Multiversity Comics: December 2009

Brian Michael Bendis Blows Up The Internet With Ambiguity

- Posted by Matthew Meylikhov on Thursday, December 31, 2009

While Skrulls and Norman Osborn are pretty obvious, the last one is a bit of a throw off: Galactus. Last we saw of the big guy, he was on the other side of the universe getting his ass handed to him by the Hulk's OTHER son and Beta Ray Bill. Oh, and there was that "alt future" Galactus being used as a battery. But that's besides the point.

Either way, cue various forms of speculation as to exactly what happens at the end of Siege.

Click behind the cut for a tweet about the next 10 years.

Not going to lie. As far as speculation goes? The "Kang" makes me most excited, especially after I put a Young Avengers series on my Top 5 requests from Marvel.

The other things are reasons to get excited too. Gauntlet? That's got to be the Infinity Gauntlet, which we last saw elements of in the Illuminati mini from New Avengers. Enchantress is a Thor reference, and Nefaria is a Doctor Strange villain we haven't seen in a while but I'm going to assume will be a villain in regards to where the Avengers end up. Heroic? That's the Heroic Age, which is what Bendis has been calling the future of the Marvel U.

But you know what's most exciting? Taint. Yeah.

But still. Galactus? What?

THIS MONTH IN COMICS - A Wrap Up Of The Best And Worst Of December By Matthew

- Posted by Matthew Meylikhov on Thursday, December 31, 2009

December is over, and that means it's time for a monthly wrap-up! There have been some great comics this month, but only a few can make the final cut. What do you think they were? Click behind the cut to read my take on the past month, as this year wraps up. It's been a great year for comics, and this month is no different. So give this a read and see if you are not entertained.

BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH: X-Factor

When I look back on the past month, this book stands out for many reasons. For one, it's an incredibly milestone for the title, finally being renumbered to hit 200. When you open it u, not only is it a great point to jump into an excellent book, but it's quite possibly the funniest and most well paced book to come out all month. All of the dialogue is A+, and the action sequences are phenomenal. There were many points in the title where I cheered and/or laughed out loud at what was inside. The several month gap is a dangerous move to pull off, but X-Factor has managed to do it with excellence, and with a dynamite ending, I can't be more excited for the future of the title.

When we were doing books of the week the week of the 16th, Gil was the only one who wasn't reading it. When we told him he had to get it in order to join us in reviewing it, he went out, bought it, and joined us in the love of X-Factor. I suggest you do the same if you haven't already.

Runner Up: Fantastic Four, Detective Comics, Brave and the Bold

WORST BOOK OF THE MONTH: Image United

Image United is a title that I had higher hopes for, and considering something of this sort had never really been done before, it should have been better. But two issues in and I can't help but be extremely disappointed with all that's come out of it. I don't like the writing, I don't like the art, and I am incredibly confused about the direction of the story. It all seems mixed and mashed together to be too odd of a combo, and I don't think it works.

It's unfortunate though. It was a great idea.

Runner Up: Greek Street, Fall Of Hulks Alpha and Gamma

BEST SCENE OF THE MONTH: ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?! (X-Factor #200)

Again I come back to X-Factor. This is one of the best moments in the book. Early in the comic, we have Shatterstar watching Gladiator and making humorous comments towards Russel Crowe's performance. Then, after a tremendous battle with the Thing, he tosses him outside, screaming "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!" as shown above. This was definitely one of the two most quotable moments in comics this month, and was most definitely one of the high points of the latest issue of one of the best books on the market.

Again, if you're not getting X-Factor, I suggest you jump on with this issue.

Runner Up: The arrival of the legions of X-Babies (X-Babies #3), Johnny Sorrow appears (JSA All-Stars #1), Green Lantern and Doc Fate chatting (Brave and the Bold #30)

WORST SCENE OF THE MONTH: Glenn Talbot returns (Fall of Hulks: Gamma)

In Hulk #18, Loeb dropped Talbot's name in a particularly obvious nod to the character being a part of the upcoming arc. Then, at the end of Fall of Hulks: Gamma, after referencing Talbot the entire issue, Talbot appears to absolutely no one's surprise. It had been speculated on the internet that Talbot has been the Red Hulk for some time now, and with his appearance, you'd think it would go to help confirm this. But of course, as Talbot appears in one scene, the Red Hulk is active in another. Or maybe not. Who knows? Maybe they happen at different times. It's not like Loeb would be kind enough to tell us. All clues point to Talbot though, and it's easily one of the most disappointing character returns in a long time, mainly because most people reading the Hulk are probably going to say, "Who?"

Runner Up: Leonard Samson vs Samson vs Doc Samson (Hulk #18)

BEST WRITER OF THE MONTH: Kieron Gillen

Dark Avengers: Ares. SWORD. Thor. Phonogram: The Singles Club. Four titles, all worth getting. The Ares mini came as a complete surprise to me, because I would have highly guessed that a three issue mini based on the God of War would be throwaway, but instead it ended u being a really fun and fascinating read, with an ending that packs quite a punch. SWORD has only had two issues so far, but it's easily one of the best new Marvel titles around, and it spins directly out of Joss Whedon's fantastic Astonishing X-Men run. Gillen is handling these characters perfectly. As for Thor, we've also had just two issues, but that's two this month and Gillen has done a great job of picking up where Straczysnki left off. And if you read the first Phonogram, then you know how great the second is going, with an incredibly plot idea that's shaping up for a wonderful finale.

When looking at Gillen's future for Marvel, I can only write that it's incredibly exciting. If a writer can come on and make not a good, but a GREAT, Beta Ray Bill mini out of the blue, you know it's someone to watch out for.

