Late Reviews & Updates

First onto the updates, which have some pretty big Zone 4 news. Tonight I will be recording the latest installment of the Zone 4 podcast with Brant, Cary, and Jason. This should be the beginnings of our new format that will premier next weekend. Zone 4 will be splitting into it's own feed on the Comic Related site and will be available for downloading via iTunes shortly as well.

In addition to that big news, Zone 4 is growing and we will be adding a second weekly podcast under the Zone 4 moniker. This new podcast will be starting in a few weeks and will feature Brant Fowler and myself reviewing all the books we've read over the course of the previous week. Brant and I will be the regular contributors, but we plan on having guests join us to get fresh perspectives and reviews of books we might not be reading ourselves.

What's special about this podcast for me is that I will be doing the editing! That alone should make things entertaining, if not sadly amusing since I've never even attempted this before. I'm looking forward to the experience and hopefully we can keep everyone entertained!

As I get some time this weekend and things get more settled with the podcasts, I'll be updating this blog with accurate links to make following and finding us as easy as I know how.

As for reviews, I'm extremely late in getting these out, so they will be mostly small and probably a bit superficial. So let me get right into things with a little Vertigo:

Fables #83

This is the start of the humbly titled "The Great Fables Crossover" between the two Fables titles. I can't say that there was much that happened in the way of beginning this crossover. It more or less felt to me like the early part of The Blues Brothers when Jake and Elwood were busy "putting the band back together."

What we do get in this foundation builder of a first issue is solid Willingham story and some great pencils by Buckingham. Bigby and Beast start to get on each other's nerves at the farm and finally come to blows! It's a pretty good fight, even though you know they will calm down in the end. Jack calls the farm and warns Snow White about the what Kevin Thorne is going to do, getting the Fabletown trust scratching their heads trying to understand everything. Meanwhile the man in Black who destroyed Fabletown is starting to affect the real world as he swells the numbers of his horde in an attempt to quickly complete his castle. It's a good story, especially for regular readers, and I recommend you pick it up. For new readers, I think it's an excellent jumping on point.

Captain America #49

The book focuses on Steve Roger's formerly mind controlled assassin Sharon Carter. It's a subtle character driven story showcasing how she is dealing with the fallout of her actions as she has secluded herself from most everyone trying to ride out the nightmares of what she's done. Along the way we learn that she's been teaming with the Falcon (can you think of a character that is in more need of a costume upgrade than Falcon? ) searching for someone who is going around and impersonating Steve Rogers.

I'm enjoying this book more than I thought I would and I think it's due to the fact that Brubaker is weaving an interesting mystery through some great action arcs and character expositions like this issue. My ignorance over Cap's history is a bit difficult at times, but the story is good enough to keep reading, and the Internet supplies me with many answers!

Oracle: The Cure #2 of 3

This is one of the many miniseries and one shots under the Battle for the Cowl banner that DC has going right now. This issue continues Oracle's hunt for the person searching the Internet for enough remaining remnants of the Anti-Life equation to be able to put them together. This time it takes her to Hong Kong were nothing out of the ordinary happens. By that I mean everyone assumes she is helpless as a cripple and that she must be Oracle's assistant because she's a women. Oh yeah, and she is STILL battling the Calculator.

To be honest this series has underwhelmed me. With only one more issue to go, I don't know how they're going to satisfy me. They continue to throw the same crap at us with Babs on her own, fighting to prove she's more than a quadriplegic and that the Calculator is her tech equal/rival. It's all fine, but it is presented the same over and over again and I am tired of it. I predict that two things will happen in the final issue next month, Enough (or all) of the Anti-Life equation will be put together and it will allow for healing. Calculator's daughter (who is in a coma) will probably be saved and I'm guess that we see the return of Barbara Gordon Batgirl as well. If you're not into the whole Battle for the Cowl storyline, there's no reason to spend your money on this mediocre story that should be summed up, by the end, in three sentences in a regular Batman book.

Action Comics #876

This was a great book, but if you aren't following the New Krypton storyline or if you don't have a strong sense of the Superman mythos, stay away from this book because it will confuse you. I enjoyed the story and the good art. General Zodd sends Ursa to Earth to to kill Nightwing & Flambird. What follows is a really good fight showing just how deadly Ursa is. She's gotten Flamebird beaten to the point of death and then starts in on her son, Nightwing. Unfortunately for her Nightwing (for reasons I am not fully sure of yet) is not a full Kryptonian and isn't as affected by the kryptonite dagger Ursa's been using to slice up Flamebird. Just yielding it affects her and has decreased her powers, but it doesn't have the same effect on Nightwing. He ends up slapping her around, rescuing Flamebird, and burying Ursa under a part of the Fortress of Solitude that he collapses. I don't know why, but he brings Flamebird to Lois for help and calls her "Mom."

