Brainiac Who's Who Pages

With House of Brainiac showcasing all the forms of Brainiac and with my recent review of Action Comics #544, I was struck with how much Brainiac has changed over time. One of the ways I sort of try to catalog the changes on this site is to look back at some of the official biographies of characters ... the Who's Who pages.

We'll start with the original, the mid-Crisis 1985 Who's Who. This issue was on the racks just 2 years after Action Comics #544 and the same month as Crisis on Infinite Earths #6.  So this version of Brainiac was relatively new. 

This is a nice page with art by Ed Hannigan, the designer of the new form. There is a nice retelling of his origin, a 12th level intelligence construct sent out by the Coluan computer tyrants to reconnoiter worlds for them to conquer. Given Vril Dox as a pseudo-son to cement the humanoid persona.  I forgot about that aspect of his origin to be honest.

But this catches us up to the recent change to this emotionless 'unique organic' life form with infinite technology at his disposal. 

While this version only was around for 5 years or so, it struck a chord. I am glad this design remains around today either in the Brainiac ship form or the drone soldiers look. 

But the changes didn't stop there.

Review: Superman Red And Blue #4

Superman Red And Blue #4 came out this week and was another fun issue in this mini-series. After the somewhat glum first issue, the series has turned it around giving us some excellent stories about Superman, his villains, and his influence on people.

In fact, this series seems to have few stories about Superman himself and more about how he has impacted or influenced other people. I think in this time of grim and gritty story-telling, where Supergirl is drunk and murderous, I need to hear that Superman still inspires.

This issue also includes a trope that I never get tired of even if others have. We get some Pa Kent wisdom told in flashback and still powerful in the present. I can't get enough of it!

And it was interesting to see two Bizarro stories make it into this one volume. You think they could have been spaced. The tone of the stories are very different so I suppose they are fine together.

Finally, it was nice to see Mark Waid get another shot at the Man of Steel. His story is my favorite of the book. Why hasn't this story been done before? And the ending is just pure perfection. Put Waid back on a DC monthly!

On to the book.

Review: Death Metal: The Secret Origin

I say it often but I'll say it again. I am very thankful for the community of comic fans that I call friends. Often times, they will tell me about books I should be getting and reading.

For the umpteenth time, I have to thank blog friend Martin Gray for tell me that I shouldn't pass on Death Metal: The Secret Origin. I have, for the most part, been avoiding the Metal event. When I saw this was a Superboy Prime book, a character I never thought I would want to see again, I figured this would definitely be a book to keep on the shelves. 

Instead, what we get is the redemption story this character needed. 

As someone old enough to have bought the DC Comics Presents issue which introduced Prime, I liked his innocence and his role in Crisis on Infinite Earths. So I definitely was miffed when he was turned into a sadistic monster in Infinite Crisis and beyond. (Don't get me started on the tarnishing of the Earth-2 Superman.)

I came to hate this character and all he represented for DC. He was the poster child of the darkening of the DCU.

But I trust Martin so I plunked down my money and read this book. It certainly has a deep bench of talent attached to it. Scott Snyder, Geoff Johns, Francis Manapul, Jerry Ordway, Paul Pelletier, and Ryan Benjamin. That's talent. 

So let's dive into this book, a delightful surprise.

Bullet Review: Death Metal Last Stories Of The DC Universe

You know that DC has kind of lost me when I have had no interest in the latest Crisis-level event redefining the universe.

Redefining the DC Universe ... again. Hard to imagine but I think this is the 4th reboot (or Rebirth) since the beginning of this site! Insanity.

What's worse is this all started out as a trippy big story in Scott Snyder's Justice League. I actually liked the early issues of that title as it was like truly cosmic ideas impacting the Earth. These were monumental ideas, almost too big for my wee mind to comprehend. But because it was so insane, I actually liked the ride.

Three years later, we are adding even more inscrutable into a dizzier mess. Toss in The Batman who Laughs (so wonderfully called The Batman Who Bores by friend Mart Gray) and it became a massive disaster. When the big payoff turned out to be a rope-a-dope lead-in to Death Metal, I dropped the book.

Seriously, I felt like I had been sold a bill of goods. There was never going to be a conclusion in JLA. So my allowing the story elements to wash over me, thinking I would get answers, turned out to be DC soaking me.

So here we are, Death Metal seems to be interminable. But now we are getting all these one shots as the universe dies. Why is it dying? How is dying? Do people on Earth know its dying? It seems so because we hear half the world is in anarchy, the other half hunkered down with loved ones. 

Anyways, the heroes are off on a suicide mission, one that sounds definitively suicidal. So what does Superman do on his last day? Let's say that Mark Waid and Francis Manapul give us a great story which once again defines who Superman is.

Review: Year of the Villain

It seems like every other year since Dan Didio took over DC has been labeled (or at the very least feels like) The Year of the Villain. From the overall tone of the DCU to an event like 'Forever Evil' to 'Future's End', we seem to have had a darkening and a coarsening of the heroes of the DC Universe for about a decade. And just when you think things were getting better, just when Rebirth sort of reset things in a brighter and more classic way, the pendulum swings back.

So I wasn't too surprised, given these last years, to find that we literally have a Year of the Villain event in the DC books coming up. Scott Snyder is bring in Perpetua, the Anti-Monitor's mother, to rewrite reality. Brian Michael Bendis is ripping apart the political landscape in Event Leviathan. And the Batman who Laughs is lurking around every corner it seems.