Runner Up: Warren Ellis (Astonishing X-Men, Supergod), Peter David (X-Babies), Gregg Schigiel (X-Babies)

WORST WRITER OF THE MONTH: Victor Gischler and Daniel Way (Deadpool: Merc With a Mouth/Deadpool)

Earlier this month, I wrote a long rant about the quality of the Deadpool books, and how I didn't like them very much, or the upcoming Deadpool "event." I blame this on Gischler and Way pretty solely. With Merc with a Mouth and the on-going, we have some of the worst Deadpool stories around, and that doesn't include all the needless cameos. It's too bad - both books showed promise in the beginning. Merc with a Mouth in theory should be better, as it's very much trying to be a throwback to the best Deadpool books from the 90's. Even Way's Deadpool books started out well in the beginning. And while there is a lot of debate as to the quality of the books, and how seriously you need to take them, I still believe that they're rather void of good writing no matter what way you look at it. There is no character development, an abundance of gimmicky jokes, and way too many throwaway moments. Sorry, but you guys have basically killed a character.

Runner Up: Claudio Sanchez (Kill Audio), Jeph Loeb (Hulk, Fall of Hulks: Gamma)

BEST ARTIST OF THE MONTH: Phil Jimenez (Astonishing X-Men)

Astonishing X-Men is a great surprise in many ways. The last Warren Ellis arc, Ghost Boxes, featured some convoluted writing and extremely poor writing. Then came the current Exogenetic arc, and good God is the art phenomenal. The above moment is one of the coolest moments, but the entire book looks gorgeous. In fact, while it's not John Cassaday, it's the next best thing, and certainly a tremendous improvement over Simone Bianachi. You could read this book for the art alone.

Runner Up: Steve Kurth (Ultimate Comics Armor Wars)

WORST ARTIST OF THE MONTH: Everyone involved with Image United

Again I come to this book. While it is a great idea, it definitely doesn't work. All the different artworks together just look sloppy. I know most people would expect me to rip on Rob Liefeld's art here, but to be completely honest, that's most definitely not the worst part of the book. Even Todd McFarlane's return to drawing Spawn (and Omega Spawn) is pretty non-exciting. It's unfortunate, because I'm actually quite a fan of McFarlane's work. I used to adore Spawn. But as I read this title, I'm incredibly underwhelmed, and a huge part of that is the mishing mashing of the art.

Runner Up: John Romita Jr on Fall of Hulks: Gamma (Note: I'm actually a big fan of John Romita Jr. I think the man is really talented, and he's done some amazing work, like his art in Kick-Ass and Amazing Spider-Man… but FOH: G was pretty awful)

BEST OVERLOOKED BOOK OF THE MONTH: Beasts of Burden

Beasts of Burden is a book that is very hard NOT to fall in love with. The amazing cast of characters (mostly dogs, with one wonderful cat) with amazing writing and even better artwork make this book a wonderful addition to any home. And being a huge animal lover myself, with a cat that looks exactly like the Orphan, I can't help but absolutely adore it. As this month featured the last book for the current set of issues, now would be the perfect time to seek out the issues, or at least look forward to the upcoming trade.

In the meantime, whet your appetite for Beasts with the online e-comics by clicking here. It should be more than enough to convince you of the worth of the comic.

Seriously. It's wonderful.

Runner Up: The Brave and the Bold, Rapture, Chew

BEST NEW BOOK OF THE MONTH: Chimichanga

From the warped mind of Eric Powell, the creator of the phenomenal Goon series, comes his new mini-series: Chimichanga. Chimichanga is one of the oddest things you'll ever read, featuring a little bearded girl, a giant monster, a witch, and a carnival. Considering Goon is easily the best thing on Dark Horse, I think it's without a doubt that you should be following Eric Powell. He doesn't write that much, but when he does it is of particularly fun and twisted genius. And if nothing else, Chimichanga is a hilarious read.

Runner Up: Daytripper, JSA All-Stars, God Complex

Free Comic Book Day 2010 - It's a Big 'Un!

- Posted by Matthew Meylikhov on Thursday, December 31, 2009

Finally, the press release for Free Comic Book Day 2010 has hit the web and begun it's circulation. This year it seems like they are really pulling out some interesting stuff, taking a lot of heavy cues from the inherent success of last year. While last year we got a lot of great things (including a reprint of the first ever Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic!), this year looks to be a great year for bringing in new readers, with great things from all involved parties.

Oh, and don't forget our yearly Atomic Robo! Can I get a "yeah" in the house? Yeah!

For the press release, jump behind the cut. Make sure you start asking your comic book people to hold you your books now, because if what I went through last year is any indication, this year may be even more difficult to get a hold of things.

(BALTIMORE, MD) — (December 23, 2009) — From cool kids comics to the greatest super-hero fare, from classic reprints to the latest stories, it’s a wide spectrum of comics covered in the Gold and Silver comic books available for Free Comic Book Day 2010!

The Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) Committee is pleased to announce the Gold and Silver Sponsors and their comic books for FCBD 2010, which will be held Saturday, May 1, 2010. Complete descriptions of all thirty-three FCBD titles can be found online now at www.freecomicbookday.com, and in the January issue of Diamond Comic Distributors’ PREVIEWS catalog, available on January 6th, 2010.

