Babs

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Batgirl's Future: What's in store?

By Babs 10 Comments



Michael Marte must have a helluva job. Beneath Didio, he's possibly one of the most influential people at DC Comics. His title? Editor of the "Batman Group," which makes him responsible for a lot of what we read in the Batman books... and I'm not just talking Batman himself...I'm talking everything Bat-related. So I guess if you want to love somebody, (or hate on 'em) he'd be your go to guy, right?

Stressful job. I checked out his blog this morning and I couldn't believe how utterly crazy his job must be...and upon reading it, I realized that the main focus of his day, (the only thing that was on his more than once,) was the future of Batgirl.
 I'm not exactly, um....inconspicuous about my personal affection for this character; so having read that she really doesn't (and won't) have a solid role in "Battle For The Cowl,"  I'm disappointed. I guess I could deal with it if I felt like they had actual PLANS for her character, but it's still (her future that is,) all up in the air.

I know a lot of people might not like her, but I love her. She's one character that truly encompasses perseverence and is a lot like Batman. She has his stubborn hard headed nature. She's suffered and come past it,...lived without having parents...and when she could have gone rogue permanently she didn't. Having put all her hardships behind her, she still came out on top.

Dear Mr. Marte: Please don't kill her off.

-B
10 Comments

SNIKT!: X-Men Origins :WOLVERINE #1 PREVIEW

By Babs 5 Comments

 
Wolvie fan? Listen up then, bub!
Marvel.com finally released something for us to dig our claws into! Too bad we have to wait until April 28th for the final release, just in time for the new movie.

The new series to be released is written by Christopher Yost, who is also the writer for the Iron Man animated series, and penciled by Mark Texeira. 

Here is a sneak peak at what's to come to quench your appetite.
 
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BATMAN DETECTIVE #854 JUNE RELEASE PREVIEW

By Babs 9 Comments

Okay, I'll be honest.
 
After Batman R.I.P., and now the Battle For The Cowl; I was more than a little bit skeptical about a female Bat-Woman (who we know very little about and have not seen much of her since DC's "52" arc), headlining one of DC's highest grossing books, Batman Detective Comics.
 
However, I think it's safe to say that my nervousness has somewhat subsided when I heard that Greg Rucka was writing for the character. (He's one of my favorite writers...)
 
Then I saw the preview pictures.
 
 I have to say, beautiful stuff. The book itself, illustrated by Penciler J.H. Williams, not only looks promising; but I am now seriously anticipating the June release of the book. The art is aesthetically pleasing, and creative. The style is unique to Williams and absolutely gorgeous. See for yourself:
 
 
   
 
 
 
What do you guys think? Do you like the artwork? Do you think that she could manage to keep the sales high enough? Are you planning on buying the issue?
9 Comments

NEW AVENGERS #51 PREVIEW

By Babs 46 Comments

After the release of Dark Avengers today, it is really only logical for Marvel to give their readers a sneak preview of what to expect with the New Avengers book that comes out next Wednesday. I know how excited some of you are! You can thank Brian Michael Bendis' twitter alerts for these, people. Enjoy!

March 18, 2009 -
New Avengers #51 32 full color pages
Written by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Billy Tan and Chris Bachalo
Release Date: March 25, 2009
Price: $2.99






SPOILERS!


























46 Comments

Intro: Dissecting Batman R.I.P

By Babs 56 Comments

Now that Battle For the Cowl has ensued,...

It seems that the question of whatever happened to Bruce Wayne has become seemingly absent from the minds of comic book readers. However, might I simply say that now, more than ever, is the perfect time to read Batman R.I.P.

Over the course of the past two days I have to say I am quite tired. I never really imagined that  a comicbook would have the capability of driving a person mad, but it did just that (well, almost). After reading Batman R.I.P., reading the finale to Final Crisis and going back and searching for clues over the course of the last two days; I can safely say my brain is fried, my hair matted, and my eyes have deep set circles beneath them. (I know, lovely image.) And although I may not have the answers to all the questions that arose throughout my reading of what might be the last story of Bruce Wayne for a long time; I can safely say I have come up with about five different scenerios, and I still feel compelled to say it is still one of the greatest Batman stories ever written.

How can a story that doesn't seem to make much sense, be considered one of the best Batman tales ever?


