as a super hero! Phantom Lady to be exact. But will she experience the same fate as her parents when she tries to infiltrate the next generation of Benders?"

You see, I grew up in 70's Britain and while we had some good things like Action and 2000AD (along with other things that should be consigned to the darkest pits of hell, like the Bay City Rollers) we also had our own particular slang terms that, maybe, Americans aren't aware of.

In Metropolis, calling someone a Bender obviously implies they're in the "oldest and strongest crime family" and may, by some, to be seen as something of a compliment.

In Britain, calling someone a bender is less likely to win you any favours.

So when I read the new Phantom Lady's trying "to infiltrate the next generation of Benders" I can't help but utter a guilty chuckle.

And Still It Gets Talked About

A year or so on from the New 52's launch, it would appear some people (specifically the customers over at Our Valued Customers) still aren't happy with Power Girl's new look.

Honestly, it's certainly not the best costume in the world and I'd prefer the last one back, but I'm just glad to see Worlds' Finest turning out to be so good.

Glass half full, guys.

New Justice League Title

So that's why the Martian Manhunter left Stormwatch - to go and front his own, new JLA team.

From the DC blog's announcement about the new book being written by Geoff Johns and drawn by David Finch:

"This is a very different kind of team book,” says Geoff Johns. “On first glance, people might think the heroes of the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA stand in the shadows of Superman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the JUSTICE LEAGUE, but Green Arrow, Katana, Martian Manhunter, the new Green Lantern, Stargirl, Vibe, Hawkman and Catwoman thrive in the shadows. They're underdogs who have everything to prove and something to lose. They're a team of unlikely heroes who will help one another discover they're as A-List as anybody -- yes, even Vibe."

Thriving in the shadows? What the heck does that mean?

And the line-up: Vibe? Katana? Catwoman for goodness' sake?! For this we lose Justice League International?

Ah, don't get me wrong - I'll pick it up because I mostly like Johns's stuff; it's just a little disappointing that the JLI's gone and we get this in its place.

Who Was Who Is Who #35

So for want of anything better to write about on a Monday, I'm going to go through all my copies of Who's Who and see if I can predict who will make it over to the new DCU by the end of 2012, who might make it and who hasn't got a Pig-Iron's chance.

PHANTOM GIRL - one of the perennial Legion members, even I'm aware that Phantom Girl is likely to be included in most versions of the team and a quick check on the internet reveals that she is alive and well in the latest Legion of Super-Heroes series.

PHANTOM LADY - at the time of writing (start of April) none of the versions of the Phantom Lady appear to have survived into the post-Flashpoint world. The last page of The Ray series, though, hinted at a possible return for Uncle Sam and, by extension, the Freedom Fighters so maybe they'll be back at some point. For that reason, Phantom Lady goes in the possible column.

Batdog!

No Cocktail post today as I'm enjoying the last few days of my holiday. Instead, here's a modern day Ace:

The saddest thing about that? It's an official DC product.

It's not just George Lucas who'll license everything.

If I Had Three Wishes...

I think making this thing real would be one of them:

How much fun would that be?

Pinched from the latest Line It Is Drawn over at CBR; art by Bill Walko.

Short Break

By the time you read this, I shall be enjoying a week's break from work. Sadly I won't be going anywhere as exotic as Kooey Kooey Kooey, but it's just nice to hang around with Mrs Earth-Prime and relax for a few days.

See you on the weekend.

Who Was Who Is Who #34

So for want of anything better to write about on a Monday, I'm going to go through all my copies of Who's Who and see if I can predict who will make it over to the new DCU by the end of 2012, who might make it and who hasn't got a Pariah's chance.

ORION - with the events of the Justice League first arc, I think it highly likely that Orion will make an appearance at some point but I don't think it'll be before the end of 2012.

O.S.S. - this World War II precurosr to the CIA could get a mention in the pages of G.I. Combat, I suppose, but I doubt it. Feel free to tell me I'm wrong!

THE OUTSIDER - a surprise inclusion in the original Flashpoint series was an updated version of this little-known villainous alter-ego of Alfred Pennyworth, Batman's butler. As far as I know, though, there's been no hint of him making an appearance in the New 52.

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #192

And that's got to count for something, right?

They Might Have A Point

Click for full size

Warner Bros are one of the biggest studios in the world and they own DC Comics who own some of the most recognisable superheroes ever but with the exception of Superman and Batman, nothing seems to be happening on the film front.