Selected by retailers who serve on the FCBD Committee, this year’s roster of Gold and Silver Sponsors and their books include a comic book for everyone’s tastes:

Gold Comic Books
• Ape Entertainment: Kizoic Presents: Shrek and the Penguins of Madagascar
• Archie Comics: Archie's Summer Splash!
• Archaia Entertainment: Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock Flip Book
• BOOM! Studios: Toy Story
• Dark Horse Comics: Doctor Solar/Magnus: Robot Fighter
• DC Comics: War of the Supermen #0
• Drawn & Quarterly: YOW! The John Stanley Library
• IDW Publishing: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #155-1/2
• Image Comics: Fractured Fables
• Marvel Comics: Iron Man/Thor

Silver Comic Books
• Archie Comics: Sonic The Hedgehog: Hide & Seek & Destroy!
• Aspen MLT: Worlds of Aspen
• Asylum Press: Fearless Dawn/Asylum Press Sampler
• Bluewater Productions: S.E. Hinton's/Fame
• Bongo Comics: Bongo Comics Free For All
• BOOM! Studios: Irredeemable #1
• DC Comics: DC Kids Mega Sampler
• Del Rey Comics: Del Rey Showcase
• Dynamite Entertainment: Green Hornet #1
• Fantagraphics Books: Weathercraft: A Frank Comic
• Gemstone Publishing: The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Comics
• IDW Publishing: Library of American Comics #0
• Maerkle Press: Love and Capes #13
• Marvel Comics: Iron Man:Supernova
• New England Comics: The Tick #1 Special Edition
• Oni Press: Oni Press Free-For-All
• Oni Press: Sixth Gun #1
• Radical Publishing: Radical: Bigger Books! Bigger Value!
• Red 5 Comics: Atomic Robo and Friends
• Storm Lion: Freedom Formula: Speed Metal Overtures
• Th3rd World Studios: Stuff of Legend/Mortal Instruments
• Top Shelf Productions: Owly & Friends
• Top Cow Productions: Artifacts: First Look

ADDITIONAL ITEMS
• Upper Deck: Upper Deck Marvel TCG Promo Pack
• NECA/WizKids: Marvel Heroclix: War Machine Figure

Wednesday Is New Comic Book Day! (Reviews 12-31-09)

- Posted by Matthew Meylikhov on Thursday, December 31, 2009

Well, as we've said, this is Indy Comic Book Week! Since the only mainstream review to do this week is for Blackest Night #6. The rest will be if we can get our hands on indy releases. We'll do our best, but we can't make any promises due to the unfortunately limited number of retailers that are participating. However, if you'd like to see your retailer participating in the future, feel free to give them a call or write them an e-mail asking for them to participate! Indy Comic Book Week is a great initiative and one that we fully support.

Until next week, enjoy our reviews of Blackest Night #6.

Blackest Night #6

Matt's Thoughts: I've gotta say, Blackest Night continues to kick absolute ass. I can't remember the last time I read a comic that made me cheer this so much. With this week's ending especially, we're treated with some of the craziest stuff to happen in comics in a while. I am incredibly entertained. And when you see the tie-ins from last week's Green Lantern, it becomes a very satisfying comic. All things considered, another great entry in a great event.

I have one major problem with Blackest Night though. I really feel that, with two issues away from completion, SOME explanation should be given (especially when all the solicits say as much). This issue drops bits and hints, and it's interesting to develop theories based on scraps of dialogue, but I figured back at issue #4, with "WHAT IS NEKRON", that there would be a "FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS I HAVE EXISTED....." monologue by the big baddie. I still expect that to happen, truthfully. I feel it's something that we're owed as readers. Nekron has basically been in the background since he arrived, not saying much. I want him to come to the front and say, "Alright, look. This is why I'm here. Get with the picture, eh?" He's been in TWO Green Lantern stories, and BOTH times he explained himself... why not now? Is his tongue tied or something? There is a lot to explain with him, such as the chains around his neck or the fact his chest is exposed.

While most of us firmly believe this should have been a Green Lantern/Green Lantern Corps crossover (a la Sinestro Corps War), I can't help but fear a little bit for the ending. I'm just worried that 8 issues won't be enough to create a satisfying enough ending, even if it is an "over-sized" finale. I have high hopes and faith that Johns will deliver, I just wish we could have a sit down chat with Nekron. Let him open up a bit, make him a more interesting villain rather than an ominous looming figure standing by a giant hole in the ground. And for the record, no, I would not be happy with a surprise tie-in issue that stars just Nekron in a similar thing to what Johns did during "Thy Kingdom Come" over in Justice Society of America.

David's Thoughts: I'm almost certainly going to be the dissenting opinion on this, but enough is enough.

Every issue so far of Blackest Night has followed the same formula and followed the same patterns to the point they are so episodic that it doesn't feel like a continuous story. Every issue we get the ramifications of the previous issue's cliffhanger, big fight, side scene with a fact generating conversation, tide turning moment, more fight, big cliffhanger complete with a splash page filled with a big group of characters rushing the reader.

I don't have them all on me, but I feel as if this theory is true (especially the splash page part). Even if it isn't true, the fact that every issue feels like a variation on the same formula is massively disappointing to me. This is the universe and the writer that gave us the Sinestro Corps War - an event comic that abandoned event comic formulas and kept its contents to the two Green Lantern comics.

While it may not be fair for me to compare the two, I can say this: it's impossible not to. While it is technically well done and Ivan Reis continues to put on the show of shows with this title, my expectations were for Blackest Night to give us a little something more. With great expectations come great disappointment, and it's impossible to deny that this is what I've felt so far while reading this series.

Gil's Thoughts: If it weren’t for the contents of this issue, I might have given up on Blackest Night. While it’s been lots of fun seeing DC’s Holy Trinity take a back seat to Hal Jordan, it wasn’t always Hal Jordan in the driver’s seat, so to speak. When Ray Palmer, Mera, and Barry Allen were in the starring role, I was confused. Why are these characters who, for the most part anyway, have no connection to the Green Lantern mythos, headlining a Green Lantern event?

Well, thankfully that’s not the case. Those character’s reasons for being so prominent are explained (and then some) while battling the undead former comrades and enemies during the longest night in the history of the DC Universe. It’s a little weird that for such a big bad, Nekron has been largely absent, but he had a feature in last week’s Green Lantern issue, explaining where he’s coming from ,and why he’s doing what he’s doing. While it has the title of “Tales of the Black Lantern Corps,” it also goes directly into this issue, which brings a certain level of cohesion that is appreciated.