If it seemed like mumbo-jumbo to you, then you didn't read the story correctly. If you thought or expected the physical death of Batman throughout the comic, then you need to read it again.
Before you start reading, you need to ask yourself, how do you kill Batman? I mean really, get rid of Batman. The mantle, is not a title, nor a legacy. Batman was the solution a broken boy who possibly never dealt with his parent's death conjured up. I mean, isn't that the basic fact here? There will not be another Batman. I know, I know what you're thinking; Battle For The Cowl, right? Well, I don't think I see it that way, at all actually. Batman isn't a role someone else can just pick up: Batman is Bruce Wayne, Bruce Wayne is Batman: no matter what happens there will never be another. For example: The Flash did not choose to be the Flash, it chose him. Same with the Green Lantern's. But "Batman" was the psycological solution for Bruce Wayne. Bruce crafted the image and ideology of Batman on his own; there will never be another because it isn't about running around in a Bat-suit. It's much deeper than that.

A word of advice, from one comicbook reader to another...


Don't go into this story thinking there will be a clear ending; there won't be. In fact, you will go crazy trying to conjure up all the different possible scenerios and "what if's;" but that's half the fun. Morrison will drive you crazy chasing down leads that lead you to a dead end. Having a story that has no clear cut resolution. But not only is that half the fun of reading this story arc; it is what Batman is all about. He is the world's greatest detective, and by the time you are through with the story, you will have become the world's greatest comic book reader. There is a sheer brilliance in Morrisons work in that he goes to lengths to dig up aspects of Batman's history and give them new meaning; shed light on possibilites that you may never have imagined. It is brilliant, but it is for the reader that isn't afraid to get deep and muddy in the mind of Batman.

Morrison kills Batman in this way: He take's him down, and builds him back up- from the ground up. He reconstructs Batman before your eyes and you will watch as the caped crusader slowly declines into insanity and rises back up from the ashes.

Before you read, keep in mind...


  • Organization is key. Every issue is valuable. I did not read the branch off series connected to this story, and I don't recommend that you do either because they really aren't necessary. They are separate stories and are not needed to understanding "BATMAN R.I.P." (i.e: Nightwing R.I.P., Robin R.I.P., Batman Detective R.I.P., etc. All are fine stories in their own right, but are not necessary for the main storyline.
  • Get yourself a notebook and a pen. Write things down. It'll help, a LOT.
  • If you find yourself reading into images and clues and begin thinking you are going crazy; you aren't. You're on the right path (or one of them anyway). There is symbolism in the words Morrison chooses to tell the story, as well as the images in the pictures so brilliantly depicted by Tony Daniel. For example, the COLORS MEAN SOMETHING!  ;)
  • Keep in mind, that this is supposed to be the most diabolical end result to occur in 70 years! HOWEVER it is left completely up to your interpretation.
  • Start before R.I.P. Trust me.

Okay, well I guess that is it! I will be splitting up the theories probably in two videos and I will try and articulate some of the ideas I put in motion onto the screen, meaning you'll have your own Black Casebook written by yours truly to go along with the videos. If you guys aren't crazy about it, then I won't continue, as it IS a lot of work. There are tons of pieces to put together! But, the honest reason I am doing this is because it seemed (at least to me) that a lot of people (including myself,) were left so confused with this story. Maybe that's why it didn't obtain the discussion it should have! All in all, t was a good one and deserves a little spotlight.

I'll probably split it between issues
Batman #'s 664-675
Batman R.I.P. #'s 676-681 and touching briefly on Last Rites and his "death" in Final Crisis #6.

This is speculation. The whole purpose of this arc was to make you think and do some detective work. I'll try my best to work through some possible scenerios and hopefully do this great piece some justice. So hold on tight, we're gonna go for a crazy ride.

-B

56 Comments

SUPERMAN's First Appearance in ACTION COMICS Sells for $317,200!

By Babs 16 Comments


According to the Associated Press news release, the very first issue of Action Comics that featured Superman was sold for $317,200 in an internet auction today. The seller apparently had purchased the comic in the 1950's for 35 cents!
According to the buyer, the lagging American Economy contributed to the overall "great price."
There are apparently only about 100 issues of Action Comic #1's known to exist today, and they rarely (if ever) go up for sale.
While this is certainly a treasure as far as collector's are concerned; would you say it's worth the $317,200 bucks that was paid for it? Would you have paid that much for a #1 Superman?


16 Comments

DARK AVENGERS #3 PREVIEW

By Babs 32 Comments

In the final scene of Dark Avengers #2, we saw Sentry  blow up Morgan Le Fey. Yet, by virtually the very next page, Morgan returns from another dimension and blows up "Sentry!"
 
That scene was ridiculous; in a good way!
 
 
Dark Avengers #3 Variant Cover
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils by Mike Deodato
 
While Dark Avengers # 3 is officially released next Wednesday, March 18th, Marvel has decided to give us a preview of what to expect for the next issue. Here we have Norman admit to being "The Green Goblin," and discussing with Sentry just what it's like to be inside his own head. Read the pages and evaluate for yourself just how manipulative Norman is! Seems to me like he is trying to bind Sentry to his demons. If Norman succeeds in convincing Sentry that HE (Sentry) is the "void" that haunts him and undermines any good that the Sentry does, how will he ever be able to control Sentry?
 
