Review: Convergence #8

Convergence as an event initially sounded like a two month layover, a way to allow DC to continue to publish comics while the company moved coasts, leaving New York and heading to California.

Somewhere along the way, it became something more. It became another universe redefining event, a way for DC to reset things, a mere 3 years removed from the New 52 upheaval. I have certainly had my issues with the company's approach to their characters in the New 52 DCU but soft rebooting that hard reboot has something of a whiff of desperation.

But I can't have it both ways as a fan, can I? I can't sit back and complain about the New 52 and then complain when DC tries to reshape things away from that harsh new continuity.

And so we get Convergence #8, a book which gives DC readers back a multiverse (which I thought we might already have), folding in some of the Multiversity Earths as being legitimately in canon. But I don't necessarily know if I feel like anything is necessarily different. And I don't know if I 100% understand what happened here. And I wonder of Scott Lobdell had the audacity to rewrite the ending of Crisis on Infinite Earths, the granddaddy of all crossover events and really the gold standard of these sort of books. I know Crisis. I am friends with Crisis. And Convergence, you are no Crisis.

Writers Jeff King and Scott Lobdell do their best to explain things here. Things in the DCU are very different at the end. But I also feel like the first 7 issues were just biding time. Many of the plots and subplots of this series aren't crucial to this ending.

Art is done by a whole stable of artists (Stephen Segovia, Carlo Pagulayan, Eddie Pansica, Ethan Van Sciver, Jason Paz, Scott Hanna, and Trevor Scott). I guess it is too much to ask that a universe-redefining issue gets done by one artist?

Last issue, we had a great moment where Parallax incinerates Deimos, an evil sorceror from the Warlord series who was hoping to rule the universe.

Unfortunately, all the time-traveling chronal energy Deimos had absorbed is now being taken into the Convergence planet, making it unstable.

And since the Convergence planet exists outside the space/time continuum of the multiverse, this planetary destruction will destroy everything.

Now I suppose that since there are cities from all continuities on this planet, it has a sort of finger into all those realities. So maybe this makes sense?

Telos, who name drops both Zero Hour and Countdown, knows that the temporal energy needs to be absorbed by something other than the planet itself.

Initially there is hope that Booster Gold and Waverider could take it in. But it is too much for them to do alone. In fact, the only one who can take it all in is Brainiac.

Brainiac, the villain who started all this, who has imprisoned these people, has suddenly become a needed ally.

We finally learn a bit about this version of Brainiac.

When he survived the Flashpoint event, he went beyond the Source, existing outside reality, and witnessing everything. He saw the Crisis and multiple versions of himself, us reading comics, Infinity Crisis, Countdown, and even the birth of the New 52.

In a moment of clarity, he asks for help, hoping to return to his original form and not this 'cancerous' monster warped by all the continuity-changing events he has witnessed.

So Brainiac living outside time and witnessing all these events is an interesting concept. He is, in essence, the stand-in for long time readers who also have lived through all these reboots and has come out angry and deformed. Maybe Brainiac begging to return to somewhere else, somewhen else is Lobdell and King acknowledging the fans?

Remember all the maneuvering of the New 52 heroes outside the Convergence planet the last 2 weeks? Well that also seems completely superfluous. Because once the planet manifests itself in the Earth 0 universe and nears destruction, those characters all turn tail and run, returning home to 'say goodbye'. Only Superman and Supergirl stay behind to watch.

You would think that Superman and Supergirl being there together, holding hands and hoping, would be a good moment. But for me, this was a horrible moment.

First off, how terrible is it that with the universe, heck all reality, about to be snuffed out, the heroes of the New 52 left. Did they really exhaust all their options? Did they try to save everyone? Nope. They left to say goodbye to their loved ones. I would think the heroes would be trying anything to save everyone.

Brainiac absorbs the temporal energy and promises to return the occupants of the cities to whatever universe they desire.

His plan goes awry when the 'First Crisis' is too strong to send everyone back. If that crisis, Crisis on Infinite Earths, is not 'changed' the DCU will become a universe again, rather than a multiverse as where all can exist.

Brainiac sends Supergirl and the Flash back to that Crisis to meet their fates. But then, oddly, Parallax and the Pre-Flashpoint Superman (with Lois and his newborn son in tow) also head there to try to help.