That being said, there are some odd parts in the book. While the ending makes complete sense with regards to the buildup of the rest of the event, there are some cameos that are odd insertions. Does it make sense that Lex Luthor and Scarecrow are making their appearances? Of course it does. Could they have been featured a little more satisfactorily? Without a doubt.

All in all, it’s a fun diversion and I maintain that this is the best event since The Sinestro Corps War. It’s not nearly as good as SCW, but it’s better than the rest.

Brandon's Thoughts: Well only one book this week. That made this a pretty easy choice for book of the week. I think had it not been the only book it still would have been a solid choice though. Things as of the last couple issues have really been picking up and this issue is not different. We are really seeing things come together and it’s a ghastly sight. In a good way I assure you.

One of the coolest things to happen so far comes in the final pages. I say one of the coolest because I assume it is short term. If it lingers more than another issue or two I will retract this statement quicker than DC retracted theirs that they planned on staying committed to Wally and Bart despite Barry’s return. ZING! Anyway…

The art here is phenomenal and I have a hard time complaining. This is high action at some of it’s best. What a way to end the decade that’s for sure. The art has been by far the most consistent aspect of this title and I don’t think many would argue with me on that.

If this is to be the last “new” comic I read this decade than I can pass to the next decade feeling rather content. Geoff Johns comes through like he has most of the decade and, as he probably will for the rest of the next decade. Green Lantern is a prominent jewel in the DCU and hopefully this event will cement that in the minds of those who weren’t convinced pre-Johns.

Invisible Sam: The Unremarkable Man - Review by Gil

The lone book that was available to me on Indy Comic Book Day is also one of the most melancholy I’ve read. The eponymous main character could be any one of us, and he feels something that most of us have felt at one point of another.

He lives in a world where he is as the title suggests, completely unremarkable. He lives alone, and the only thing he has to keep himself from falling into oblivion is his work. It’s what drives him and makes him feel like he actually matters in the world.

If you can’t tell, the book only gets darker and sadder from that point, and it’s beautifully written and drawn by Adam O. Pruett, along with the grayscales provided with surprisingly rich detail by David Seltzer. You definitely get a feeling of being swallowed whole by the world, and the pain in Sam’s eyes as his life (or the closest thing to a life he has) falls apart around him until there is (literally) nothing left.

If you were lucky enough to be near a store that carries it, then please do yourself a favor and read the exploits of Sam. For more information, check out the creators at http://www.bigredh.net/

Final Verdict: 8.9 - Buy

Speeding To Oblivion

- Posted by David Harper on Wednesday, December 30, 2009

We've been around for only a little while as a website, but Multiversity has drawn the attention of other fellow bloggers and received a number of fantastic links that have built our audience very steadily. Thanks to everyone for the support so far, but that is not actually what this post is about. One of the most frequent Multiversity linkers has been our boy Kelson over at Speed Force and he's recently written about something that upset him that we did not know about: DC's abandoning of the Wally West co-feature in the upcoming Geoff Johns/Francis Manapul Flash title and the Kid Flash solo book.

It turns out Kelson was a little upset about that, and to be honest, so am I. To see me rant and rave about how DC is trying their hardest to ruin The Flash universe that I grew up loving, see after the jump.

Note: I did read Geoff Johns response to comic fans reactions to this news. Geoff Johns said pretty much what Dan Didio should have said. However, my stance is still the same, and I'm sure if he wasn't contractually obligated to say so, he probably would agree with me that he'd prefer the situation to be different.

While I spend basically every waking moment on this site tackling graphic novels, small press titles, and my adoration for all things Brian K. Vaughan, my favorite hero throughout my life has been The Flash. To be specific, Wally West with Bart Allen as Impulse. My favorite run was actually the Mark Waid/Brian Augustyn one along with Waid/Augustyn/Humberto Ramos' stretch on Impulse. I grew up with these characters as this happened to coincide with the height of my boyhood fandom of comic books.

I also liked Barry Allen and always thought that his death in Crisis on Infinite Earths was one of the all-time greatest comic book deaths. On his subsequent returns, they were handled in such a way that they either were fake outs to enhance a storyline (such as when Professor Zoom came to Keystone City actually thinking he was Barry Allen) or in ways that made sense from a continuity standpoint (the Cobalt Blue arc, Infinite Crisis in the glorious Flash(es) vs. Superboy Prime fight). DC had a good grip on the character and what he could and couldn't do, and they used but didn't abuse the loophole Marv Wolfman installed in Crisis on Infinite Earths when he was instructed to kill Allen. See below for Wolfman's explanation:

I came up with the idea of Flash moving back through time, flashing into our dimension even as he was dying. So, thought I, what if Barry was plucked out of the time stream at one of those moments he appeared? What if that meant from this point on Barry knew that he was literally living on borrowed time, that at any moment the time stream could close in on him and take him to his inevitable death.

When Grant Morrison brought upon the return of Barry Allen, I was fine with that. While I despise dead characters returning and would have preferred more time with Wally and Bart (who had just returned from the dead himself in Legion of Three Worlds), I was okay with the return. I don't want to make this about why Barry Allen shouldn't be a part of the DCU because that isn't what I'm trying to convey here.

I'm trying to convey how badly DC has handled Wally West and Bart Allen.

It all started with Infinite Crisis and the disappearance of all remaining non-Jay Garrick Flashes. You had Wally West and his family disappear, and you had Bart Allen go into the Speed Force as well only to return at the end of the series as an adult version of himself.