This week a teaser of all those events came out for the small price of two bits. DC's Year of the Villain Special #1 hit the stands with stories from each of those writers whetting our appetite for the major plotlines around the corner. Add luscious art by Jim Cheung, Alex Maleev, and Francis Manapul and you have a great bargain for comic readers. Throw in a few articles and process art in the back and you basically have a steal.

For me, this already feels a little different than those prior peeks into the minds of the bad guys. The Leviathan story feels very fresh and looks like it is going to impact everyone. The Perpetua story is a Crisis-level event which probably will have the grandest of scopes. I just don't think I am going to see a ton of hands being chopped off here, a sort of marker I have for what mess I am in for. This seems better.

Too be honest, the Leviathan arc is the one I am most interested in. I have theories. So I will be covering that mini-story the most here. On to the book and a reiteration of my theory.

Bullet Review: Justice League #11

 I feel like it is a little bit of a cheat for me to review Justice League #11 because I am not getting the entirety of the Drowned Earth storyline. I am not getting the stand alone issues. I am only getting the main title books. So I don't know if it is fair of me to review interval chapters rather than the whole arc.

That said, I have been reviewing and lauding this book since it's premiere and I didn't think it felt right not to review the book.

So ultimately I decided that I would include a review of the issue, at least showcasing the elements that I liked as well as hitting on moments that impact plot points brought up in the earlier issues.

Scott Snyder continues the keep things moving forward at warp speed. A lot of ideas and plot progression happens here. But what I loved about this issue is the sneaky character moments that if you blink or gloss over, you'll miss.

Francis Manapul is on art and really shines here. There is a thicker, harder edge to his stuff. I usually think of breathier, more pencil-y work with Manapul. But the style works here with this world-threatening incident unfolding.

So I won't go too in depth here. But there are moments that are too good to not share.

Review: Justice League #10

Justice League #10 came out this week, the opening chapter of the upcoming 'Drowned Earth' storyline. Written by Scott Snyder with art by Francis Manapul, it is a crackling issue, an excellent opening chapter which gives us the skeleton of the story while continuing to nudge forward the subplots which are the underpinning of this title.

Scott Snyder has been keeping his foot on the gas pedal in this title and this issue continues that pace. But while giving us a decent amount of exposition about the main plot, he also peeks in on the other members of the League, all of them busy with the current Legion of Doom threat. And, as if that wasn't enough, he also injects a lot of DC history into the issue. We get guest stars and mentions that deepen the continuity of the universe. For an old timer like me, I love seeing and hearing about these corners of the DCU.

Artist Francis Manapul really brings his A game here. As has been typical of the book, we are given crazy scenarios and locales, larger than life stuff, and Manapul is up to the challenge. But there is also small touches, little flourishes, which elevate even that heady stuff.

My one complaint? That there is a side mini-series about this. If I want to read the whole story I need to go outside this book. And I don't know if I am ...

On to the details.

Justice League: No Justice #4

Justice League No Justice #4 came out this week, wrapping up an extremely fast-paced miniseries where different teams need to fend off universal energies and Omega Titans. It was a fun, quick read showcasing a cross-section of the DC Universe. Interestingly enough, Green Arrow came out as as the biggest hero, holding his own as a force of justice.

It also planted the seeds for future comics including a new Justice League, a cosmic League, and even (it seems) a new Outsiders team. For me, the biggest bang in the book was the return of Vril Dox. If you set the WABAC machine, you will hear my love of the fascist hero back in my R.E.B.E.L.S. reviews. So for a book I barely was able to follow (I didn't read Metal), I have to give this miniseries a thumbs up.

Mostly.

Of course, this is a Supergirl blog, so I kept wondering where Supergirl was. I didn't expect her to have a big part in the book, but the interlude story in  DC Nation #0  made me think she would have some role, perhaps as a last guardian at the gate, trying to hold of the Omegas until the heroes arrived.

Alas, that didn't happen.

Bullet Review: Justice League Darkseid War Superman

The Geoff Johns Justice League book has been a very pleasing read in the last few months. The Darkseid War, a story where Darkseid fights the Anti-Monitor, has had a grand scope and has felt like a great company wide crossover. I had dropped the Geoff Johns Justice League book right around Forever Evil feeling it had completely lost its way. The Darkseid War feels like we are approaching something great, even if it was couched in the dark violence of the current comic world.

The last issue had Darkseid being killed and his God-Force being transferred to some of the League members. The Flash has become the God of Death. And Superman has become the God of Strength.

To play off the popularity of the arc, DC has released individual issues focusing on the characters. Justice League:The Darkseid War Superman shows us what a Superman disconnected from humanity would feel like. Written by Francis Manapul with art by El Dazo. This'll be a quick review.

Frankly, I would have enjoyed this issue much more if we, as readers, haven't drowned in the deconstruction of Superman over the last 10 years. He has embraced his alien side in World of Krypton. He walked around like an arrogant observer in Grounded. Almost all of the New 52 was an abomination of Superman, twisting him into Doomsday and now a depowered angry thug. All we have seen in recent years has been a Superman who is disconnected from the heroic ideal.

Now this lost decade of Superman is a shame. It cheapens the character. And it lessens the impact of this story and this beat in the main arc. Because we have read all this before, although maybe not with this quality.