Of course, this Flash and Supergirl are heroes willing to sacrifice themselves to save everyone. But their mission isn't to save the universe. Their mission is to prevent the collapse of the multiverse.

I don't know how to read this. Are they trying to change the ending of Crisis on Infinite Earths? Stop the creation of a Universe? Altering that story?

Or is it that they simply  need to relive the ending of the Crisis, create a universe, so that all the subsequent event comics can unfold as they did?

I am sooooo confused.

Because if the Crisis ended differently, did Supergirl live? Is Superman/Lois/Baby Jon out there somewhere? Inside Alex Luthor in Paradise (we know how that goes)?

And who would dare to try to change that book? 

And then we get to see that they were 'successful'. There is now a multiverse.

We see multiple Earths again.

But you see how behind each Earth is a 'shadow' of characters. The pre-Crisis/pre-Flashpoint trinity are behind the New 52 characters. We see worlds from the Multiverse sourcebook.

And we hear that each world has evolved.

We don't get an old school Earth 2, we get the New 52 Earth 2. We don't get the pre-Crisis heroes, we get the 'evolved' New 52.

So do we have all the continuities in play? Or not?

Meanwhile, the Convergence planet survives, is reinvigorated by Alan Scott, and becomes the new Earth 2.

Why is Dick Grayson so important? Unknown.
What is Telos' real name and why was that crucial? Unknown.

Is there really anything that different about this DCU now than there was before this? Didn't Multiversity give us these worlds anyways?

And is what about Crisis on Infinite Earths? Undone? Changed? Redone? If it is changed, I have a doozy of a Supergirl prediction.

As for Convergence, it is no Crisis. It is just another event on the pile.

Overall grade: C+

Review: Convergence #0

Convergence #0 came out this last week, the opening chapter of DC's spring 2 month block showcasing aspects of DC's prior histories and timelines.

Now there are a number of Convergence mini-series I will be collecting, revisiting times and characters who I miss. But I wasn't thinking of getting the main series. But I thought, at the very least,  I'd grab this zero issue hoping to get enough exposition to understand just what the heck is going on. After all, how did this planet with these domed cities come to be?

Writer Dan Jurgens and artist Ethan Van Sciver bring a very interesting and engaging opening chapter. There was enough here to make me think that I'll be picking up Convergence #1. Not only are there cities representing the multiple versions of the DCU but the 'villain' also shows up in all his forms. Really wonderful for an old-timer like me. Van Sciver has always been a favorite so I enjoyed this issue tremendously.

Readers might remember that at the end of Doomed #2, Superman and Brainiac end up being tossed into a black hole. And Brainiac, within that crushing space phenomenon, sees glimpses of prior timelines and versions of characters. Convergence #0 takes place after that issue.

On to the story ...

Superman awakens in this place 'between time and space' to be confronted by this massive Brainiac-like monster. And Superman is rightly confused. This creature says that he wants to test Superman, to kill him or be killed by him.

What's even weirder is that this things says that Superman killed Vril Dox, that Brainiac. I can't help but think he means it metaphorically. That Vril Dox is 'dead' because this creature, some amalgam of stuff, exists in his place.

But even weirder is that this creature talks about testing Superman for what seems like a prolonged period of time. And we see an image of other Supermans, all from other timelines, all dying ... whether it is by Doomsday, or Luthor in a famous imaginary tale, or Kal-L in Infinite Crisis.

And then this thing attaches Superman to some weird Kirby-esque torture device, trying to test Superman or kill him.

When Superman tries to escape with heat vision, this Brainiac says that Superman has tried that maneuver thirty-two times. Thirty-two times! This has been going on for a bit. Fascinating ...

And then we pull back to see the size of this thing, towering over Superman. And this thing is weird looking, almost like something thrown together with whatever bits could be found.

Informed that this Superman comes from a different Earth (the New 52 one), this Brainiac heads off. We subtly get a clue that Superman has been there for some time just from the stubble.

Weird ...

And then we get some meaty and beautiful exposition.

Finally Superman breaks free from the torture device and lands on a nearby planet where he meets ... Brainiac.

Well, it seems he meets all the Brainiacs and not Brainiac.

This creature seems to be a steward of sort, caring for this planet filled with cities from any number of universes. For example, there are multiple versions of Metropolis.

But for me, the joy was seeing all these Brainiacs ... from the guy in short shorts, the robotic version from the mid-80s, to Pulsar Stargrave (never really revealed as a Brainiac ...but I think hinted at).