While I love all Flashes, I've always had a favorite in Bart Allen. As I mentioned before Waid, Augustyn, and Ramos' run on his solo title Impulse is an all time favorite of mine and his relationship with Max Mercury is one of my favorites in comic history. This series is highlighted by the madcap energy and perpetual state of wonder Allen is in, which is something Waid/Augustyn mastered as well as anyone ever has.

To return the character as an adult was their first mistake. Their second mistake was putting an atrocious team like Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo on the book (were they really surprised when the book turned out to be bad and that sales tanked?). Their third mistake was abandoning Marc Guggenheim's exceptional time on the book only to have him brutally and coldly murdered by the Rogues. Think about that - DC saw fit to having one of their flagship characters beaten to death while saving a city. Is that the death he deserved? No. That is an absolutely pathetic way to let a beloved character go out.

After that we were given the return of Wally West with the horrendous JLA/JSA team up The Lightning Saga. This led to the keys to this incredibly fast car goingback to Waid and he managed to...drive it into a concrete wall at high speeds. His run was about as bad as you could get, shifting the focus to a family of Flashes (upon their return West's kids were much older and they had powers) and really losing sight on what really works with this character.

About this time is when Barry Allen and Bart Allen returned, as DC had to have figured out that pretty much nothing they were doing with this once rich universe of characters was working. They made a wise decision in putting Barry's return back in the hands of perhaps the most able Flash writer around - Geoff Johns. This would have been a brilliant move if it weren't for the fact that they put his return mini-series Flash: Rebirth also in the artistic grasp of Ethan Van Sciver: Slowest Penciler Alive.

That the series has taken nine months to release five issues with the sixth coming March 24th - just seven days less than a year since the first issue - is indicative of how well this venture has gone.

Of course, DC presented us with light at the end of the tunnel. Upon the eventual conclusion of Rebirth (and the spoiler ridden Blackest Night: Flash, assumably), we'd receive The Flash: Secret Files and Origins by Johns and Francis Manapul. Once that was digested, Johns and Manapul would return for The Flash, a new series starring Barry Allen with a co-feature starring Wally West with Johns and Scott Kolins onboard. Even more exciting for me as a Bart Allen fan? They were going to give us a Kid Flash title written by rising star Sterling Gates that promised to bring back the old Bart and Max Mercury dynamic.

To me, this was heaven for my favorite character. Barry Allen returns and we still would get Wally West and Bart Allen in capable hands as well. All was right in the world.

Now, back to the present.

Dan Didio recently announced that the Wally West co-feature and Bart Allen centric Kid Flash title were "on hold", with the Wally part likely having something to do with the restructuring of their co-feature program - don't even get me started on the upcoming cancellation of the Blue Beetle backup in Booster Gold.

The good news being that we would be getting not just 22, but 30 pages of Johns written, Manapul illustrated Barry Allen action in The Flash. As exciting that is, I have to admit, it tastes pretty bitter to me.

As an addendum, Kelson stated that he didn't want to be "that guy." You know, that guy whose loyalty to their favorite supersedes all other logic or factors in the situation.

Well Kelson, I will be that guy.

I have long stated that one of the biggest crimes in comics is fans fierce character loyalty. If you choose to read a terrible comic just because it stars "Superhero X" even though its written by (current version of) Jeph Loeb and drawn by Larry Stroman and has been described by your average comic book fan as the single worst comic ever made - that's your own fault for wasting your money and helping support a bad comic being made.

Yet with The Flash, I've supported the character throughout the bad and the good. I continued to read no matter how bad it got or how poorly they treated the characters. DC has turned me into a hypocrite and inverted my own standards.

No longer.

Until they get their act together and support the current characters we love while rebirthing Silver Age stars, they will not earn any of my money towards The Flash. I was looking forward to reading Johns and Manapul's run, but if they choose to abandon two story rich characters like Wally West and Bart Allen simply because they cannot work out the logistics or whatever the back story is, well...they lost themselves a reader because of it.

It's a simple formula - tell quality stories with the characters that we love. That's how you earn fans. When they treat the characters and their fans with the proper respect, I'll be back. Until then, I'll be joining Kelson at the picket lines (metaphorically speaking of course).

Ring In The New Year With Marvel Comics!

- Posted by Matthew Meylikhov on Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Today at comic book retailers all over the country, Marvel is giving you a reason to go outside of your house for a reason that doesn't involve fireworks and/or alcohol! This year, you'll be able to pick up some swag to help ring in the New Year, such as an Avengers ID card and a free prologue to Siege, among other things. Full press release below:

Marvel Comics is pleased to announce the official Marvel's New Year's Eve EVE Party all day Wednesday, December 30-right at your participating local comic shop!

Fans of Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wolverine, and all things Marvel are invited to come in and celebrate the new year during this all-day event.

Among the giveaway items will be a free 2010 Marvel Super Hero calendar, Exclusive Avengers ID Cards to collect & trade, a free comic book - ORIGINS OF SIEGE - which features an all-new prologue to 2010's HOTTEST event by Brian Michael Bendis, and more!

"Marvel would like to thank everyone for making 2009 such a milestone year," says Marvel Senior Vice President of Sales and Circulation Publishing David Gabriel. "As we wrap up our 70th Anniversary, we wanted to partner with local comic book shops to show our gratitude and also wish everyone a safe, happy, and marvelous 2010!"

Swing by your participating local comic shop on December 30 for your free giveaways at the Marvel New Year's Eve EVE party and make yours Marvel in 2010!

So, just so we're all clear, you stand to pick up:

Free Origins of Siege prologue comic
Avengers ID Card
2010 Marvel Calendar

Not a bad deal if you ask me.

This Week In Comics!

- Posted by Matthew Meylikhov on Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Well, this is a little different! As you may or may not know by now (and quite frankly, you SHOULD know), this week is actually Indy Comic Book Week! All of the bigger publishers are taking a break to relax, enjoy some Mojitos on a beach, and not worry about the multiverse for a brief period of time.

