Who'd Like A Cocktail? #220

Superboy's not impressed with Red Robin's new digs.

WTF? Use A Spoiler Warning, People!

A couple of days ago, I bitched posted about the steady reveal of DC's previously known as WTF April covers, the ones where the gatefold reveals a surprise related to the story within.

Regarding those series I buy, I've managed to avoid all of the reveals simply by not clicking on links that say "Click here for the full cover!" It's a simple procedure - if you have a surprise of whatever sort, offer people the choice of whether or not to reveal it.

That choice wasn't apparent on the otherwise excellent New Earth 2 blog this morning where the full gatefold cover of Worlds' Finest #11 is on display, revealing just who Power Girl is really getting it on with - if you want to see who it is, click the picture on the left.

It's not a massive surprise given the solicitations for forthcoming issues but even so, it caught me by surprise as I went through my feed reader - no warning, it was suddenly there on my screen.

I fear I may have to hide from the internet for the next week or two.

Judging A (Non-Existent) Book By It's Cover

Jinkies! I would so buy this. Just saying.

All That Glitters

Last week in Justice League, we saw various heroes try out for positions on team, including the latest version of Platinum from the Metal Men. Trouble is - as these situations so, so often do - there was a bit of a brawl when Platinum lost her equilibrium.

At one point, she threw Firestorm, Blue Devil and Goldrush away from her:

but luckily, Flash caught Goldrush:

A call back to the fact that earlier she'd been flirting with him. Skipping over the fact that Vixen's left leg appears to have been amputated, cast your eye over Goldrush - for a woman who's covered in golden armour, she looks awfully . . . pink.

There you go, the latest in the range of colouring corrections from Crisis on Earth-Prime.

Feel free to ignore this post if it later turns out her gold armour vanishes if she's knocked unconscious or something.

I'm Extremely Photogenic. And About To Pop Out.

Last week's Justice League of America saw Steve Trevor putting his team together prior to a press conference to announce them to the world. The various heroes turned up and sat round a table but of all of them, one caught my eye - Catwoman.

She wandered around the entire issue wearing a costume that was open from her shoulders to her navel, leaving her heaving alabaster bosom open to the elements and, probably more to the point, the reader.

Now I've said before that I've no problem with skimpy superhero attire but this just struck me as both gratuitous and impractical. Imagine wearing this:

and going out to face Darkseid or Despero or someone. I think it's a safe bet that the "Rated Teen" on the cover would quickly head to "Suggested for Mature Readers" in seconds flat.

And is it meant to be sexy? If so, I'm guessing David Finch has never heard the expression "Less is more"

Here you go, Selina - hopefully this covers both practical and attractive:

Monday Memories #12 - Green Lantern #138

Each Monday this year I'll be taking a look back at a random comic, prestige format issue, graphic novel or collection of reprints from amongst my 3,000 or so comics that date from 1962 to 2003 - I figured anything in the last ten years would be too recent to hark back to.

The comics are chosen completely at random and apart from a four week lead-in period, even I don't know what I'll be looking at in the weeks to come!

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #219

No, pray tell.

The Main Reason I Don't Read The Batman Titles

From Our Valued Customers

WTF? WTF Covers Revealed

As you probably know, DC's April comics will have a gatefold cover, the right hand side folding out to reveal a surprise tied in to the comic.

They'd originally planned to slap a WTF brand on all of their New 52 issues in that month to impress upon us the startling nature of the surprise, a move that was ridiculed by fans and the industry alike - characters can't say "fuck" on the pages inside, but the company's happy to put WTF on the cover? - before the idea for the branding was dropped a week or two later.

It would have been nice to see DC stick their hand up and say "Sorry, we got that one wrong," but instead they quietly pulled back from the idea and "co-publisher Dan DiDio said that the "WTF" branding would not be used "because we don't need it." The retailer tells Newsarama that DiDio went on to say that the books have attracted attention from the marketplace already, and that retailers and readers are now aware of the significance of the gatefold covers." (Source.)

I think they made the right decision concerning losing the WTF brand - it was just a bit silly - but I still like the concept of the gatefold covers and the idea of a surprise, even though the surprises might not be that Earth-shattering.

However, rather than wait for the comics to arrive, the damn internet is already gearing up to spoil those surprises by revealing the full covers ahead of time. If you click here you'll be taken to an article where you can see the full cover of Suicide Squad #19. It's not a title I get (though I plan to pick up the trades fairly soon) but I am preparing myself to hide from the news over the next couple of weeks as I'd like to keep as many surprises to myself as possible.

