Granite State Comic Con 2016

A couple of weekends ago, I attended the Granite State Comicon with two of the supergirls and had a really fun time.

As I have said before, Granite State is a great palate cleanser for me after Boston Comic Con. While Boston is a con for running around to get signatures and commissions, Granite is a more laid back venue. Sure there are usually great guests. But for me, this is the con where I actually feel I can wander around, looking at the books and toys and actually shopping.

This year, the guest list was pretty solid. One of the things about heading to all the local cons is that I have met a lot of creators already. So I was heading there to meet Jeff Parker (again), Babs Tarr (again), JK Woodward (again), and Larry Hama (for the first time).

And I really only had one commission I was aiming for. Jeff Parker, who I know best as a writer (I love Future Quest, his run on Flash Gordon, his run on JLUnited), has been starting to draw again. He started out in comics as an artist.

As usual I had done some pre-show legwork and found out that Parker was sketching. So I brought one of my sketch books.

After gushing over Future Quest (my tagline is "Come for the Herculoids, stay for the Galaxy Trio!") and Flash Gordon, I asked and obtained this commission. There is so much to love here.

First off, despite three sketchbooks running and nearly 75 sketches, this is the first time an artist turned the book and did a horizontal commission. Second, I love the background with pine trees and a lighthouse! It feels so New England, perfect for a hometown boy like me! Lastly, Supergirl is just perfect, streaking in flight, smiling, hair awash in the wind. Wonderful!

As a bonus, Parker threw in his rough sketch, the quick work he did to get the pose right!

I love this commission. And Parker is just a really nice guy. Folks should definitely pick up his stuff!

I brought a number of issues to get signed from the other attendees. I got some Fallen Angel signed by JK Woodward. I got Babs Tarr to sign the newly published Doom Patrol #1.

But the big score was getting some early G.I.Joe issues signed by Larry Hama. I got these issues as a kid and they show that love. Look closely and you'll see the crinkles and folds of books read and reread in my youth. Love getting these signed.

And I bought a handful of comics, all from the $1 or $2 box. Continuing my odd fascination with early Tigra stories, I found Marvel Chillers #4. I now own 3 of the 5 Chillers issues that featured Tigra. You know what that means fellow collectors. I have to find the other 2.

But the best thing about the day was going to the con with the two youngest Supergirls. We had a great time. They loved seeing all the cosplayers (Steven Universe was well represented). They each got some cool stuff. And we just hung out and talked comics and pop culture. Too much fun.

I love the Granite Con for all that it is. I will always support it!
So all that's left is the RI Comic Con for this con season.

Justice League United #11 - Supergirl Bolted

It has been three months since the last issue of Justice League United was released. In that issue, the Infinitus Saga came to an end, Supergirl had an intriguing moment with Brainiac 5, and the team came together saying they should stay unit and work together. Stargirl and Equinox and Supergirl squealed about how they would be great friends.

Then Convergence happened. Supergirl was canceled and basically placed in limbo. DCYou came about with an attempted reinvigoration of the universe. And Jeff Lemire, the then writer of JLU, left the book.

The 'new' JLU was then given a sneak peek in the back matter of Convergence. New writer Jeff Lemire would have a small core unit of Leaguers. But those Leaguers would bring in mission-specific agents to fight targeted threats. Basically, Parker would suddenly have the every character in the DCU to play with.

Still, there was part of me that wondered. Why no Supergirl? How would that be explained?

Justice League United #11 came out and we learned the new state of this League.

Adam Strange seems to be living as a disembodied spirit in the Zeta-field. He can detect 'Breakers', beings worming into this universe but threatening the space/time continuum.

The current team is Animal Man, Equinox, and Alana Strange.

As for all the other team members? They are gone. J'Onn and Ollie had to 'cut out' without any warning.

And Supergirl? She 'bolted'.

She bolted.

Okay DC. The show is coming out soon. How about we get our act together and give us some news about Kara? How about something more substantial than she 'bolted'.

All that said, I liked the issue and the concept a lot. Fighting some odd evil plants/anti-Green beings, the League recruits Mera, Swamp Thing, Etrigan, and Poison Ivy. It is a trippy read. And the recruitment scenes are a lot of fun.

I am growing fonder of Travis Foreman's art. It is quirky and warped and stylish. But I can't take my eyes off it and I think that is the whole point. His Mera is stunning.

So, even without Supergirl, I guess I am going to get this title. It is sort of like a massive DC Comics Presents!

