See the full preview here.  courtesy of cosmicbooknews.com
 
  So, I picked up the first issue of Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard last Wednesday and was sorely disappointed to find that the Realm of Kings one shot was pushed back yet another week. (so far, it's gone from 11/4 to 11/11.. to now 11/18) RoK: IG was basically the consolation prize... well that and the pretty indigo, orange, and yellow power rings.  (Preciousssss)
    
I've been waiting for the RoK one shot for months now. Wendell Vaughn came back from the dead in Nova #17 in energy form with basically no explanation and while I was happy he was doing SOMETHING, he wasn't really getting his chance to shine. Only when we saw Richard Rider with the Quantum Bands did any new readers have any sort of reminder what Quasar was nominally capable of. 

 

On the plus side, he has a chance to shine here... I hope. 

The plot behind RoK is that Quasar has been asked to investigate the Fault (a large rip in the fabric of space/time opened as a result of the War of Kings) on behalf on Project: Pegasus. Quasar’s power, experience, and his energy form make him an ideal choice to scout into the Fault ahead of the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Nova Corps. 
 
In the previews we see Quasar has some self-doubt apparently because he's died and come back in energy form and he's not sure if he's ready to take up his old job of Protector of the Universe. I really think there is a story to be told concerning Quasar's energy form, how he got it and why. I guess DnA feel differently based on the full preview... but maybe it'll be dealt with in another story.
 
So, I'm really looking forward to this. I mean, I've been waiting long enough for it. 
 

 

 

 

 

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is ticked off.

He’s tired of signing bills that don’t address the pet causes he deems important. So when another unworthy bill crossed his desk recently for signing — addressing funding issues for the Port of San Francisco — the guv vetoed it and sent lawmakers a little note saying why. Only the note said a little more than lawmakers were expecting.

Buried in the text was a hidden message directed at State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, author of the bill, according to the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

Ammiano had strongly criticized the governor in early October and reportedly told Schwarzenegger at the time to “kiss my gay ass.” Schwarzenegger’s veto letter, issued a couple of days later, reads:

Missed the hidden code? The Bay Guardian has helpfully picked it out:    

from: wired.com

So, I became aware of this limited series about 4 months ago when while loitering at my LCS I saw the eye catching painted art of Mauro Cascoili  on the cover.  Then, I noticed the name 'James Robinson' and I distinctly recalled my friend singing his praises one night, so I checked out the first issue.  
 
Check out G-Man's preview here: http://www.comicvine.com/news/justice-league-cry-for-justice-1oh-boy/138552/

The opening scene is just chilling. It depicts a Hal Jordan who is fed up with watching friends and compatriots die during the various crisies. With the most recent deaths of J'onn J'onzz and Batman, Hal has hit his limit. He basically tells Superman and the rest of the League that he's done standing idly by and waiting as villains plot their next strike and perhaps kill again and at one point sounds not unlike I imagine Sinestro might have sounded back in the days before he crossed the line back on Korugar. Oliver Queen backs Hal and they leave as Hal questions if the Justice League places the importance on the word "League" or the word "Justice".  
 
This series has kept me coming back to pick up the following issue for a number of reasons, but one of the big ones is the villain in the story. Prometheus. 
  
This is a character that in his very first appearance challenged the most powerful roster of the JLA to date by himself, and he took out half the team before they realized they were under attack. Prometheus has no powers, he's just got a pretty brillant and inventive criminal mind, high-tech gadgets, and is a master of about a dozen or so martial arts. Sound like anyone you know? Shortly afterwards, he teamed up with Lex to form a new streamlined Injustice League and blew up the Justice League Watchtower during the Magdegon crisis. Batman managed to outmaneuver Prometheus and captured him. 
  
After this, (and this is an opinion I happen to share with James Robinson) Prometheus fell on hard times. He showed up as a henchman to Hush and started using pistols for no reason. Later on, he lost one-on-one to Robin III... with each appearance he seemed less and less competent. Sure, during this period, he knocked out Lady Shiva in about 3 panels of combat, but he had effectively gone from being a credible threat to the entire JLA to being arch-nemesis to the Huntress. (The Huntress? Really??) I am eternally  indebted to Robinson for making an effort to not only awknowledge the damage, but to try to repair the damage to this great Grant Morrison creation.
 
Also in this series is the continuation of the story of Freddy Freeman. Captain Marvel has also always been a favorite of mine, but I didn't care much for Freddy until he took over the mantle from Billy. Now, I'm glad to see him on the frontlines here, searching for justice. 
 
Which brings us to the title... "Cry for Justice" is taken from the various characters who feel personally touched by all the recent deaths in the DCU. Hal for example, despite not liking Bruce Wayne, feels he should do something about it, demand justice. Which is odd, because in Promethus' first appearance he makes a point of saying it is his wish to 'destroy justice'. So, we'll see how this ends up with Hal's thrown together team of Ollie, Ray Palmer, Freddy, and Kara Zor-El going up against Prometheus' plans. 
 
If you're not reading this mini-series, you're missing out.