Superman has been missing from the planet because of the war. Here we see that he is coming back to Earth, smashing into an alien in a sort of Robotech-style mecha suit.

But there is a bunch of meta-textual vibrations here.

My guess is that Perry White's speech has been said my many of the upper level editors at DC.

"We are in a new world. People like to be outraged and if I can't have headlines and photos of the Man of Steel saving the day, outrage and cynicism will sell papers."

Or ... if the modern reader can't understand a Superman who is inspirational, who uses his powers for good because he should, then we will give them a cynical Superman who veers to darkness. That'll sell books.

It's sad.

Now this negative-Superman is hungry after his battle and heads to Melvin's Diner, his place to get coffee and pie.

When the staff try to get chummy, Superman shows that he isn't the nice guy he was. He bangs on the counter and yells for his treat. It sort of reminded me of the bar scene in the Superman III movie.

All this said, this isn't an aloof Superman floating above the city and physically being apart from people. Even at his angriest, he is still sitting in a diner asking for pie. That isn't something a god would necessarily do.

I think it shows that Manapul gets Superman a bit. Even angry disconnected Superman isn't that disconnected.

The alien Superman defeated in the opening pages abandoned his suit and escaped. But the suit begins oozing a black sticky tar which slowly envelops all of Metropolis and its people.

Throughout the story, Jimmy has been trailing Superman and begging the Man of Steel to revert to the hero he was. Here, slowly being coated by the substance, Jimmy calls on Superman's humanity, reminding the hero what he loved about the people.

Jimmy is portrayed as a fan, someone aspiring to be like Superman. He isn't Superman's equal here. He is more of a follower. For this story, he is the right voice. He is giving a 'say it ain't so Joe' speech to Superman, begging him to come back to the light.

Now you could have written this story with Lois in Jimmy's place. But you would need to change the tone completely. Jimmy is coming at this from hero worship. Lois would be talking to Superman as an equal. My guess is Lois would be a bit more blunt about how Superman needs to stop this descent.

Eventually the alien tar coats the whole city making it akin to a graveyard.

It is only then that Superman realizes that he misses life, interaction, humanity.

You see him briefly revert a small part back to his human form.

Superman knows now that this life isn't for him.

He needs help.

So not a bad little story showing the dizzying effects of sudden godhood and how Superman's upbringing and humanity might help him shed it or temper it. And maybe if Superman acted like ... I don't know ... Superman in his own comics, this sudden turn to ill-tempered aloof god might resonate more. I actually thought this story was sort of uplifting for a Superman who didn't ask for the title God of Strength, and probably wouldn't have accepted it if it was offered.

But this has to taken in the context of years of DC dragging Superman down, making him cynical, aloof, or monstrous. In this comic world, this isn't unique. It is the norm. And as such, it loses some of its punch.

I haven't mentioned the art which I thought was vibrant and energetic. I haven't seen Dazo's work before. He has a nice line and style and brings a kinetic feel to the proceedings.

Overall grade: B

Review: Superman/Wonder Woman #16

Superman/Wonder Woman #16 came out last week. This book has always been teetering on being dropped off my pull list. And this issue took it one baby step closer to the axe. I have been trying to give the new team of writer Peter Tomasi and artist Doug Mahnke time to get settled and a feel for the two stars. I have been trying to see if they can make sense of this relationship. But so far, this first arc with Clark and Diana fighting Circe and Magog has been a bit of a mess. The super-villain plot seems even more inane than most super-villain plots. And the relationship seems even odder than it did before. It makes even less sense here than it did under Soule.

While the relationship remains an enigma, Tomasi has a decent handle on the characters when they act solo. His Superman reads true, almost too immaculate. His Wonder Woman is in synch with the Azzarello continuity and acts like a God here.

The art is split between Doug Mahnke and Ed Benes. Mahnke's stuff is strong throughout with the usual flair of action and expressiveness. But the art win for this issue is the Francis Manapul Harley Quinn variant cover. Just beautiful.

My biggest issue with this arc has been the inclusion of Magog.

It just feels forced.

First off we have his origin as a young boy whose family got killed in the Apokolips invasion from Justice League #1. We saw much of this last issue. So to devote 3 more pages to it seems like a bit of wasted space. I don't think this added much more to his backstory than last issue's piece.

Second, how young is this David. He looks about 8 here. That would make him 13 now. But he seemed more like 18 when he was Wonderstar. And as Magog he looks full grown.

Am I being nit-picky about trying to wrap my head around his origin/age?

Remember, last issue ended with Superman stuck holding a bridge's cables to keep it intact while Wonder Woman faces off with Circe. 

But the inclusion of Magog here, first as Wonderstar, is hard to comprehend. Circe talks about how she uses a complicate spell to make David into Wonderstar so he could get close to Superman and Diana. Then she could drop the glamour to make him Magog.

Why the complicated spell and subterfuge? He was Wonderstar for a nanosecond! Circe isn't exactly stealthy in her appearance or attack. Why not just make David into Magog and show up to battle?

This overly complex origin and insertion into the story seems too weighty for the story. Maybe if Wonderstar was in the book for half a year before the reveal I might feel like Circe was biding her time. But this seems off to me.

Wonder Woman is encased in stone and teleported away by Circe so the sorceress can have her revenge. Meanwhile Magog just hammers away on Superman who has to take it because he is in the iron cross position holding up the bridge by the severed cables.