The New Justice League United

DC has quasi-rebooted the DCnU after Convergence, bringing in new books, new perspectives, and apparently opening up all Earths and continuities to creators. And I have to give them some proper respect, DC gave free 8 page previews for many of the new books and new directions, sticking them at the back of the Convergence mini-series but making them available for free on line.

One I wanted to look at closely was Justice League United. For those who haven't looked, here is a link to the preview: http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/dc-sneak-peek-justice-league-united-dc-comics-2015

Now I was interested because I liked Jeff Lemire's run on the book. And Jeff Parker, another writer whose work I love, was taking over so I wanted to see what Parker had in mind. But more importantly, or most importantly, I wanted to see if Supergirl was going to be part of the book. She was a big part of the initial stories. She seems to have been swept aside post-Convergence.

What was going to happen?

Well Parker does a great job showing what he has in mind for the book. The core team of Animal Man, Equinox, Adam and Alana, and Stargirl is intact. They are tasked with taking care of continuity anomalies which have sprung from Convergence. And, knowing the individual nature of each adventure, they'll put together a unique team suited for the threat. Everyone is a possible JL member if their powers match up. It is like the biggest team-up book ever.

And Parker does a great job of showing us how crazy this could be, giving us glimpses of unfortunately forgotten heroes like Firestorm and the Doom Patrol, as well as Swamp Thing, Deadman, and other interesting choices.

Perhaps the best scope shot is the ending splash. I mean, I want to read some Hawk and Dove. And the Marvel Family. And Blue Devil. Etc.

But still, look in that massive Who's Who sort of page. Who isn't there? Supergirl.

And that's a shame because Kara was a great part of JLU.

She was often a big part of the cover treatment, especially the variant covers!

And she grew over even the short time on the book.

She was far from the 'bull-headed, stubborn', dark hero Lemire initially described her as. She might be all business. But she knew enough to save Hawkman rather than chase Lobo. And she also became the muscle of the group, a powerful ally to the team, smiling as she jumped into action with her teammates.

And it isn't as if she didn't have her own little subplots going on.

Lemire set up a backstory with Brainiac 5 in the New 52 Universe. Will we ever see that play out?

And we see that she has become friends with Stargirl and Equinox.

But for some reason, DC has decided to pull the plug completely on this version of Supergirl, just as she was getting interesting and heroic. This seems to be a sort of recurring theme with DC, getting Supergirl to where she needs to be character-wise and then rebooting again.

Will Parker explain her absence? Have Equinox and Stargirl mention their missing friend? Or is Supergirl untouchable?

I will read the Parker book because it sounds like the sort of book I am looking for in the DCU.

But I'll miss Supergirl being there.

Even More More Convergence

DC just announced week 4 of the Convergence event meaning we know everything coming out that month. We know the titles. And, as usual, some of the titles announced are intriguing to a veteran reader like me. This week is all pre-Crisis universes. The titles were announced over the web but Newsarama has all the solicits here: http://www.newsarama.com/22861-dc-s-convergence-week-four-pre-crisis-multiverse-is-back-baby.html

For the first time, there is no book starring Supergirl. But as I said, there are a couple that look like fun.

ACTION COMICS
Writer: Justin Gray
Artists: Claude St-Aubin and Sean Parsons
Colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
Superman teams up with Power Girl, but can they stop a nuclear strike from Lex Luthor and Stalin of Red Son Moscow?

Nothing like some old-fashioned Earth-2 fun between Kal-L and Kara Zor-L. I especially like the original scoop neck shirt on Power Girl. And seeing the Daily Star building always brings a smile.

I like Justin Gray's work and Claude St. Aubin was strong on R.E.B.E.L.S. so this one sounds good all around.

SHAZAM
Writer: Jeff Parker
Artist: Evan “Doc” Shaner
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
It’s Shazam versus Steampunk, as the world of Gotham By Gaslight takes on the Captain Marvel family and friends.

This book, featuring the Marvel Family, is the Convergence book I am most excited about. Parker, Shaner, and Bellaire are killing it on Flash Gordon right now so I can't wait to see their take on these characters. And seeing an old-school Marvel Family is great. I am a big fan of Captain Marvel Jr!

DETECTIVE COMICS
Writer: Len Wein
Artists: Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz
Colorist: Felix Serrano
Helena Wayne and Dick Grayson fight side by side in memory of Bruce Wayne as they decide who will become the next Batman. 