According to these panels, did this scene take place before or after Morgan Le Fey blew up Sentry? Does he come back? Let me know what your speculations are!
 
I for one can't wait for the next issue!

-Babs




32 Comments

Major Story Arc's in Comics

By Babs 35 Comments

What's so great about a major story arc, anyways?

------------------------

When thinking back to that rather large auditorium inside of the Javits Center as I watched, transfixed on Dan Didio the editor of DC Comics pace up and down the isle interacting with fans, I can remember feeling almost important.
I have yet to have a conversation with comic book fans like the one I and the other 35 people in the crowd had with Didio. He makes you feel like you are valuable; like your opinion matters.
"The Death of Superman" story arc
Conversation with Dan Didio Panel: New York Comic Con 2009
He's good. What's worse is that he's so convincing; that whatever you thought initially going into the conversation; wasn't necessarily what you came out believing. Needless to say, I went into the conversation with a hundred questions, and I came out with about a thousand. Alright, slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean. The issue of major story arcs and why the two major comic book publisher's focus so much of their energy on creating them is one of the major issues  that remain prevalent in my memory of that conversation.

"What do you guys think, do you like big story arc's?"

Do I like big story arcs? Three weeks later and I am still struggling to conjure a response to that question.
Starting with defining a story arc seems like a good place. In a nutshell, to have a story arc, you take one specific event or conflict and have it transcend throughout several smaller stories.
Marvel's current ongoing story arc is Dark Reign, for example. The writer thinks up one story and molds it into all the different books of that Universe, highliting how that one major and very specific event managed to effect each character individually.

Seems confusing? It can be, and that's part of the problem; but we'll get to that.
So now that we know what it is, we can understand why they do it. So, why do they do it?
There is only one real answer to this question, and that is $$$. Comic book companies are constantly having to reinvent themselves in order to sell books. Individual small stories, according to Didio, just don't sell the way they used to. Readers need drama, big drama, and major events like 52 and Secret Invasion help propel drama and ultimately, they are the way that these companies make the most of their money. Readers are more likely to read a major story arc than they are to buy an individual book because with a story arc, there is almost always the promise of some major shocking even that will shake the foundation of the company.
Marvel's "Civil War"
Marvel's Civil War and the effects of the registration act killed off one of the most iconic comic book hero's in Marvel's history, Steve Rogers, the former Captain America and in effect simultaneously introduced his longtime sidekick Bucky to take up the mantle.  If you haven't read it, I recommend it.

The advantages and disadvantages of a major story arc

Lets start with the positive stuff. Probably the best thing about a major story arc is the fact that characters that may not necessarilly get a lot of ink, probably will. In DC's 52 for example, Batwoman, a character that had been around for over two decades was re-introduced. No longer in existence for the sole purpose of being Batman's primary love interest of yesteryear; she was revamped and her character's sexuality put into question. A bold move for DC. She is a good example of the advantages of having  a major story arc. DC has "x" number of books. Giving a character like Batwoman her own book would have been detrimental to sales. In the end, DC would have spent more on putting the book out there and they would have obtained very little revenue in return. Not worth the trouble. However, placing her in a major story arc will expose her to a wide audience. People that may not know anything about her character and read "52" were introduced to her. In addition, having her interact with other characters is a great way to develop her character. Major story arcs are the best way to develop relationships between characters within that universe because they are all right there and have ample opportunity to play off of one another.
The disadvantages of a major story arc essentially depend on the organization in general. Take Dark Reign for example. As Didio stated during his panel, (and I am in full concurrence with him,) Marvel could never have had "Dark Reign" without first having "Secret Invasion." There is sheer brilliance in writing that has been so cautiously planned out. When you have every single character in your universe getting involved, you need to be organized. I think it is clear that Marvel has achieved this, and as a result, created Dark Reign which is at the moment the best ongoing story in comic books right now (in my opinion). I think that this was the problem with Final Crisis and Batman R.I.P. How did Batman's death factor into Final Crisis? I still am confused about that.

Essentially, major story arcs are important to sales, and if they are well done, they can be a lot of fun. So I ask you guys what Didio asked me three weeks ago: What do you think of major story arcs?

-Babs
35 Comments

New York Comic Con 2009

By Babs 32 Comments

For those of you interested, the line-up has been announced! The following Heavy hitters will be attending so far: 

Jim Lee, Geoff Johns, Bruce Timm, George Perez, Michael Uslan, J. Michael Straczynski
The convention will be held at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City (It's on the west side, if you need subway directions I will be more than happy to oblidge). Tickets are already on sale! :D
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