Here was the one panel that made me interested in Magog. He looks at Superman as the villain of his story. Magog is the hero in his own story. That reversal of perspective (mixed with the great scowl by Mahnke) is interesting.

We then get a hint of what has to be the next arc after this one.

Whoever loosed the Atomic Skull and Major Disaster wants them sprung. Behind his wall of screens, he sends Multiplex (I think) to free them.

It has to be the Calculator. But why is he gunning for Superman and Wonder Woman.

Hmmm ... will this keep me buying this title?

After spending the first half of the book being pounded on while holding up the bridge, Magog finally gets close enough to get kicked and heat visioned. This let's Superman fix the bridge and become more than scenery.

Nice display of power here by Mahnke. And the 'stay down' command works here.

We have no history with this Circe so it is up the Tomasi to fill us in with a bit of villain monologuing exposition.

Remember the controversial aspect of Azzarello's Wonder Woman? That part where Amazons get pregnant by seducing sailors, then kill the sailors? That part where if the baby is a male they would kill them until Hephaestus made a deal to use the baby boys as workers in his forge in exchange for weapons?

Yeah. Not a high point of that series.

Anyways, Circe offered a similar deal. She'd give weapons to the Amazons and then use the male babies as part of her ani-men army. Hippolyta actually agreed to that! But then squelched on the deal and went with the Hephaestus one instead.

Boy, that paints Hippolyta in an even worse light than before! I thought that would be impossible!

But this slight has angered Circe forever! Is it a strong enough reason to harbor an infinite axe to grind?

I will say that I collected the Azzarello Wonder Woman and liked it. I read it as an Elseworlds Diana and found it tight and consistent. I don't know if I want that Diana as the main DCU one. But here we are.

At least Tomasi acknowledges that history. Wonder Woman shatters her bonds and stands there unbowed before Circe. She is the God of War. She is above the Circe/Hippolyta feud. She is part of Olympus now.

That is a great panel.

So does it make sense for Circe to take on the God of War? Wouldn't she be worried about the wrath of the rest of the Gods?

In his fight with Magog, Superman snapped Magog's staff in half. That teleports Superman to Circe's stronghold. And since he is a man and vulnerable to magic, he quickly succumbs to her magic. Circe decides what better way to test Diana than to have her battle someone she loves.

I'll give Mahnke his proper respect. This is a great splash page.

I highlighted to panels and parts of the book I liked. But overall I continue to have some problems with this issue and arc. The pages devoted to Magog's origin, the almost unnecessary Wonderstar subplot, Circe's motivation, the idea that Circe would attack the pantheon, and even Superman literally hanging around for some of the issue ... it just puzzled me.

Oveall grade: C/C-

Boston Comic Con 2012: Francis Manapul Commission

Behold this Francis Manapul commission of Supergirl from last month's Boston Comic Con. What a great piece, done in 30 minutes as I watched and waited, done entirely with paintbrush and water color. Unbelievable.

My initial plan to get a Manapul commission seemed derailed early on when a large crowd congregated at his table awaiting his arrival early on the first morning. At the time, I thought Manapul would take a list of commissions to do over the course of the day and given the crowd I thought I had no chance.

And each time I walked by his table, he was mobbed. So I kept waiting and waiting.

Late on Saturday, with about 2 hours left in the show, the crowd thinned out such that I could actually catch sight of Manapul at his table (painting away) and I decided that now was the time to get my comics signed and meet him. It turns out that Manapul does commissions as he goes, meaning he doesn't take a list. He simply paints as he goes. He asked me if I wanted a commission and stunned, I said yes. He handed me a 'Last in line' sign! Talk about lucky.

Francis Manapul is one of the nicest creators I have met. As I waited, I watched him paint 2 unbelievable commissions: The Pied Piper and the current t-shirted Action Comics Superman. These were big pieces, unbelievably detailed, fantastic. And while painting, he talked to the fans at length about anything and everything - the Flash, the rogues, the NBA, the NHL, the Detroit Lions, his approach to art -everything.

With the clock ticking, I finally got to the head of the line and he started this piece. And while Manapul painted, I talked with him mostly about the Legion, his run with Jim Shooter, and what he would do if he was on the book again.

And 30 minutes later I had this fantastic piece in my sketchbook.As he put the brush down, the convention organizers announced the doors were closing. I barely had time to thank Manapul for this great great piece of a beautiful Supergirl flying with the doves over Metropolis. I loved Manapul's idyllic art on the Superboy issues of Adventure Comics and this commission evokes that same clarity and purity.

I feel lucky and happy to have this piece in my collection!

Boston Comic Con Wrap-Up And Kevin Maguire Commission

Boston Comic Con, my hometown show, happened this last weekend and it has become a such a great convention bringing in great talent as well as supporting local artists and independent creators. I have been there since the beginning and I have seen this show grow to pretty mammoth proportions.

Now I usually attend both days of the con but this year a family commitment kept me away from the second day. I usually spend the first day of the show getting commissions and signatures from the creators. And the second day I have a more relaxed day, trying to talk more to the creators if I can and thumbing through the back issues.

The place was absolutely jammed with fans. This felt like the biggest crowd  that I have seen here, even more than the Jim Lee attended one from a couple of years ago. Some creators tables were mobbed, specifically Simon Bisley (so crowded I never got to him), Kevin Eastman, and Ed McGuinness. The lineup was very impressive. It was a fantastic time, spent with friends, and meeting and chatting with creators, and talking comics nonstop with other fans.

