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!