But it is all Brainiacs. Here we have the Animated series Brainiac.

We learn more about what is going on. That huge Brainiac beast went to the New 52 Earth to capture a 'city' but he never returned. These care takers are a bit lost without their boss. What happened to that Brainiac?

And it makes me wonder ... what happened to that Brainiac? We have seen subsequent storylines after Doomed. There has been no mention of Brainiac attacking Earth. So what happened??

So there is a decent hook here. I want to learn more. And that is successful story-writing.

And then more exposition. This planet is somewhat malleable. The giant Brainiac came to this place and basically remade it for his purposes. It went from an Eden to something of a repository for these captured cities. And these 'butlers' are also wrenched from this material, created to watch over them, and to judge them.

Judge them?? This is getting interesting.

What seemed to be some lab for the huge Brainiac creature to learn about Superman has become something more like an arena.

And then we get my favorite panel of this book. Without the guidance of Brainiac, this caretaker doesn't understand his purpose. Who is he?

Look at all the Brainiacs there have been.

Love it.

Taking a peek around this place, Superman sees that this planet is dotted with all these cities from other timelines and universes.

Superman is angered by this as it now seems more like a prison. The people in these cities are alive ... trapped.

But it is clear that Superman has no home here. There is no city from his world. And then, reminded that Brainiac was heading to his Earth, Superman takes off/is sent away.

And then we get the actual beginning of the Convergence event. The 'Brainiac' butler reforms himself into a new image, his own image. And he decides to make his own purpose. Instead of just watching these cities, he will pit one against the other, seeing which is worthy of being returned to proper time and space.

When the story ends, we have several pages devoted to defining which cities and histories exist on this world. In that way it is akin to Multiversity. But it also strikes me as simply a fun sort of side event.

I didn't expect to like this issue quite this much. And yet, I turned the pages with some sense of glee. There was a little feeling of nostalgia here. Like any good opening issue to a big miniseries, there were hooks here to keep me interested, wanting more. For a long time reader, there is the promise of seeing older characters again. And it is visually beautiful. I felt like a young reader again ... and that is always a good sign.

Overall grade: B+

Granite State Comic-Con

Next week at this time, I will be heading up the highway to Manchester New Hampshire for the Granite State Comicon, one of my favorite local conventions, and one (like the Boston Comic-Con) that seems to be growing each year. Here is the link: http://www.granitecon.com/

This used to be the con I would head to so I could buy tons of comics. The mission was always to thumb through dealers boxes and buy and buy and buy.

But each year more and more artists are coming and this turns into another convention where I am trying to line up commissions! And there are a couple of great ones coming ... so we'll see if I get lucky.

Aaron Kuder is going to be there. Kuder will be taking over Action Comics as artist soon, joining writer Greg Pak. But I have liked his art style on Legion Lost, Lobdell's Superman and Green Lantern New Guardians.

After seeing his rendition of Wonder Woman, Dawnstar, and Yera, I think his Supergirl would be great.

A Kuder commission is my number one goal for this con.

Jeremy Haun will also be attending. Haun is best known for his work on The Darkness but he also was recently named as the artist on Batwoman once JH Williams time is done.

So Haun is also someone I will be hoping to grab a commission from as well.

And Art Baltazar, of Tiny Titans and Superman Family Adventures will also be there. I loved both of those books, especially the love that they showed Supergirl. I met Franco Aureliani at the Boston show a couple of years ago.

I would love to get a Baltazar commission. The dream would be a page that had both the Tiny Titans and the Superman Family Adventures version on the same page.

So those are my top three commission hopes.

But in case some of those don't happen, there are plenty of other creators who grab my attention.

JK Woodward, who was the artist on most of the IDW Fallen Angel series, and did the series in paint (!) will be there.

I consider Lee as some sort of Elseworlds Supergirl so I will at least have some issues for him to sign.

Renae DeLiz will also be there. DeLiz is the guiding creative force behind the Womanthology projects and is currently doing a Kickstarter Peter Pan book. A while back she posted pictures of an Amethyst reboot she wanted to do. Now that is a book I would buy!

I don't know if DeLiz does convention commissions but it can't hurt to ask.

And Ethan Van Sciver will also be there. I already have a couple of Van Sciver commissions, so I doubt I will get another, but he would be a premier artist for someone else to pick up!