As a result of missing Sunday though, I didn't get the opportunity to really chat at length with any of the creators I was hoping to, especially catching up with Jamal Igle. Something of a bummer.

As for me, my mission going in to the convention was to get three commissions from Kevin Maguire, Francis Manapul, and Chrissie Zullo. Amazingly, despite being there on just the first day, I accomplished that goal ... albeit with a little bit of luck. I also, somehow was able to grab a commission from Joe Benitez and a quick sketch by Ed McGuinness. I'll end up posting all of these over the next couple of weeks.

I went to Maguire's table when the doors opened and got on the top of his list. I thought I was only getting a head sketch but instead got this unreal piece. Maguire's sketch list is unique in that it asks for what type of expression you want for the character. I put 'joyous'. So when I picked up this 3/4 body commission of this lovely and happy Supergirl I was floored. Just wonderful.

I asked about World's Finest. I thought the breakdown of art was based on the timeline with Maguire doing the flashback scenes but he said instead that his pages are on Earth 1, in the present, and mostly the pages of Helena and Karen in their secret identities. I also expressed how much I enjoyed the Tanga strip in Weird Worlds and My Greatest Adventure. Despite having other stories in mind, it sounds like DC has no plans for more Tanga. Too bad, she is such a fun character.

Anyways, this was a great convention and I would love to hear from anyone else who was there!

Boston Comic Con

Well, when this post gets published, I will probably already be in line at the Con.

Can't wait to meet some creators and grab some commissions.

And my back-pack is filled with con essentials -

1) Sketch books for commissions with source material

2) Issues for signatures arranged and collated for easy distribution

3) Black, silver, blue, and red sharpies for autographs

4) List of back issues I am looking for

5) Hand wipes/sanitizer

6) Water

I am sure I will have lots to share and write about afterwards. Unfortunately, I can only go to the con on Saturday so I will have a lot to accomplish in just on day. Wish me luck.

Boston Comic Con 2012

Three weeks from now, at this time, I will be in line bright and early at the Boston Comic Con. The Boston show has just grown exponentially over the last few years. The guest list keeps getting bigger and better. And now panel discussions and other events will be happening too. I have been able to grab some great commissions at the show in the past. But more importantly, I have met a lot of my favorite creators.

As I usually do, I figured I would review the commissions I am hoping to get. Obtaining commissions is one of the best parts of going to shows like this. While there are many many many artists I would love to get a piece from, here are my main targets.

Francis Manapul - I have been a fan of Manapul's for a while now. His work was one of the few things right with the most recent Jim Shooter run on Legion of Super-Heroes. I thought his style fit the Superboy run on Adventure a couple of years ago. And now he is reinventing the Barry Allen Flash.

Kevin Maguire - What isn't there to love about Maguire's art. He is one of those creators whose work I will always buy. His most recent work has been the Tanga strip in Weird Worlds and My Greatest Adventure, and that strip was a romp. But I also loved his work on Batman Confidential, Justice League, the Metal Men feature in Doom Patrol, etc. He also will be doing half the art on World's Finest.

A friend of mine came within a whisker of getting me a Maguire commission at the NYCC a couple of years ago. I hope to get one on my own now.

Ed McGuinness - I put his name down as a 'wish list' name. I love McGuinness big bold style. I love how he draws Supergirl. And this cover on Adventures of Superman during the Emperor Joker arc is one of my favorite covers period.

I don't know if he does commissions. I doubt I could afford one if he did them. And he will probably be swamped with fans. So I highly doubt this one will happen. And it's a bummer because I said that if I had the chance I would do anything for a McGuinness commission.

Chrissie Zullo - I love Zullo's style. She is most famous for the eye-popping covers on the Fables Cinderella spin-off mini-series. Getting a commission from her would make my day.

Jason Pearson - Pearson has become something more of a cover artist and will probably be buried by the Deadpool fans in attendance. But I loved his work on the 5YL Legion and the other DC work he has done. Will I be able to get on his list? I can only hope.

Khary Randolph - I don't usually get Aspen Comic titles but I heard some people talking about Charismagic in my comic store and bought some issues on a whim. It is a great little comic with great interior art by Randolph. I hope I'll be able to land something from him.

Now I get my commissions in sketch books. I have 2 books which I sort of rotate around. So there is no way I can end up with all of these. I strive for 4 commissions per convention, hoping I can get each book in the hands of 2 artists over the 2 days. So we'll see.

I also have a nifty idea to help support some of the local artists in Artist Alley. But I'll talk more about that if it comes to fruition.

Now there are many many other guests there who I hope to meet, chat with and get some signatures from. Old friend Jamal Igle will be there and I hope to talk to him some more.

If anyone is going to be at the con, I'll be the guy in the Red Sox hat and Supergirl t-shirt. If you see me, say hi!

Flashpoint Mini-Series

DC has finally released the information regarding the creative teams of the remaining announced Flashpoint mini-series. Much like I did with Blackest Night, I will not get all the mini-series and one-shots. Instead I will pick and choose ones based on characters and/or creative teams.

Here are the ones that I think I am going to end up buying.