Lastly, while I am not a huge Bat-family reader, I am a Huntress fan. So seeing this Helena Wayne is fantastic. And Len Wein is writing! Perfect. But as a fan of the O'Neil Question book, I think the Cowan/Sienkiewicz art team is going to shine!

Review: Adventures of Superman #1

Adventures of Superman #1 came out last week, at least in print form, and simply floored me with how fantastic it was. A digital first book, then put into print form, Adventures allows great talent to write a Superman story unlinked to the current continuity and this book brings together three great creative teams. I know this is a late review for all those who got this digitally. But this book needs to be reviewed and revered.

This book also showcases a much more classic Superman, looking to help, trying to figure things out before punching, and wearing red trunks on the outside! I find it interesting that none of these first three stories has Superman in his New 52 costume. I also found it interesting that this felt like my Superman, read like the Superman stories I want to read. It has been a while since I felt like that. It was stories like this that made me a Superman fan to begin with.

I was simply blown away by this book, completely entertained and thrilled that Superman still exists out there in stories like this.

'Violent Minds' is the first story, written by Jeff Parker and drawn by Chris Samnee, both creators currently working for Marvel.  In it, an addled young man named Leon is ripping apart a Metropolis city block. It is clear that he is under the influence of some sort of drug which has either unmasked or given him telekinetic powers. Angry, paranoid, and powerful, he is confronted by Superman.

How great is that first panel? After rescuing people and minimizing the destruction, he approaches Leon hands up, recognizing his pain, and offering to get him to medical assistance. Superman is here to help. He doesn't throw the first punch. He tries to talk Leon down.

After further damage, including a fireball from a burst gas line, Leon's mind simply burns out and he dies, leaving Superman with a lot of questions and a lot of rubble to sift through.

And then we get a great denouement. It was a Luthor designed drug which unleashed Leon, a repeat experiment as Lex tries to figure out a way to destroy Superman through others. For me the most chilling panel is the second one. Look at the small smile on Luthor's face as he talks about the information gained and the scientific method. There is no feeling at all for the death of Leon or the damage to the city. That is one evil man.

Just a great story filled with action and ethics! And Samnee draws a spectacular Superman!

The next story is named 'Fortress' and is written and drawn by Jeff Lemire.

In the story, two young boys pretend play to be Superman and just about every Superman villain you can think of. From a 'classic' silver robot Brainiac to Bizarro to Luthor, General Zod, Mt Mxyzptlk, and then back to Bizarro, the two imagine Superman saving the day.

Lemire does a great job shifting back and forth between the kids and the Superman play. I like how the imagination panels have the straight edges while 'reality' is crooked. I had to laugh a bit at the over-the-top dramatics and frank assessments of the villains by the boys.

The story ends on a sentimental note. The boys walk home and discuss how Superman never loses.

And then we see Superman, sitting on a water tower. He was listening to the boys' play seems pretty content about their play.

I thought that the boys' play showed that it is pretty easy to 'get' Superman. Even these kids understand him. This was a sweet and satisfying story.

The last story 'Bizarro's Worst Day' was written by current Superboy scribe Justin Jordan and drawn by Riley Rossmo. Of course, we know that Bizarro's worst day means it is his best day. And, as I did in Superboy #20, I love the lilt of humor that Jordan puts into the story.

Jordan portrays Bizarro as a confused being, not malevolent, but endangering people with his distorted viewpoints. And when Superman tries to talk sense into Bizarro, the two end up fighting.

Of course Superman can't talk sense into Bizarro! He needs to talk nonsense into Bizarro! Even I had a hard time comprehending what Superman is saying here. Superman will help/hurt Bizarro to help/hurt people. And Bizarro would love/hate that. Accckkk!

And again, in a sort of classic way, Superman turns a problem into a solution. He somehow convinces Bizarro to fly around a planet for NASA, photographing and cataloging the planet's surface. And, as a bonus, it will keep Bizarro away form Earth for years.

I loved the backwards dialogue and chuckled that even a super-brain like Superman's seemed to struggle with what to say. And, again, it showed some ingenuity on Superman's part to try to minimize the violence and help people.

Rossmo's art was great hear, showing a sort of broad jawed Superman which felt classic in a early Silver Age sort of way.

Three great Superman stories for just under four bucks. My sort of Superman. Unbelievable!

So if you struggle with the characterization of the current New 52 Superman ... if you are looking for a straightforward interpretation of Superman ... if you want to see Superman handled by great and unexpected talent, this is the book for you.

I can't tell you how happy this book made me.

Overall grade: A+