Am I alone in this day and age in being happy to wait until something arrives at the right time, rather than reading about it weeks ahead?

Monday Memories #11 - Extreme Justice #13

Each Monday this year I'll be taking a look back at a random comic, prestige format issue, graphic novel or collection of reprints from amongst my 3,000 or so comics that date from 1962 to 2003 - I figured anything in the last ten years would be too recent to hark back to.

The comics are chosen completely at random and apart from a four week lead-in period, even I don't know what I'll be looking at in the weeks to come!

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #218

Not your dad's Captain K'rot

What Were You Looking For This Week?

Regular readers know I'll occasionally throw out the search terms that people have used (deliberately or otherwise) to find this blog when I'm rushing around like a blue arsed fly and don't have time for anything else.

So . . .

Seriously? People found this blog looking for that second term in the list? I mean Power Girl I can understand as I'm something of a fan but really . . . but then, there's Rule 34, I suppose, so if you're looking for it, you'll probably find it. Just not here.

And that last one has to be the most specific search term I've ever come across. Not just the title or the number but the actual page?! Still, in case anyone's still looking for "jla #190 starro page 8", here it is:

Just leave a comment saying thanks . . . and maybe why you were after that particular page, eh?

DC's June Solicitations

TRINITY OF SIN: PANDORA #1 - sort of tempted by this but, I have to admit, more from the point of it's a multiversal title, something that feeds into the forthcoming Trinity War and so I'm more interested in how it fits in rather than the character herself. Maybe I'll pick it up, maybe not.

Monday Memories #10 - Green Lantern #164

Each Monday this year I'll be taking a look back at a random comic, prestige format issue, graphic novel or collection of reprints from amongst my 3,000 or so comics that date from 1962 to 2003 - I figured anything in the last ten years would be too recent to hark back to.

The comics are chosen completely at random and apart from a four week lead-in period, even I don't know what I'll be looking at in the weeks to come!

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #217

He's not wrong.

Perusing Previews - March 2013

Sure, he may not have been on our screens for years now, but Jeremy Brett is still the go-to reference for Sherlock Holmes.

Why Can't Warner Bros Make Fun Superhero Films?

The new Iron Man 3 trailer arrived yesterday and damn me it looks good. Most of the Marvel films over the last few years have been good, solid superhero films that manage to stand on their own as well as merge into the excellent Avengers film that really did deliver all it promised.

I'm a DC fan, though, and I find myself wondering why DC (and its parent company Warner Bros) are finding it so difficult to emulate the success Marvel have had, not to mention Fox with the X-Men franchise.

What's In A Name?

Over the years I've met a few people named for various other people or things.

I've known a Kayleigh, named after the Marillion song.

I've known a Stevie, named after Stevie Nicks.

I've known a Layla, named after the song that drives me nuts but not as much as Wonderful Tonight does.

And while I've not met any, I'd be willing to bet there's more than a few 30-something Lukes out there, named after a certain Mr Skywalker.

But I think even the most ardent Star Wars fan would balk at naming their child after Chewbacca's son:

Lumpy.

Dear lord . . .

Monday Memories #9 - The Shade #2

Each Monday this year I'll be taking a look back at a random comic, prestige format issue, graphic novel or collection of reprints from amongst my 3,000 or so comics that date from 1962 to 2003 - I figured anything in the last ten years would be too recent to hark back to.

The comics are chosen completely at random and apart from a four week lead-in period, even I don't know what I'll be looking at in the weeks to come!

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #216

Jonah Hex: Nineteenth Century Batman

Thank You, DC

I've said time and again that the thing I like most about comics is when they're fun. Sure, I like a good angst ridden, violent, sweary book as much as the next reader, but it's when they make me smile and laugh that comics are at their best for me.

So it is with great pleasure that I read the interview with Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis who are teaming up once more on the new Larfleeze ongoing book:

Giffen: Larfleeze is a chance to do a fun comic book, surrounding him with new characters, new villains, new ideas, new sections of the galaxy. New, new, new, new, new, new, new. 

I guarantee six major, new, cosmic villains in the first 12 issues, as well as alien worlds and all kinds of craziness with Larfleeze. 

And fun. No deep thoughts, no misdirection or trickery. You just come in, there's Larfleeze and look! He's having an adventure, with a bunch of exciting new characters and concepts. At the end of the book, you say, "Yeah, I had a good time reading that book." 

DeMatteis: If it's not fun, we shouldn't be doing it. These are comic books!

I will definitely be buying this book.