FLASHPOINT: PROJECT SUPERMAN #1

Covers: Gene Ha

Plot by: Scott Snyder

Script: Lowell Francis

Art: Gene Ha

The tag line is 'They experimented on him for years'. Given the cover, the presumption is that Superman's rocket didn't land in Kansas but instead demolished Metropolis. I guess that means it wasn't the kindly Kents but some nefarious scientists find Kal unharmed in the rocket. This theme has been played out a lot in various Elseworlds before.

Still, I have heard nothing but great things about Scott Snyder. I don't get American Vampire of Detective so this will be my first time reading his work. I am looking forward to it. And Gene Ha is just fantastic.

I guess my obvious question is will Supergirl be part of this new timeline?

FLASHPOINT: LOIS LANE AND THE RESISTANCE #1

Covers: Eddy Nunez and Sandra Hope

Writer: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning

Art: Eddy Nunez

The tag line here is 'She is ready to reveal the Amazons' secret.' I would probably get this book regardless of whoever the creative team was. I am a sucker for a good solo Lois Lane story. But Lois leading a resistance force, even better. But much like hearing Snyder was writing the Superman book, the writers here is makes this a bigger draw. It has been a while since I have read a DnA book but I have never been dissatisfied.

I only know Eddy Nunez from his work with Ale Garza. And this cover certainly has a Garza flavor to it.

FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST STARRING BART ALLEN #1

Covers: Francis Manapul

Writer: Sterling Gates

Art: Oliver Nome

The tag line is 'Where is he? Or should we say when?'This is one of those books that I am getting solely for the creative team. Hurrah! We have a Sterling Gates sighting. I know Gates is a huge Flash fan and a huge Bart fan so this should be great. I don't know Oliver Nome's stuff. But I am a big fan of Francis Manapul, so nice to see him on covers.

I don't think this is Gates' 'secret project' so I will still wait to hear about that.

FLASHPOINT: SECRET SEVEN #1

Covers: George Perez

Writer Peter Milligan

Art: George Perez and Scott Koblish

The tagline is 'One among them will betray them all!' This is one that I was not expecting to grab but there is so much unexpected goodness here, I have to get it. First off, I loved .... and I mean LOVED ... Peter Milligan's Vertigo Shade the Changing Man. That was mind-blowing great stuff. So how could I not get this mini-series, especially since Shade is manifesting a warped appearance like he did in the original Steve Ditko series ... another series I love. But add to that The Enchantress ... June Moon ... in the background! She has a history with the Silver Age Supergirl! Another bonus.

And then to see that George Perez is on art! Unreal. This is a must-get.

Others look interesting and so I might get them if the buzz makes them sound good. Jeff Lemire on Frankenstein (loved the Morrison/Mahnke Seven Soldiers mini), DnA on the Wonder Woman mini, and James Robinson doing a one-shot of 'The Outsider', who looks suspiciously like the Alfred Pennyworth villain of the Silver Age with the same name.

Review: Adventure Comics #6

Adventure Comics #6 marked the end of the Geoff Johns/Francis Manapul Superboy story. As I have said before I have been impressed with the arc and have enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

I have collected Teen Titans on and off throughout its current run but somehow missed all the key Conner story arcs involving his ancestry with Luthor. This story has been Conner's introspective look at himself as he wonders where he will head. Is his future the product of nature or the product of nurture? Which half of him will eventually win out ... Superman or Lex Luthor? I can understand why any adolescent would have these questions, let alone someone whose '2 fathers' are on such opposite ends of the moral spectrum.

The notebook checklist has been a nice little plot point throughout this story as Conner makes this mental checklist, hoping to sort this whole thing out.

The last issue ended with Luthor arriving at Lori's house wielding some Kryptonite as he tries to retrieve 'his property', Conner himself.

As we saw in the preview of the issue, it turns out that Lori's mother is none other than Lena Luthor (Thorul?). We saw a glimpse of her in Superman: Secret Origin but it is great to see her actually named.

Unlike the Silver Age Lena, this one has no apparent telepathic powers. Nor is she close enough in age to Supergirl to be a friend of Kara.

Unfortunately, she is afflicted with an unknown malady which has effected both her mind and body. Weakened and in a wheel chair, she seems confused and diminished.

Throughout this arc, we have heard Luthor talk about how it is the presence of Superman which has impeded mankind from growing, prevented Lex from doing more for his fellow man.

Superboy finally calls him on it. If he is capable of such greatness, why doesn't he help his own sister.

I thought this was a nice moment for Conner. Despite being incapacitated by Kryptonite, he is still think of others. But remember, he is trying to come to grips with his Luthor roots. He hopes that Lex has some goodness inside. If not, that means Superboy is somehow half monster.

In a movie I didn't initially understand, Lex agrees to help. He holds Lori at bay with a pistol (somehow pedestrian for someone like Luthor) and tells Superboy to gather the ingredients he will need to help Lena.


The first ingredient is a type of leaf from prehistoric time. It isn't needed for the cure. Luthor uses it to make tea to help him think. Only Luthor would think of such a thing.

Of course, seeing Superboy and Krypto running away from a T-Rex was worth this interlude.


The next few pages show Superboy gathering up the needed bits for Lex. His travels take him to Paradise Island (where a young Amazon calls him handsome ... nice touch). He goes to Atlantis. Those trips are all things Superman would do. But more than that, the task is something Superman would do ... going to great lengths to help someone.

