A Short Break

Mrs Earth-Prime and myself are having a short break this week so I won't be around much; normal service will be resumed this weekend coming.

In the meantime, this made me chuckle:

Click to make readable and you can find more by the artist here.

Back in a few days!

Monday Memories #21 - The Heckler #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? #228

Jonah Hex asks the important questions

New Man Of Steel Trailer

Finally, a Superman movie where he hits someone.

I am looking forward to this, my friends.

OMAC Volume 1: Omactivate!

Following on from yesterday's post about the Wonder Woman: Blood collection, I figured it was only fair to throw down some thoughts about the other collection I picked up last week, OMAC volume 1.

When we first meet OMAC, he's a rampaging beast being controlled by the sentient satellite Brother Eye and charged with stealing information from the mainframe of Cadmus Industries. Once completed, Brother Eye teleports him away. It's only after that's done that we meet his alter ego, Kevin Kho who's initially unaware of his OMAC other half. Kevin spends some time getting back to Cadmus (where his girlfriend also works and is missing him) along the way meeting a couple of bad guys, all the while being manipulated by Brother Eye. The Checkmate organisation, run by one Maxwell Lord, attempts to shut down both OMAC and Brother Eye with little success at first until a final assault on the satellite forces it to upgrade OMAC, allowing Kevin's intelligence to come to the fore and take control of his brutish form. It's a poisoned chalice, though, as Kevin is unable to change back and is stuck in his OMACtivated form at the end of the story.

Wonder Woman Vol 1: Blood

As I mentioned last week, I recently picked up a couple of trades, one of which was the collection of the first six issues of the New 52 Wonder Woman series. I have to admit to being tempted to buy the series when it was originally announced if only to see what the new team did with the venerable character, but money's not on elastic as someone I know says.

Enough preamble, though: I took a chance and bought the paperback having heard both good and bad about the series, and here's my take.

Wonder Woman is brought in to protect the mortal woman, Zola, who carries the latest of Zeus's children, from the wrath of Zeus's ever-jealous wife, Hera. Diana's involvement leads to her visiting Themyscira where she learns the truth about her origin: long thought to be made of clay, it turns out she too is one of Zeus's offspring. Needless to say, this leads to some angry words between her and her mother, Hippolyta, before Diana leaves the island. Hera, too, pays a visit, having discovered, at the same time as Diana, of Zeus's dalliance with Hippolyta, and the confrontation doesn't end well for the latter as the jealous goddess turns her to stone. Seeking retribution, Diana ends up playing Poseidon and Hades against each other, offering them both the rule of heaven now that Zeus has vanished. She tricks them, however, as her main goal is to have Hera appear, letting Diana access to Hera's home where she metaphorically blinds the goddess, destroying her ability to view the mortal world. Zola, whom Diana has been accompanying all the while, is tricked and captured by an unhappy Hades who wants Diana to make good on her offer.

Monday Memories #20 - Justice Society Of America #8

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? #227

Try saying that five times fast!

James Robinson Leaving Earth-2

I don't often break from my regular publishing schedule but this piece of news really did make me sit up and take notice. From the article:

"So as of today I am leaving Earth 2 with Issue #16. It's been a blast," Robinson tweeted. In a follow-up, he wrote, "Yes, this also means I'm no longer working at DC Comics. Best wishes and regards to Dan, Geoff and everyone."

This is really odd as Earth 2 is a good seller and Robinson was talking about his plans for the series only a couple of months ago, planning stories well into 2014.

I won't speculate on the reasons behind the somewhat abrupt departure, but I will be sad to see him go.

DC's August Solicitations

All Star Western #23:

"Hex is trapped in modern-day Gotham City…and he’s getting ready to shoot his way out! Find out how he got here—and see what part Batman plays! And in the backup story, the Vigilante seeks revenge!"

As cool as it might be to see Hex in the present day, I'm wondering if the Vigilante is going to be Greg Saunders or a totally new guy.

That's The Weekend's Reading Sorted

Look what arrived yesterday:

   

I've been promising myself I'd get some New 52 collections, obviously picking up stuff that I didn't bother getting monthly and the postman was kind enough to drop these off yesterday.

That's me sorted for the weekend.

Monday Memories #19 - JLA: Our Worlds At War #1

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? #226

Heheh... snort...ha... hahaha,,, sorry... heh...

A Little More Multiversity Art

CBR has a new image from the much talked about, still nowhere to be seen Multiversity series, this time from Thunderworld, the new take on the old Earth-S (which they refer to as Earth Fawcett for some reason) and featuring a glimpse at the Rock of Eternity and Shazam:

The Seven Deadly Enemies of man are listed as Pride, Envy, Greed, Hatred, Selfishness, Laziness and Injustice. I'm pretty sure those are the names used in the Shazam! back-up in Justice League but does anyone know why they changed from the originals:

Pride, Envy and Greed are there; Sloth has become Laziness; Anger's been swapped for Hatred; while Lust and Gluttony have been changed to Selfishness and Injustice.

Just a sign of changing times? Getting away from the idea of sin?

Just seems a little odd to me.

WTF Was That All About? Part 2

Last week saw the final gatefold covers of DC's aborted WTF Certified event in April. The name of the now non-event was widely derided after it was revealed, and rightly so, but the covers themselves - the main cover supplemented by a surprise on the gatefold - was a neat idea. I tried to remain as spoiler free as I could, both in the run up to it when covers were being released on the net, and in my weekly Cocktail posts.

Now it's all over, I figure it's time for a quick look at the ones I bought, continued from yesterday. So, in alphabetical order...

WTF Was That All About? Part 1

Last week saw the final gatefold covers of DC's aborted WTF Certified event in April. The name of the now non-event was widely derided after it was revealed, and rightly so, but the covers themselves - the main cover supplemented by a surprise on the gatefold - was a neat idea. I tried to remain as spoiler free as I could, both in the run up to it when covers were being released on the net, and in my weekly Cocktail posts.

Now it's all over, I figure it's time for a quick look at the ones I bought. So, in alphabetical order...

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #225

Let's keep it simple, folks.

Monday Memories #18 - Legion #58

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!

Happy Star Wars Day!

How did you think Lord Vader kept his boots so shiny?

Wonder Woman Is Better Than Superman

Oh internet . . . how I love you.

No Freedom Fighters Yet

Despite splendid mini-series featuring the Ray, Phantom Lady, Doll Man and the Human Bomb, this Q & A session about the New 52 offered up the following concerning a possible Freedom Fighters series:

"[Editor-in-Chief Bob] Harras said there are no plans for "Freedom Fighters" at present. "That would have to be a little further down the line," he said."

Which isn't a complete no so maybe there's still hope. And who knows - maybe we'll get one or two more minis before then. A new Firebrand? Red Bee? Heck, maybe even Plastic Man?

Fingers crossed.