It's solid fun stuff that's pulling me deeper into the Superman titles, which is what I want when I read a book. The cliffhanger ending, since I don't know all the history, really has me wanting that next issue now!

Green Lantern Corps #35

As we get closer to Blackest Night Johns & Tomasi are throwing quite a bit at us. This issue has the Science Cells attacked and ravaged by a Red Lantern who not only frees many Sinestro prisoners, but releases the rings so they can find new users, Sodam Yat and Arisia head to his home planet of Daxam to liberate them from the Sinestro Corps, only to find his father preaching and leading them to kill themselves as a way to thwart their captures, pissing off Sodam and making him read them the riot act and tell them they WILL fight! Meanwhile of Korugar Soranik and Yolande are trying to quell an angry uprising of Korugar City who feel cheated out of executing the escaped Sinestro, only to see that Sinestro has taken out Yolande so that he can have a "word" with his daughter Soranik!

There's just so much good stuff here that for me both Lantern books are at the very top of my reading list each month. I can't recommend this to people enough.

Featured Article

Last Thursday night the folks at Reed Exhibitions held a launch party for next years inaugural Chicago Comics and Entertainment Exposition (C2E2) that was an invite only event. I was one of the lucky fans chosen to attend. After a splendid evening of good food and fun, I talked with event coordinators about what their plans were for the show. I subsequently wrote an article about it for Comic Related, which you can read right here!

It's been a frustratingly busy week and I haven't even gotten around to reading everything I picked up last week. As soon as I do, I'll be sure to put up some reviews for anyone that's interested. For now, enjoy the article about C2E2 and take a look around Comic Related, because it's a great place.

Welcome To The Observatory

In various forms this blog has been around for about 3 years now, but I've gotten side tracked at times and have left the place in cobwebs. I'm going to try and keep this up as frequently as I can, if for nothing else than to make some posts about what I'm reading, what I might be working on, and giving some updates about other comic book related things I'm doing.

Speaking of other things, I've started doing a podcast with three great guys I've now known for years. Cary Kelley, Brant Fowler, and Jason Berek-Lewis. All three of them are creators in their own right and are in various stages of publication and distribution. Our podcast is called Zone 4 and it's hosted, generously I might add, by Chuck Moore and Comic Related. We call it Zone 4 because Cary is often away working as a commercial diver all over the world, Brant is in the Eastern time zone, I'm here in the Central time zone, and Jason is in Australia (and as such he actually talks to us here in the States from the future!). For the most part we try to get together once a week and talk current news and topics in the comic book publishing industry. Our next broadcast should be this Friday, so stay tuned!

Let me get started this week with some quick reviews and takes on what I've bought and read, starting with the return of great comic that was butchered a few years ago.

Warlord #1

After the embarassing reboot by Bart Sears and Bruce Jones that lasted just 10 issues, DC decided to do the right thing and have the character's creator, Mike Grell, take charge and do this the right way. I never read the original series so I have nothing to compare this to, but if DC has put out a Showcase edition I think I'm going to have to check it.

Issue #1 doesn't start from the beginning. Instead it seems to be picking up where the original series left off. We have explorers from Earth entering a golden gate into what will obviously be Skataris from a hidden cave in Tibet. Mean while refugees are pooring into the Skataris to escape the advancing hordes of the Shadowlands!

The art is sharp and solid with a darker or heavy feel to the lines, but it helps make a great impression of a land that is really more vibrant. The art mixes well with the colors and gives you a great visual experience to go along with a quick paced story. It's definitely worth picking up.

Superman: World of New Krypton #2 of 15

I find this whole development in the Superman mythos to be an interesting addition. Superman has left Earth and is living among his fellow Kryptonians on their newly formed world that shares Earth's orbit, but is diametrically opposed on the other side of the sun. General Zod has been freed from the Phantom Zone and pardoned from his sentence to serve once again as the leader of the Kryptonian armed forces. Through Superman's own indecision in choosing a guild to belong to, his aunt Alaura, the leader of New Krypton, has placed him in the Military Guild under the command of Zod. With a typical progression we get to see how Kal-el is eschewing to forgoe aggressive force like most Kryptonians seem to favor, and instead is acting much as he would on Earth by staying true to his humble Midwestern beginnings as a farmer and compassionate American.

