This week’s show will focus on Superman 708, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents 4, Generation Lost 19, Flash 9, Birds of Prey 9, and Brightest Day 19. We’ll also be chatting about some of the recently announced cancellations.
All posts by DrNorge
Wonder Woman revealed!
I have to admit the new announcements and focus of the series are starting to get me more excited. I really want this series to deliver the way Smallville has or even to surpass it, if possible. I think this series could be a great way for people to remember that superhero storytelling can be varied and diverse. I hope they stick to the core values of what makes Wonder Woman work.
DC Cancels Seven Ongoing Titles: Shout out to Ifanboy
http://www.ifanboy.com/content/articles/Confirmed__DC_Cancels_Seven_Ongoing_Titles
Thanks to Rafael Sanz for pointing out the Ifanboy article above.
This is really sad because I think these are 7 really strong and diverse titles.
Doom Patrol – This is a title that only got better over time. The opportunity to see how the Chief messed with the heads of his team and that they eventually broke away from that really connected me to this group. As Giffen started to really spotlight the characters, I really started to love this twisted little title. Matthew Clark has been fantastic on art. It brought in some of the coolness of the Morrison run while bringing in all of the nutty history of the Doom Patrol. This book made sense of it all and made you see how these characters work in a modern setting. Negative Man was my personal favorite character in this book. Although the issues involving the betrayal of Elasti Girl by Steve Dayton and the Chief were really stellar.
JSA All Stars – Freddie E. Williams II is a long time friend of the show and amazing artist. I love the Vertigo and Shadowpact work of Matthew Sturgis. This team has been really interesting to follow. It started off with Magog and Power Girl breaking off into a strike force. This team was having a tough time adjusting to Magog. As a reader, this book and Magog’s solo title seemed to mirror each other in the development of the character. Seeing the rest of the JSA react to Magog in a way that I was feeling added a sense of realism to the book. When he eventually was booted from the team, they grew together as a family and we saw the return of favorites like Atom Smasher and Sand. It also led to the intro of cool character Anna Fortune who has a rich connection to Dr. Fate. As the team came together and grew closer, so did my connection to the title.
Continue reading DC Cancels Seven Ongoing Titles: Shout out to Ifanboy
Supergirl: A Changing of the Guard
http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2011/02/15/supergirl-vs-social-networking/
Supergirl is a series that became VERY important to me under the tenure of Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle. I think it is one of the better Superman universe books being published. It’s easy to get worried when a new creative team takes over. How will they handle the character? Will it maintain the momentum of the previous run? Will this feel like a continued progression of the character? These are all questions that I worry about whenever there is a change to a book.
It’s too soon to say but so far I am happy with the start of the run of James Peaty and Bernard Chang. The book looks good and they seem to have a handle on the personality of Kara. Kara is a character who developed from being a bratty and almost unlikable character trying to distance herself from Superman to a character who has become VERY accessible and enjoyable to read. We’ve seen her really turn into a hero and take pride in trying to use her powers and intelligence to make a difference in the world. I really like how her Kryptonian upbringing gives her a skill set slightly different than Clark’s because she actually spent more time in the culture than he did.
If you haven’t been reading Supergirl, I recommend picking up trades of the work of Gates and Igle to really get a flavor for how cool this character can be. I also recommend issue 60 to check out the start of the new team’s run. Nick Spencer does the cowriting on that issue. I am loving his work on T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents so that caught my eye immediately. Supergirl is a book worth checking out. I hope the new team continues to build on the terrific foundation that came before.
I love Birds of Prey!!!
http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2011/02/14/valentines-day-is-just-a-made-up-day-but-so-is-wednesday/
The source blog just posted a cool teaser of the upcoming date between Catman and Huntress. If you are a listener of our podcast over the last 5 years, you know about my love for the Birds of Prey. This is a team book that has consistently showcased strong character development and real human emotional drama. It also has had some of my favorite fight scenes within a comic.