The list goes on - Rebekah Isaacs, Joe Eisma, Mark Texeira, Dan Parent ... etc. And I haven't even mentioned the My Little Pony group - Katie Cook, Andy Price, and Amy Mebberson.

Anyways, this will be a busy con for me and that is a good thing.

Anyone else going?

Review: Justice League Of America #50

Justice League of America #50 came out last week, a double-sized issue by current creative team James Robinson and Mark Bagley and sporting a nice wraparound Ethan Van Sciver cover. I have been more and more impressed with Robinson and Bagley's efforts on this book. It feels like they are on the precipice of some very good stories despite this quirky 'sort of the big & but not really' team composition.

With the 'Dark Things' crossover finished and the roster stabilized, the time was right for Robinson to spin a huge JLA story for this team, something to solidify their stature as a team, something to make this feel like this is a book for these characters ... not simply them holding the spot warm for when the original members return. And what could a better way, a bigger way to show that this IS the Justice League than to put them into a classic 'Crisis on Earth ___' style story, a proven and somewhat nostalgic theme for the JLA.

And if this League is trying to prove themselves worthy of the name then defeating the Crime Syndicate of America is a nice bench mark. This issue read like a modern Gardner Fox story and that is high praise.

Even if they are calling themselves the JLA, the heroes are still becoming a team. They may be comrades, but they aren't family yet. They need to still learn about each other, become comfortable with each other, to truly become a team. So the opening scene of Jesse Quick and Supergirl racing around the satellite was a nice way of showing that growing familiarity.

That lighthearted sprint takes a more serious turn as the two realize that they are more alike than they might know. Both might be legacy heroes, but they also are both dealing with loss, and had to face off against Black Lantern abominations of their fathers. I like how Jesse talks about it without realizing that Kara had to deal with the exact same thing.

This whole scene felt very natural, as if it is obvious that these two would be fast friends (no pun intended).

In fact, everyone in the League is dealing with some sort of loss. But together they are a team and can help one another.

Dick might be Kara's big brother on this team but I think Jesse is going to be her best friend here.

Their conversation is cut short when the Tangent Universe Green Lantern suddenly appears, injured and claiming her world is dying.

In another scene showcasing the growing team spirit, we see Donna and Dick sparring. Of all the relationships on the team, this one is the most established. These two have been fighting together as teammates since the earliest days of their adolescence. Despite the presence of Supergirl and Congorilla, it is clear that Donna considers herself the muscle of this team. And I love the faith she has in Dick's ability to lead them.

The one thing I hope to see is some change in their interactions, even if subtle. They aren't Teen Titans any more. They are adults and have gone through a lot of changes since they were Nightwing and Wonder Girl. They have basically inherited the legacy of their mentors. Their friendship should also evolve a bit too.

The arrival of the Tangent Green Lantern is a crisis so an emergency meeting is called. In a simple way to keep the symmetry of the battle simple, Starman and Congorilla are unavailable. So we get the 'big 5' - Batman, Donna Troy, Supergirl, Jade, and Jesse Quick.

The Lantern talks about the threat to her world. It is a bit of exposition but necessary. Alexander Luthor had planted a doomsday device on Earth Two which is causing a wave of death energy to sweep over that planet. In an effort to stop the death of their planet, the Crime Syndicate figures out a way to siphon off most of that energy and send it to the Tangent world. Earth Two is still dying, albeit more slowly. But the Tangent world is nearly dead. And the CSA needs another world to send this energy to. And they are on this Earth to scout it out.

As soon as the CSA's presence is revealed, the villains crash into the Hall of Justice to battle.

Well, I have to say it seems a little dark for Alexander Luthor to have planted a cataclysmic bomb like that ... assuming we are talking about the Luthor from the Morrison Earth Two graphic novel. He was trying to be a hero. I doubt he would want to kill off so many innocents. So that seemed a bit off.

The Syndicate was expecting the usual League but quickly square off with their opposites. Superwoman and Donna brawl inside the hall while Supergirl and Ultraman take the fight to the sky.

I am so used to seeing the Superman/Ultraman fight and the Wonder Woman/Superwoman fight that I thought this really felt new and is a nice way to showcase the abilities of this League. One thing that did fall a bit flat was Supergirl calling the Syndicate 'bullies with big mouths'. She isn't ten.