I think the art is a little less impressive than I'd like in regards to the regular look of the characters, but it is well drawn. Overall I was a little underwhelmed by the story and I wonder if James Robinson couldn't have gotten the point across in 5 pages instead of the entire book. If you're really into this story, pick up the book. If you aren't, then you're not missing anything.

Green Lantern #39

This is the first title that has the "Blackest Night" tag at the top of the book as they open the Agent Orange storyline.

I will tell you right now that if you are into comic books and superheroes, you need to be reading this series! Geoff Johns has really put this series at the top of my pile every month and it is the most prominent story in the DCU. Like he did with the Sinestro Corps War, I expect him to deliver a highly entertaining and satisfying story.

Issue #39 shows exactly why the Vega system has been off limits to the Green Lantern Corps for all these years. When the Dominators attempt to secure the source of the Orange light of Avarice, they unleash a threat that blames the Guardians of Oa for this tresspass. The future renegade Black Oan Scar then pushes the Guardians to writing the next new law of the Book of Oa into effect, which is that the Vega System is no longer outside of the Green Lantern Corps jurisdiction, setting up a battle with Avarice.

What's I find the most interesting is the fact that Hal Jordan is the background story in this issue, as the Guardians recall him to Oa to have the Blue ring foricibly removed from his hand, which Hal would like as well. Unfortunately the ring won't come off until Hal commits and act of faith. I don't know if the Blue Corps are planning on doing this frequently, but it's definitely a wrinkle that will have to be addressed.

Let me say it again, pick this thing up!!!

Booster Gold #19

This is one of the most under rated books out there right now. I think anyone can pick up just about any issue and start reading without needing to have a general knowledge of Booster's past.

Booster finished his team up with none other than.......Booster Gold! The two Booster's find a way to restore time to into intended path, rescue Rip Hunter, and repair Skeets. In the process Booster's sister Michelle, distraught over the revelations last issue that she was snatched from the time stream just prior to her own death, sets off on her own to time unknown in despair. When Rip gets back Booster tells him she's gone but isn't sure where she is.

This is just a fun solid series for any one, particularly a DC fan. There are plenty of guest stars popping in and helping out, so you get some real good interplay between them and Booster, especially with them thinking of Booster as a goof, but as the tagline says he's "The Greatest Hero You've Never Heard Of!" Definitely worth picking up.

Secret Six #8
I think that Gail Simone is at her best showcasing a tongue in cheek story with characters that can be both comical and deadly. This issue is a stand alone story with Deadshot and Jeanette going out on a date with Scandal and a stripper the other team members had dress up like her dead girlfriend. Oh yeah, Dollman hitched a ride in the trunk.

I won't spoil too much of this issue since it's really kind of topical as far as story goes, but Scandal makes Deadshot promise not to kill anyone while they are out, so of course there is every opportunity for him to do so.

You don't have to pick this up if you're wanting the usual Secret Six stuff. But if you like humor and entertaining stories you could do much much worse.
Battle For The Cowl #2

Since this series is most likely going to be relying heavily on a surprise ending of sorts, I'm not going to spoil the plot too much, or so I hope.

The quickest way I can summarize this is to mention that Nightwing gets beat on by the new "mean" Batman, who in turn comes back to his new Batcave only to find Catwoman and wait for it.........another Batman already there. There a big fight and Batman wins.

Meanwhile Two-Face is suckered into beginning a gang war with a familar rival due to the intervention and return of a recently departed villain from the Gotham crime scene who has stepped up and is trying to get his two chief rivals to take each other out, or weaken themselves to the point of being easy pickings.

Commishioner Gordan has a nice little talk with the new DA. Can you guess if they get along or see eye-to-eye on the recent past and the present issues? I won't tell, but I will say I enjoyed much of the verbal sparring that took place.

We all know that whoever ends up with the pointy ears and cap will only be in place for a short while because Bruce Wayne is always going to be Batman, even if he temporarily dies, is injured, or just goes on vacation with about 20 supermodels. Do yourself a favor and enjoy this series and see a version of how things might shake out in Gotham and the DCU if Bruce Wayne were to die in a horribly created cosmic event. I think it will be worth it.

That's it for the reviews this week. Although with it being Tuesday already, I should actually get something else up within the next couple of days. Check back, I will be updating.