Throughout the years, this book has had some amazing art teams that have really made this consistently an A list title. The writing of Gail Simone remains whitty, exciting, wicked and just plain smart. The series is filled with twists and turns where you start to think it is heading in one direction and it takes a sharp turn and throws you for a loop. For me, half the fun of the series is trying to figure out the various clues and teases laid throughout this web because I actually care about these characters.
If you haven’t checked out the adventures of Oracle, Black Canary, Huntress, Lady Blackhawk and the rest of the BOP crew, do yourself a favor. While is is a book set in the Bat Universe, it is very contained and offers something for everyone. This is superhero storytelling at it’s best. Highest possible recommendation.
The All New Batman: The Brave and the Bold
I am a big fan of the Batman Brave and the Bold cartoon. It’s good classic superhero fun. It’s a modern take on all ages superhero story telling. I love that it acknowledges major players in the DCU while not being afraid to give some screen time to the very interesting “smaller” characters within the universe.
That brings me to the recently relaunched tie in comic “The All New Batman: The Brave and the Bold.” This is a great example of how to do a media tie in. Each issue feels like an episode of the cartoon. Justice League Unlimited did this brilliantly. Every so often, I really like to read a book that is just fun and dull of adventure. If you like the cartoon and haven’t given the book a try, give this a shot. It fills a unique spot in my reading library.
Episode 243 is up: Smallville,DC News,Batman and Robin, Titans, Secret Six and more!
Episode 243: We chat about the Smallville episode “Collateral” and “Beacon” from Season 10. Next, we look at some recent DC news and shout out Weird Worlds #2, the Hero Initiative and CBLDF. Finally, we look at Batman and Robin 20, Secret Six 30 and Titans 32.
Note: We also announce the 3 winners from the Sensei Super Snuggie Caption Contest. All entries will be posted on the site this week.
Show Notes:
0:00 Show opening, http://www.heroinitiative.org, http://www.DCBService.com, http://www.Instocktrades.com, our ongoing contest (Ragingcontest@gmail.com), senseiofwhatnot@gmail.com, http://www.geturgeekonradio.com, http://www.comiccollectorlive.com , http://www.nycomiccon.com show voicemail line 1-440-388-4434 or drnorge on Skype,and more.
3:20 Smallville chat
1:02:20 DC News, Weird Worlds #2, Hero Initiative and CBLDF
1:27:35 Batman and Robin 20, Secret Six 30 and Titans 32
2:34:35 Sensei Super Snuggie Caption Contest Winners
2:38:37 Show Closing (Hawkman song by friends of the show “Wednesday Heroes”) http://wednesdayheroes.com/wordpress/
We’ll be back next week with our next episode. Check Ragingbullets.com and the forum for regular updates.
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Kickstarter DVD project: Diagram for Delinquents: Fredric Wertham and the Evolution of Comic Books
Diagram for Delinquents: Fredric Wertham and the Evolution of Comic Books
I posted a pledge to support this project. I am a fan of comic history and their recently released Grant Morrison DVD was incredible. The pledge system is pretty cool and offers some cool incentives. Even if you aren’t able to pledge yourself, spread the word to friends who may be interested. Also search around Kickstarter for some other cool projects as it is a pretty interesting concept for getting new projects off the ground.
Cool Superman Fan Film
Check out this cool Superman Fan Film by a Disney Animator!
Special thanks to Jose Capetillo for sending me the link.
– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Now is a great time to join CBLDF! Support the industry and get some cool swag!
On the show, I have given regular shout outs the the Hero Initiative because I think it is a wonderful organization. I’ve always wanted to join CBLDF but it was one of those things that I never got around to. I came across this article on the Source blog and it made me bite the bullet and finally grab a membership. I encourage any fellow comic fans to consider joining or making a donation to help CBLDF continue to support Free Speech in the comic industry.
For more information: http://cbldf.org/