With the lines drawn and the battle unfolding, we get a flashback to fill in the gaps about the Crime Syndicate's time on Earth. They came to this Earth to try to figure out a way to save their own. But while they try to achieve that goal, they may as well have fun. In fact, it seems they are having a lot of fun as we see the end of a ... ahem ... romantic interlude between Owlman and Superwoman. She wonders why they should bother trying to save their world when they could simply conquer this one. Ultraman (who also arrives) agrees with her.

Owlman reminds them both that the energies of the universe are such that they simply cannot win here. They need to save their Earth. And they have a plan ... resurrect Alexander Luthor and convince him to save their world. I have to admit I was a bit confused here ... the Alexander Luthor from Morrison's Earth Two? Or the crazy Alexander Luthor from Infinite Crisis?

I do like Owlman's obsession with saving their Earth if only to continue to torment his father. It is that conviction that makes Bruce (either Batman or Owlman) who he is.

The whole Syndicate is on the Earth including the original Power Ring and the original Johnny Quick. Both of those characters died recently and yet here they are again. Ultraman sums it up nicely. How are those guys back? He even remembers that he died (and he did, getting staked when he was Mandrakk's herald in Final Crisis). I have a theory here ... but later.

The Crime Syndicate has been working with Dr. Impossible (remember him ... the anti-Miracle Man from Metzler's first run on the book) to create a resurrection machine. They just need to fetch the corpse of Alex Luthor from the villain morgue in the Hall of Justice. I still think that morgue is a bit creepy. I also think that since the corpse is there, it has to be the Luthor from Infinite Crisis.

I have loved the bubbling subplot about Jade and the hidden darkness inside her since absorbing some of the Starheart. It shows in her battle with Power Ring. She drains his ring ... and him ... of energy, bringing Power Ring to the edge of death.

I like how haikus accompany her draining him. I assume this is his ring, powered by Eastern enchantments and Volthoom, talking to him about his impending death. Nice touch.

But Jade looks downright giddy as Power Ring writhes in pain. Creepy.

Dr. Impossible is seen scheming in the background with some teammates of his own. But it is clear that the fight in the Hall is a distraction so the Syndicate's real plan can unfold. Dick realizes that all isn't as it seems when he notices that Owlman has left the fight. It can only mean he is up to something even bigger.

As with the rest of the fights, it was great to see Dick square off against Bruce! Now there is some serious depth to this fight.

But before we can learn who would win, Dick is blasted by Dr. Impossible's cronies.

I will admit though ... I loved seeing Supergirl going toe-to-toe with Ultraman. I think some writers would have had her being overwhelmed almost immediately. So kudos to Robinson for letting Supergirl show her prowess here.

But, as said before, the fight is simply a ruse to keep the JLA away from the Resurrection machine to bring back Alex Luthor. Set up sort of like one of the multiverse tuning forks from Infinite Crisis, people from different universes are set up in areas around the machine to power it.

Before it is activated to bring back Luthor, Dr. Impossible double crosses Owlman, removing Alex's corpse and instead bathing Impossible's crony Hunter in energy. I admit I don't recognize the characters that Impossible is working with. But Hunter looks like an Orion analogue.

But instead of bring back Darkseid, as Impossible's teammates think the machine was going to do, it brings back someone else ... a new threat ... the Omega Man. Did Impossible know that? Who is this guy? Since Hunter was a version of Orion, is this a version of Darkseid?

Overall this was a very good issue. I have really enjoyed watching this group grow together as a team and as friends. I love that their first big adventure as a team is something huge like fighting the Crime Syndicate, needing to save multiple worlds, and facing a new villain. That is what the JLA should be about ... massive threats.

Now my theory. How did those CSA members come back to life? Well, the Tangent Green Lantern's power is to raise the dead to finish a task. Maybe she is in on this plot. Maybe she brought them back. Maybe she has turned towards evil.

My growing fascination and appreciation of Mark Bagley continued here. There is a nice kinetic feel to his fight scenes here.

And James Robinson, outside of a slip here and there in dialogue, really has a nice grasp of these characters as they each have a unique voice and personality. This was one of those issues where I wished the next part was coming out now as opposed to a month from now. That is always the sign of a good issue.

Overall grade: A

Ethan Van Sciver's Supergirl As Indigo Lantern

Sometimes I think I am lucky. This is one of those times.

At the recent Boston Supermegafest, I was able to get a full commission from Ethan Van Sciver. I had pled my case on this blog last week, so anyone who passed that plea on to Van Sciver I thank you.