However, since the big two are technically both releasing books this week, this article still comes out to let you know!

DC will only be publishing Blackest Night #6, for $3.99.

"The secrets of Nekron are revealed as darkness consumes the DC Universe. Everything else: TOP SECRET."

Marvel will be releasing an exclusive Fall of the Hulks: Alpha variant, for $3.99. They will also be releasing a free comic book entitled Origins Of Siege.

"SIEGE is almost upon us! And this special giveaway issue contains everything readers will need to prepare themselves for the ultimate conflict to hit the Marvel Universe, six years in the making! Showcasing an ALL-NEW lead-in story featuring Loki, the God of Evil, ORIGINS OF SIEGE also contains an ALL-NEW origins section covering all of the major players in the battle, as drawn by the biggest artists at Marvel, as well as pinups and a checklist so you don’t miss a single important issue. All that and a preview of SIEGE #1! It’s time!"

Other than that, it's all indy stuff! So go find a participating retailer and enjoy! Your wallet will also thank you for the break.

What's Going On With Spider-Man?

- Posted by Matthew Meylikhov on Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Marvel has released two curious teaser images for the future of Spider-man in 2010.

See the second image after the jump. Cue speculation.

Indy Comic Book Week is Here!

- Posted by David Harper on Tuesday, December 29, 2009

As our readers may or may not know, this is a week that features only two new releases - DC's Blackest Night #6 (can you say leak?) and Marvel's free (!) Origins of Siege. Both are very exciting but do not forget, it is also very exciting for another reason. It's Indy Comic Book Week!

We at Multiversity are big supporters of anything and everything comic book related. Indy Comic Book Week takes the truly independent works of some great creators and puts them into stores near you (I really mean you in this situation - no one in Alaska is participating in Indy Comic Book Week). It's an attempt for these writers and artists to self publish some work and get it into stores for your average comic reader to try out in a week almost nothing is being shipped. So this week, go to your local comic book store and ask them if they have any Indy Comic Book Week certified titles. While you're at it, pick one up for me and send it up to Alaska so I can get my ICBW on as well.

If you don't believe me that this is awesome, see after the jump for Matt's review of our friends at St. James Comics title Ex Occultus: Badge of Langavat. It is a featured release during Indy Comic Book Week that we support big time. We've also provided a list of all the participating retailers after the jump as well, so see if there's a place you can go!

Ex Occultus: Badge of Langavat
By Robert James Russell
Artwork by Sandra Lanz

I'll be as upright as I always try to be: I am not a big fan of horror. I like zombie related things sure, but just in general horror stories don't do it for me. The closest you'll see me reading in comic form is a Hellboy comic, and that doesn't really count, now does it? However, after reading Ex Occultus, I've gotta say that this horror could do it for me.

In Badge of Langaval, we're treated to a one-shot story starring the main character of the series, Francis Wakefield, as he travels the countryside with fellow monster hunter Fergus Duff, investigating the case of some missing children. There have been rumors of werewolves and, Wakefield being the brave explorer that he is, spares no expense in doing what he can to find these children. Upon the discovery of a clan of werewolves, whose legend ties back farther than we could have imagined, intense action breaks out as Wakefield and Duff battle the beasts for the lives of the children. Awesome.

As much as I generally dislike horror stories, I thought this one was splendidly told. Russell has created a fine hero in Wakefield, one whose silence and general brooding demeanor creates intrigue towards his travels and adventures. As the book unfolds, we see a wonderful mythos laying within, and it doesn't treat the reader as a fool either. Nothing is explained too thoroughly and there is an appendix in the back to help elaborate for those who need/want it. It makes for an excellent touch of writing.

As for the artwork by Lanz, her thick lines and shadows create for a terrificly dark and foreboding landscape. There is one scene in particular near the end, during the final confrontation, which really helps her to shine with her artwork. Her characterizations are steadfast and the panels do an amazing job of moving the story bit by bit. The dark world she has been given the chance to bring to life is tremendous.

Suffice it to say, this Ex Occultus does a terrific job of introducing new readers (like myself) to the world created here. For fans of horror and non-horror alike, it's always fun to watch a werewolf get terminated, 1800's style.

Participating Retailers

Madness Games & Comics
Plano, TX | 972.943.8135

Zeus Toys & Comics
Dallas, TX | 214.219.8697

Titan Comics
Dallas, TX | 214.350.4420

Keith's Comics
Dallas, TX | 214.827.3060

Lone Star Comics
Arlington, TX | 817.860.7827

Jim Hanley's Universe
New York, NY | 212.268.7088

Midtown Comics
New York, NY| 800.411.3341

Heroplex Comics & Games
Richland Hills TX | 817.581.4376

Ssalefish Comics
Winston Salem, NC | 336.760.9851

Brainstorm Movies, Comics & Games
Chicago, IL | 773.384.8721

Green Brain Comics
Dearborn, MI | 313.582.9444

Sarge's Comics
New London, CT | 860.443.2004

Challengers Comics
Chicago, IL| 773.278.0155

Boomerang Comics
Lewisville, TX| 972.315.5291

Hub Comics
Somerville, MA| 617.718.0987

4 Color Fantasies
Rancho Cucamonga, CA| 909.563.8751

Pulp Nouveau Comix
Canandaigua, NY | 585.394.8250

Astrokitty Comics & More
Lawrence, KS | 785.856.8607

Zaldiva Comics & Collectibles
Fort Lauderdale, FL | 945.938.4133

Dragon's Horde
Stone Mountain, GA | 404.298.1188

Floating World Comics
Portland, OR| 503.241.0227

Small Press Spotlight: Queen & Country

- Posted by David Harper on Tuesday, December 29, 2009

This week in my Small Press Spotlight series I have a release from Oni Press called Queen & Country. This title was written by Greg Rucka and illustrated by many different artists over its lifespan, and was comprised by 32 issues released between 2001 and 2007.