The snippets of Conner's journey are intercut with Lori talking to her Uncle, asking why he left the family, left her mother the way he did. His answers come off as self-serving, selfish. It is that juxtaposition that clearly shows that Conner is not Lex.


But Luthor comes through! With one simple injection Lena is cured. She suddenly is aware of her surroundings and stands from her chair. That one simple word of clarity 'Lori' as she knowingly stares at her daughter for the first time in a while ... wonderful.

This will be another one of those panels I dissect a bit. I love the point of view from above. By looking down upon the scene, we really get the sense of the height of Lena. The perspective gives her simple standing a sense of more power and importance. But we also get a sense of how miraculous this is ... we are looking at this scene from above, a sort of angelic viewpoint.

This panel would not have the same power if this was shown from the side, from the eye level of the characters.

That viewpoint is suddenly sullied when Luthor he reminds everyone that he was responsible fomr the miracle. He sets himself up as a god.

And yet look at Conner as he contemplates the situation. "What does Lex Luthor do? Makes people walk again." Not like the other things he has written on that side of the ledger. And yet that is what Conner has been looking for, that spark of humanity.

The spark is extinguished when Luthor injects Lena with another solution, effectively reverting her to her prior condition.

Talk about cruel and deranged. There would be no reason to go through that set of events ... curing Lena then having her relapse ... except to crush hope, to show that you have the power and control, to further destroy your past.

I wonder if Luthor needed to do it to further distance himself from his roots, as if Lori's pointed questions to him exposed some minor weakness in him he felt he needed to eradicate. It is a clear break from the Silver Age Lex who went out of his way to protect Lena from his legacy, something I always felt humanized him back then.

Overwhelmed with anger, Conner comes close to emulating Luthor. It appears as if he would kill Luthor over this if Brainiac had not arrived to stop him.


Somehow the combination of Superboy, Krypto, and a gun wielding Lori are able to drive the villains away.

Luthor seems to revel in his act, asking Superboy to tell Superman what he has done here. It is as if this horrific act perpetrated on his own sister is a badge of honor, a demonstration that he is capable of anything. It is chilling.


But it finally answers the questions inside Conner.

"What did Superman do? Was Superboy." With that he burns the notebook he was keeping. It isn't needed any more. There is something purifying about those flames. He doesn't throw the book away, he burns it. Like he is cleansing himself of the worries that he will bed up like Luthor.

But the truth is he is neither Superman or Lex. He is Conner. But that person is closer to Clark than he is to Lex.

It was a fitting ending to this run. Words and art meshed seamlessly. Yes this was heavy on angst and feelings and short on action but it definitely worked for me. This was a tale of introspection. This was a battle in Conner's mind more than a brawl in Smallville. As I have said before, I have never been a huge fan of Superboy. But I cared about him here and that is the sign of a high quality book.

While I look forward to Levitz' Legion run here ... while I will probably sample Johns and Manapul of Flash, I will miss this book and this story.

Overall grade: A/B+

Review: Adventure Comics #3

Adventure Comics #3 and came out this week and continued to be one of the better comics that I read each month. The story so far is Superboy's look inward now that he has returned from the dead.

These first 3 issues have been rather short on action and long on dialogue. And it makes sense that after spending some time dead, after coming back to a world that has changed a bit, a person would become introspective ... would begin looking inwards to see if they like what they see, if there are things that can be changed. Whether you are super or not, you would probably want to reconnect with the people most important to you.

Since this is a book about Superboy, we get to see all the things rattling around in his brain and all the people he wants to befriend again. The first issue it was his mentor Superman. The second issue it was his love Wonder Girl. Here in the third issue it is his best friend Tim Drake.

I think the key thing here is quality. As I said before this title came out I have had little interest with Conner in the past (outside of the earliest issues of his solo title). If the first issues are going to be almost exclusively character driven, they better be of the utmost quality or people on the fringe of the title will drop it. So far Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul have delivered. The truth is that I have been enjoying this book far more than I anticipated.

That ongoing theme of self-evaluation continues with Conner keeping his 'What did Superman do?' and 'What did Luthor do?' checklists. As I said before it is a nice and easy way to gauge Conner's feelings.

Conner still seems to be struggling with the concepts of good and evil. He has the odd makeup of having the mixed genetic makeup of the world's greatest hero and villain. And he just seems to wonder on what side of the family tree he is sprouting from.

So Superman died and returned. And Conner did the same. But that doesn't make him Superman.

Conner continues his thoughts on the nature/nurture debate over human behavior in science class as he talks to Simon Valentine.

When Conner wonders why classmate Lori is always asleep in science lab. Simon retorts that maybe she is simply a bad person. When pushed by Conner, Simon states that he falls in the nature camp. Good and evil behavior is purely genetic. So genetic that he thinks he could define some moral code in DNA if given a sample of the world's greatest hero and villain.

Seems like an overly simplified idea but Simon is being played up as the next Luthor. Maybe he can pull it off.

It does strike me as interesting that Conner is so worried about his Luthor heritage. When in his right mind, he clearly is a hero to the point of sacrificing himself for the universe. Still, this is his time of internal reflection. Maybe he worries he will eventually bend towards a more diabolical ethical standard as dictated by his genes.

But as the two talk about life and death and good and evil, Superboy sees something out the window he needs to handle. He flies away from Valentine while he is in mid-sentence. Immediately Conner makes a mental note of something to put on the Luthor side of the ledger; Luthor alienated friends.