I knew I wanted to get Supergirl as a Lantern Corps member and going in I was really torn between an Indigo Lantern (the Corps I think would try to recruit her) or a Red Lantern (my favorite Corps). I feared profuse vomit as a thematic element if I went Red, so in the end I decided to opt for Indigo and I am sooooo glad I did. This is a remarkable commission.

There are plenty of details that I love here. First off, two parts of the Matrix uniform I love are the pointed sleeves and the pointed belt. Here, those parts of the costume are actually used as part of the Indigo Lantern symbol on the costume. I also love how the S-Shield has been morphed into the Indigo sigil as well. That is just slick!

I also love how the clouds behind Supergirl are the Indigo symbol as well.

And lastly, Supergirl herself is lovely here ... no surprise.

My one regret is that I was unable to really thank Mr. Van Sciver in any meaningful way. This convention promises free sketches from Van Sciver so the line is unbelievably lengthy. As I was just dropping off the book on Saturday and then picking it up on Sunday, I sort of cut that long long line. Trust me, the crowds were not happy to see me walk right up to the table. But I didn't know if I needed to be waiting in line for 3 hours either. So Sunday I simply walked up, got the sketch book, peeked at the commission, and shook Van Sciver's hand before the crowd turned and pounded me. I could feel the angry eyes of them on me.

So, Mr. Van Sciver ... if you read this ... I am absolutely thrilled with this commission and wish I could have looked it over with you and commented on it like this at the convention. This is such a unique and timely piece and I think it will be a signature commission in my collection. Hopefully you had as fun a time creating this as I am going to have looking at it. Thank you!

An Open Letter To Ethan Van Sciver

Mr. Van Sciver,

I doubt you will see this but figured I would give it a shot.

I am a big fan of your work and obviously a big fan of Supergirl as well. Last September, I was able to get the above commission from you at the Boston Comic Book Spectacular. It is one of my favorite pieces in my growing commission collection.

I will be heading to the Boston Super Megafest on Saturday where you are one of the guests attending. I will hope to be in line early enough to get another commission from you then. While I understand you will be swamped with fans all eager to get a free sketch from you, I was hoping to get something perhaps a bit more special and (hopefully) more interesting for you.


A while back on this blog, I ran a poll about which Lantern Corps would recruit Supergirl. As you can see Indigo and Blue garnered the most votes. But all the corps got at least one vote, I suppose showing just how complicated and multi-dimensional a character Supergirl is.

I am hoping that if I am in line at the right time and make it to you for a sketch that you would sketch Supergirl in some mash of her costume and one of the Corps' uniforms. I think she would most likely be recruited by the Indigo Corps but I would be interested to hear which Corps you think she would join.

While I know that your line at the Megafest tends to be quite long and that I cannot expect more than the standard free sketch, any extras you could add to the commission would be greatly appreciated by me. Appropriate remuneration would, of course, be gladly extended. The sketch would then be posted here for all to see.

I look forward to meeting you again and will keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks,
Anj

Ethan Van Sciver Commission

How I wish I had been able to get to the Baltimore Comic-con this year and get to the Superman panel or at least find the new creative team and chat with them! While I wasn't able to go, I was able to go to a local show yesterday up here in Boston.


The Boston Comic Book and Pop Culture Spectacular is a small one-day show here and is organized about 3 or 4 times a year. The dealers remain fairly constant, so I usually only go if anyone of note is going to be a guest.


The show will often get 1 or 2 creators a year that are really worth trying to see. In the past I have met Denny O'Neil, Norm Breyfogle, Cliff Chiang, Rick Leonardi, and some others.





Yesterday's big name was Ethan Van Sciver of Green Lantern (and soon Flash) fame. I love Van Sciver's detailed art.

I will also say that living legend inker Murphy Anderson was also a guest there too. I love meeting the old time creators.


As I said, I am a big fan of Van Sciver's work and think he draws beautiful women. In particular I have been impressed with his Pheonix and Wonder Woman renditions.

So I went early to get in line to have some books signed and to grab a commission sketch. Luckily, I was first in line and was able to get a solid head shot commission. I like how he put tiny s-shield earrings on her. The commission is at the top of the post.

So yet another piece to my ever growing collection to be displayed on the wall of fame. I also bought a bunch of back issues, so all in all it was a great day!