My first experience with this title was while loitering at Portland, Oregon's superb bookstore Powell's Books on Burnside. While there, wasting time while my friends were at work, I grabbed The Definitive Edition, Vol. 1 and was quickly engulfed by this exceptional spy title. You will be too, for the reasons I talk about after the jump.

If you're looking for James Bond style spy action, with gadgets, shoot outs and poker games infused with sex, you'll want to stay away from Queen & Country. This is not that type of spy fiction. Greg Rucka claimed to be inspired by an old British ITV series called The Sandbaggers, and it subscribes to the theory that spies would likely rather be neither seen or heard (an attribute also prized by the Milford School). Also, rather than dismissing the bureaucracy and politics that they deal with so heavily, Rucka embraces it. It adds additional tension to the story, as you know that our favorite spies have enemies everywhere, even in their home office.

The central character of the story is Tara Chace. Chace is an operative of the Special Operations Section of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (formerly known as MI6), who are more frequently referred to within the story as the Minders. The Minders are the elite of the elite, only going on the most dangerous of missions and frequently having to go deep into war zones - we're introduced to Chace as she carries out an unauthorized assassination of a former Russian general turned arms dealer. If you're familiar with Rucka, you know one of his most unique gifts as a writer is to come up with exceptional female characters. Chace is one of his best, as she is a burnt-out and fed up spy dealing with living her life with a target on her back from both those who put a bounty on her head and her superiors. She's a strong protagonist and in many ways the anti-Bond - she frequently makes her targets look well put together in contrast.

One of Rucka's other incredible skills is his ability to develop his supporting cast so each and every scene is loaded with power and intensity even if it is just a conversation. Like the worlds of Gotham Central and Checkmate that followed, the Special Operations Section is a living, breathing environment, with every character having their own agenda and their own needs in play at all times. Many writers focus so much on the protagonists that they do not develop the supporting characters, but Rucka realizes the fault in this concept. Without a proper supporting staff, Chace wouldn't be given much to work with to become the lead she could be. Rucka ably handles this in just the first arc. It's especially important in a world like this too given the double and triple crossing that is the norm in the world of espionage.

This series' artists changed from arc to arc and ranged in quality, but I can say this: whenever Steve Rolston was working on this title, it was exceptional. He uses a cartoonish and clean lined character models to contrast with very detailed background scenery. This technique is interesting in that it makes the world feel all the more real while making the characters seem almost more ambiguous in their intentions with the artistic style. I loved his work on Brian K. Vaughan's The Escapists and his work here is just as great, if not better. Tim Sale provides the covers to the series, and his work is of a high standard as per usual - there really are not many more consistent artists on the market than him.

Other artists who contribute to this series include Bryan Lee O'Malley (!), Carla Speed McNeill, Mike Norton, and many, many more.

This is one of the more under read gems in my mind. I actually do not know anyone else who has read this title, and it is quite easy and inexpensive to pick up the whole series in just four editions. Queen & Country is a comic book of the finest quality, and one that should not be missed by any fan of espionage or comic books.

Purchase the first volume of Queen & Country: The Definitive Edition on Amazon for an incredible $13.57 here.

A Look Back With Bendis, Part 3.

- Posted by Matthew Meylikhov on Monday, December 28, 2009

Part 3 in the look back with Bendis has arrived, this time focusing on House Of M. Enjoy.

Supergirl: The Crown Jewel Of The Superbooks

- Posted by Matthew Meylikhov on Monday, December 28, 2009

I’m not a big fan of Superman or the Superman books (I love how often I write this sentence on this website). I’ve read my fair share of Superman stories, sure, but I can never call myself a Superman fan. With the recent crossover event of New Krypton, in which the lost bottled city of Kandor is released and all hell breaks loose in between Earth and the Kryptonians, we finally saw a clear continuity being drawn in between the pages of Action Comics, Superman, and the lesser discussed Supergirl. As the books continue to intertwine with each other as well as the new limited book World Of New Krypton, I continue to read all of them. It’s odd – if you’d asked me a year ago today if I’d be keeping up with the Superman books, I would have laughed a hearty laugh. Now, I read them all! I’m even looking forward to the upcoming Brainiac crossover, as well as the War of the Supermen “event” arc, whatever that may entail.

It’s with this in mind, though, that I believe that I can comment on something: I firmly believe that Supergirl is the best Super-title on the market..

Why? Read on, to find out!

Now, this isn't so much a character spotlight as it is a spotlight of an entire series, but I'd be wrong if I didn't take a minute to discuss Supergirl as a character. To be quite honest, Supergirl is not a character that I ever saw myself really ever caring about. At least, not in the way that I care what happens to a DC character like Shazam or Green Lantern. Supergirl just is, with her odd choice of costume (how does her mother let her out of Krypton like that?)*, her limited rogues gallery, and general dismissiveness from fans (unless we're talking about fanboys at a convention... then they LOVE seeing Supergirl). But when you really start getting into the books, there's actually quite a lot to like about the character. In comparison with other Kryptonians, she's definitely the one that is closest with Superman as far as general morality goes, especially when all you have to compare with is Superboy (who thinks being Lex Luthor could be a good idea?) and Power Girl (who... well, have you seen HER costume?). She's much more light hearted than Kal, though, so when you read her stories it's kind of like reading a Superman book if Superman had a bigger sense of humor. She's sassy, a strong female character in comics, and she loves cats! That's a selling point for me right there! And in recent years, she's really ramped up her status in the superhero community, fighting more powerful villains with bigger challenges and being known for more than just taking down Air Force One that one time by accident (she swears).