How many people outside of comics had heard of Iron Man, Thor or Nick Fury until a few years ago when Marvel started producing (mostly) damn fine films?

The New 52 - whether you like the titles or not - reinvigorated DC's comics line and, by extension, affected Marvel and the other publishers as well, getting more and more people talking about comics and the heroes that DC publish. Yet Warners failed to capitalise on that.

Sooner or later, the superhero film bubble's going to burst and DC/Warners need to do something before that happens.

Earth 2 #6

From the solicitation:

Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by NICOLA SCOTT and TREVOR SCOTT
• The Green vs. The Grey! Who will decide the fate of this dying Earth: Green Lantern or Grundy?
• Will the new wonders of Earth band together to form the first super team since the death of the Trinity?
• Does super-genius Sloan really know what’s best for this world?

In order, I'm guessing Green Lantern; yes; and probably not though he thinks he does.

I Demand To Have This Crossover Now!

From the ever excellent Super-Team Family blog:

Two of my favourite things: Star Wars and Power Girl combined!

Oh, and Spider-Woman as well.

Phantom Lady's Quality Sword Fighting

I mentioned in my last Perusing Previews post that I was tempted by the Quality Companion as I've a fondness for the heroes such as Uncle Sam, Human Bomb, Phantom Lady and the other Freedom Fighters and figured, with my birthday coming up, that I'd treat myself.

It's a handsome looking book, no doubt, filled with lots of info both about the characters and the creators that worked at Quality, even detailing how the characters have fared since they became DC properties.

At the start of the book are reproductions of various Quality comics featuring the above characters as well as Black Condor, The Ray and the cross dressing Madam Fatal but one thing that caught me by surprise was the Phantom Lady story.

R.I.P. Joe Kubert

I'm not normally one for public shows of grief but Joe Kubert - both the man and his artwork - is legendary in the comics world and it was sad to read yesterday of his death.

Farewell, Mr Kubert.

Who Was Who Is Who #33

So for want of anything better to write about on a Monday, I'm going to go through all my copies of Who's Who and see if I can predict who will make it over to the new DCU by the end of 2012, who might make it and who hasn't got a Nuclear Family's chance.

NIGHTSHADE - pretty sure the last time we saw Nightshade was in Shadowpact which folded far too quickly for my liking. Don't think she's made it into the New 52 yet (as at the start of April) and while it'd be nice to see her, I don't think it likely.

NIGHT-SLAYER - a Batman villain that sounds like a metal band. Don't think Bruce needs to worry about this guy turning up again.

NIGHTWING - having survived and editorial edict to kill him off during Infinite Crisis, Dick Grayson's alive and well and in his eponymous title so he goes into the "in place" column.

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #191

There's no excuse for poetry that doesn't rhyme.

Now That's Art

DC Collectible have released a whole bunch of prints based around the DC heroes and story lines. Some work better for me than others, such as the lovely one below, but none of them are terrible.

Go take a look by clicking on the picture of Flash's Cosmic Treadmill.

Perusing Previews - August 2012

Subtlety - noun - 1) the state or quality of being subtle; delicacy 2) a fine distinction or the ability to make such a distinction 3) something subtle 4) a word never used at Eros Comix.

Who Was Who Is Who #32

So for want of anything better to write about on a Monday, I'm going to go through all my copies of Who's Who and see if I can predict who will make it over to the new DCU by the end of 2012, who might make it and who hasn't got a Night and Fog's chance.

NEGATIVE MAN - at the time of writing (end of March) we've seen The Chief in the background of a story so it seems likely that the Doom Patrol will be appearing at some point though nothing's been confirmed so far. With that in mind, I'm going to put him in the possible column.

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #190

Flash and Hawkgirl get off to a flying start.

Dredd Poster

Blimey, this looks good:

You know, I'm really looking forward to this.

Dark Knight Returns Trailer

Great googly moogly this looks good:

Get More: MTV Shows

I've seen a handful of the DC Animated films - sadly unimpressed by Superman: Doomsday - but I think I may have to rent this one based on that trailer.

Wednesday's World Wide Web #7

From last week's Teen Titans #11:

Oh, Bunker . . . you should know gregslist.com will only bring disappointment.

Mainly because it doesn't exist. True, that doesn't explain how he met up with Loose Cannon but then again, it doesn't explain why anyone would bring that guy into the New 52 either.