Cape Diem

Last week's Green Team #3 featured two of the team, Commodore Murphy and Mohammed Qahtanii, trying to convince Deathstroke to find the bad guy who's been dogging them for months. They've arrived at Deathstroke's location in a secondhand/recovered Batmobile wherein Mo found one of Robin's old yellow capes which Commodore dares him to wear:

Turn to the next page, however, and Mo's yellow cape has suddenly disappeared:

He's wearing it throughout the rest of the issue so what's happened? Has some sort of stealth mode been activated? Does Robin have a chameleon cape? Or did poor old Wil Quintana goof and forget to colour it in?

Never fear, here at Crisis on Earth-Prime we delight in finding and correcting these errors for you. Simply print the following page out and insert into your copy of Green Team #3:

You're welcome.

Monday Memories #30 - Hitman #32

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? #236

Some people just can't get the hint

Monday Memories #29 - Justice League Annual #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? #235

Not something you get to say everyday

Superman/Batman Film Announcement: I Am Underwhelmed

I try, I really do, to remain upbeat about the comics I read, the characters I like. There are so many blogs out there that rip into the comics that I wonder why the bloggers bother to read them; if you don't like them, move on and find something you do.

When new films are announced, I try to remain objective if something about it doesn't sound right - I'd rather judge it when it's out and I've seen it, instead of bitching about it before a single frame has been shot.

With the announcement that the Man of Steel sequel will feature Batman, I find myself in an odd situation - I can't criticise the film because it doesn't exist yet. What I can criticise, however, is the why in which it's being teased.

From the linked news item above:

[Zack] Snyder took the stage at the Warner Bros. panel to announce something and brought up actor Harry Lennix to read a special message. 

"I want you to remember, Clark," Lennix said, "in all the years to come. In all your private moments. I want you to remember my hand at your throat. I want you to remember, the one man who beat you."

Those lines come from The Dark Knight Returns, specifically this page:

So right off the bat, right off the line, the Superman/Batman movie is being pushed as Batman defeating Superman. There's not a sense of two heroes overcoming their differences to defeat a terrible enemy, this is Batman beating Superman and gloating about it.

Later in the article above:

Zack Snyder, who made a surprise appearance at Comic-Con today, breaking the news to audiences there, later said, "I'm so excited to begin working again with Henry Cavill in the world we created, and I can't wait to expand the DC Universe in this next chapter. Let's face it, it's beyond mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest Super Heroes in the world."

Again, the emphasis is not about them fighting a common enemy, it's about them "facing off" and with the confirmation that it takes place in the same world as Man of Steel, it seems that confrontation is going to be the point of the film.

Obviously, the film's years away and there's no way we can judge what's going to be in it yet, except based on what has been said this weekend. I just think it's sad that on the one hand Zack Snyder refers to them as "the greatest Super Heroes in the world" while on the other having them fight one another rather than do something heroic.

I've said it before (here and here) but right now I prefer heroes who do this rather than fight each other:

Ghost Ongoing Series

Although it was announced a while back, it's now confirmed that Ghost will be returning in November as an ongoing, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Christopher Sebela with art by Ryan Sook. This will be one I'll be picking up, though I'm a little disappointed that the linked article contains the line "DeConnick is back to write the initial arc of the new series"

That kind of implies she'll be leaving after four to six issues which is a shame. Still, I'm more than willing to give this a go.

Forever Evil Teasers

Despite yesterday's post claiming I was unwell, I seem to have recovered faster than expected - again, I blame the heat.

Anyway, on to news (of a sort) about DC's upcoming Forever Evil series/event and a series of teaser posters that they've released:

A female Green Lantern . . . of Earth? That would be a nice change and might not be that far-fetched: Hal's currently in charge of the Corps; Kyle's off being a White Lantern; Guy's off being a Red Lantern; leaving John as the only GL of Sector 2814. Does he get a new partner?

The Teen Titans are due to get their behinds kicked in Forever Evil so it's no surprise seeing their shattered logo. However, is that Superman and Catwoman walking over it? Or is that the shadow of a cape at the top of the lady's thighs... is that Ultraman and Superwoman of the Crime Syndicate?! That would be nice.

Nightwing, who barely escaped death in Infinite Crisis, doesn't look to be having much fun here as his logo appears dripping with blood.

Any thoughts?

A Bit Quiet Round Here

I'm not quite at the vomiting burning blood stage yet but I am feeling more than a little under the weather. I blame the ridiculous heat around here at the moment.

Back soon.

Monday Memories #28 - Starman #68

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? #234

Captain K'Rot regrets his career choice

One For The Christmas List

I may be a 40+ year old die hard DC man... but damn it, these Lego games are just too much fun to ignore.

DC's October Solicitations

Is it me or is artist Juan Doe just doing superb work with these covers for the Steppenwolf War storyline? Limited palette, a poster feel, block lettering . . . I'm really liking them.

Monday Memories #27 - Flash: Terminal Velocity

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? #233

That's right, Flash - piss off the 40 foot giant...

Happy Fourth Of July!

Happy 4th to all my American readers!

DC's Cinematic Universe vs Marvel's

I've mentioned a couple of times - most recently in my review of the Man of Steel film which, by the way, might be the single longest post I've done round here - of the different tone that the Marvel Universe films project compared with the last few DC films. They're entertaining, optimistic and, despite inevitable scenes of jeopardy and even betrayal, they're overwhelmingly fun.

DC, meanwhile, seem to be stuck, particularly with Man of Steel, in the grim and gritty world where even their top hero's suit is dulled down and lacklustre.

While I've tried to get that idea across, Jim McLauchlin over at CBR makes the point in a much more lucid and cogent way:

"Man of Steel" gives us a world in which a father is willing to commit tornado-aided suicide because he fears the worst in humanity. It presents to us a world in which Superman sinks into a sea of skulls. It shows us that, driven by fear, the very essence and personification of bucolic innocence, Smallville, Kansas, can be blasted to holy hell by the U.S. Air Force. 

Conversely, over on the Marvel side of the street, even in a movie that took place in the midst of the horrors of World War II -- "Captain America: The First Avenger" -- Steve Rogers can emerge into a shining and sparkling Times Square. The good guys in "The Avengers" go out for shawarma after saving the world. At the end of "Man of Steel," even after proving his mettle and making indescribable sacrifices, Superman remains an outcast, mistrusted by humanity.

I recommend clicking the link and reading the rest of the article and while you do, perhaps remember that there was a time when the two universes' situations, at least in the comics, were reversed. Even if a Justice League movie were to be made and crossed over with The Avengers, do you think anything like this conversation would happen?

I remember the days when the DCU was a bright and shining example of all the good that could come of superheroes.

I just wish the people making DC films would, too.

Perusing Previews - July 2013

As typically American as superhero comics are, I think Archie comics are even more so; they're as quintessentially American as the stars and stripes and mom's apple pie. Which is why it was a little surprising to see they're doing a zombie apocalypse story! Not something I ever expected to see.

Monday Memories #26 - Green Lantern: Mosaic #3

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!