The threat he needed to handle? Krypto.

Even Krypto can tell that Superboy is out of sorts emotionally and could use a little pick me up. The super-dog has brought Conner a pile of his oldest rogues from the very earliest issues of Superboy's career in Hawaii. I love how expressive Krypto is here. When Conner arrives, Krypto has this happy expression as if he is saying 'let's play fetch with Silver Sword'!

But Conner doesn't have time to play. He continues his search for Luthor hoping Krypto can sniff out the villain. When that fails, Conner decides to turn to the best detective he knows, Tim Drake, who is acting as Red Robin in Paris.

In Paris, Conner is immediately brought up to speed on Tim's current mission. Bruce was struck by Darkseid's omega beams. But that doesn't mean he is dead. Tim is searching for Bruce.

In this instance, that means capturing the Funky Flashman who has a broken mother box. (I love how the mother box doesn't 'ping ping ping' but instead goes 'ping pang pong'. A nice touch to show it is indeed broken.) Tim hopes that the box will somehow help him in his search. I think it speaks volumes that Tim says he won't give up on Bruce the way he 'gave up' on Conner. Tim is still grieving.

With Mother Box in hand, the two head to an underground lair of Luthor's. As they enter, Conner and Superboy begin to catch up in earnest. Conner is somewhat put off by Tim's patronizing tone.

It is no surprise that Johns has such a great handle on these characters since he wrote the Teen Titans comic. I really think it is great that Conner immediately confesses to Conner about his kiss with Cassie. Remember Cassie did the same thing. It can't be easy but it shows how mature these Titans are. And even better is Conner shrugging it off like he did with Cassie last window. It is these small moments that make this comic so wonderful.

Still, Tim's dark personality, the Red Robin outfit, everything is off-putting to Conner. This isn't the Tim Drake he knew in the past. Better yet, Conner calls him on it.

Conner knows something about guilt and emotional burden. He knows that this whole thing is self-flagellation by Drake, a self-imposed punishment because he feels guilty about all the loss that has happened around him. And it is true ... I don't know much about Tim Drake but I know that since Identity Crisis he has lost his father, Conner, Bart, and Bruce. All people close to him who maybe he thinks he should have protected. Maybe there is even a little bit of survivor's guilt in him too.

That seems to open the floodgates for the two of them. They begin to talk openly and honestly about their current issues.

Tim admits that he at one point intended to re-clone Conner even though he knew it might be an abomination.

I love Conner's frank response. Yes Conner, it was a suck-ass year without you.

In what I think is the best moment in the book, Tim finally breaks down a bit saying he is screwed up. It totally humanizes the character. I can only imagine how stressful and heavy his life feels right now. To see that weariness on him was just powerful.

But more importantly to me, this was the first time that I felt some repercussion from Final Crisis in the DCU. This is the first time that a character honestly responded to something from Final Crisis. It seems sometimes that there were no changes to the DCU from Final Crisis. And I didn't feel this from Hal's rants in Cry For Justice. No, it was this quiet moment of grief and fatigue from a character I don't follow that struck me. Really wonderful.

As powerful as that moment was, it is followed by an equally strong one from Conner. He tells Tim about his impossible mission ... to see if any good exists inside Luthor. He even tells Drake about his notebook checklists. The two Titans are carrying a heavy emotional burden right now.

So when Conner tells Tim that he believes him, that he believes Bruce is alive, it is a great moment. Conner is able to cross something off the Luthor list; he does not alienate friends. In fact that small affirmation might ease the load on Red Robin's back.

I always talk about how the art impacts the feelings of the words in comic. Look at this panel, the two heroes small and in one corner of a large panel, amidst the refuse of a broken and crumbling lab. Can't you feel just how small the two heroes feel right now. This panel could have been a close up of the tow of them. But by pulling back and putting them off center, you get that sense they don't feel powerful and in control right now. They are struggling with the detritus of their lives, they are off kilter. (Maybe I read too much into these things.)

As much as Conner is looking for Luthor, Luthor is looking for Conner. I love how Luthor talks about him like he is an intellectual property. He isn't searching for his lost son. He wants his plaything back.

The back-up Legion story was adequate. It feels like Johns is doing small self-contained stories to introduce the more classic Legion characters to people who may not know them. Here we have the confident Sun Boy wooing women. I don't know if I like Polar Boy being portrayed as a fun loving goofball. He was always so serious in the Legion before. Still there are some nice moments as we see Polar Boy dealing with his own insecurities as they chase a cold-based villain from his home world.

But the real pull of this book is the Superboy stuff. Not one punch was thrown in this issue. This was another story long on character development and short on action. But that's okay. This opening arc seems to be all about Conner's re-emergence into the DCU as he comes to grips with his own issues. And it is just done so well. If I want fisticuffs and gore, I can read other comics.

And the tenor of the comic is matched so wonderfully by Francis Manapul's art. It is both simple and complex, characters feelings shown with an economy of lines.

Perhaps the one downside is that we know that the Johns/Manapul team is only here for a couple of more issues. Is someone else going to pick up this introspective storyline? Is Johns going to finish it? And do I really need to suffer through 2 issues of Superboy Prime?

I originally planned on buying this title for the Legion component. I am now lamenting the loss of the Superboy piece. That is the highest praise I can give.

Overall grade: B+ (although Superboy part is A+ )