I guess my main thing against the Superbooks these days is just the lack of stand alone capability. When you take them apart and look at the books, they've kind of fallen apart, mostly because Superman isn't in the title himself. The whole "World Against Superman" thing isn't very interesting. Mon-El is a great character, and I love him from the Legion, but his stories so far have been pretty poor, even with Robinson taking over, who I like a lot. Action Comics, featuring the new Nightwing and Flamebird, has been a complete roller coaster ride of being good and bad. When they hunt Kryptonians - it's good. Every other story? Can't say I'm interested. And World of New Krypton has been very hit or miss so far, featuring some stories that are interesting and others, like the last issue, that just fizzle. My main issue with that title is that, for a book that's suppose to be about a brand new developing society, it seems much more like a filler book in between now and when every other title is ready for the upcoming super events. It's in that that the read just feels ultimately pointless and unnecessary.

I understand that it's very easy to look over Supergirl as a character, though, which is why we need not just a good writer to come in, but a great one. Cue Sterling Gates, the new kid on the block. As far as I can tell, Supergirl is his first big character book in the DCU, but since I've been reading post-New Krypton, there hasn't been an issue of Supergirl I didn't like. She had one of the biggest moments in the whole New Krypton storyline when her father died, and this played a huge part of the books to come. The following "Who Is Superwoman Arc?" is when I really started to love the book, though. As Supergirl searched for Reactron, her father's killer, she began to somewhat team up with the mysterious Superwoman, who we already saw was bad news at the end of the New Krypton story. As the story progressed, we saw that she clearly was an enemy, and eventually Supergirl had to take the elusive foe down. The entire storyline featured great writing and character development, as well as steady and talented art in the book throughout. In all honesty, in my short time following Supergirl I've actually seen more character development in this book alone than I see in most books in general. Supergirl, or Kara, has had to come up with her new secret identity (as a member of the Lang) family, learn to adjust to a "civilian life," and then had to decide her role in between Earth and Krypton, with Earth wanting to push her out completely. Add her dad dying in the middle of it all and you've got a troubled teen. It reminds me what I loved about Ultimate Spider-Man, with a teen hero going through normal adolescent problems as well as superhero problems, and it makes for the best thing I've found coming out of New Krypton and the departure of Geoff Johns from the books.

It's no wonder that this has ended up like this, though. For those that do not know, Sterling Gates is somewhat of Geoff Johns' protege on some levels. From what I've read about how Gates came to work with DC, it's because of his interaction with Johns. It only makes sense that he would end up being as intriguing of a writer as Johns. Gates has been involved with numerous crossovers in the books, such as "The Hunt For Reactron" and the "Codename: Patriot" arcs, and Supergirl has always been the best book in every set. When allowed to go on his own, though, Gates has each time managed to write great build up with a tremendous pay-off. I have not gone back and read the Supergirl stuff Gates wrote before New Krypton, but again I come back to the Superwoman arc. It featured great build up, mystery, intrigue, action, and then a pay off that was satisfying for someone reading that book alone. You didn't have to read a million other things to get the story - you only have to read this one arc. It's something not a lot of authors are doing at this time. So many people want to write throwbacks to older DC stories, so that before you can "get" what you just read, you need to go buy a bunch of old trades and read all those stories too. Gates comes in as a new writer to write brand new stories with characters that are old, but with no previous knowledge necessary. It makes it really great for new readers to the title, like me. Even the current arc, which features the villain Silver Banshee, takes the time to explain who that villain is and what we need to know that's important. It's a great consideration for fans.

As the Superbooks continue to intertwine (the most recent Superman and Action Comics will be interwoven with an arc, as well as the future featuring the Brainiac and the Legion of Super-Heroes arc which will be between all books), I can't continue to recommend Supergirl enough. Considering you'll need to be reading all the books together soon enough, I suppose you should at least have one that you can look forward to. Sterling Gates has made Supergirl a book that sits at the top of my weekly reads, and the future for the book looks great. With issue 50 right around the corner, it'd be a great jumping on point for anyone interested in collecting the single issues vs. just trades. I think it's also a good idea to keep your eyes open for Supergirl trades, starting with the Who Is Superwoman trade (assuming you've read New Krypton already). Gates has also done a pretty good mini, called World's Finest, which hasn't measured up quite as much to Supergirl but is relatively entertaining. And definitely keep your eyes open for Gates in the future - I see good things happening for him.

-------------------------------------------
*As a complete sidenote to this article, that really has nothing to do with anything, I just have to wonder - for characters who fly around in space, doesn't it get cold? I mean, for the most part, you've got characters like Green Lantern, who creates a protective bubble around him, or Doc Fate, who uses his magic to keep him alive, or even Superman, who wears a full body suit that withstands all sorts of attacks and can certainly survive entry into outer space. But Supergirl is in a mini-skirt and revealing tank top. I know she's Kryptonian and is powered by the Earth's sun, but she has shown signs of feeling various forms of temperature changes in the comics, so why doesn't the absolute freezing temperature of space effect her? How does this make sense?!

Good God, I'm turning into Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory more and more every day.

Doctor Who - "The End Of Time Part 1" Review

- Posted by Matthew Meylikhov on Monday, December 28, 2009

It's that time of year again! Another Christmas, another Who special! For those of us who don't celebrate this particular holiday, I think it's fair to say that we have not much else to look forward to! Heck, even those that DO celebrate the holiday can always look forward to some new Who. And this year in particular is very special, as it marks the end to an amazing reign on Doctor Who by Russel T. Davies who, in 2005, brought the show back in full force with Christopher Eccleston as the titular character. As years went by, it was David Tennant who really stepped into the role, defining the Doctor for a generation in a way that hadn't been done since Tom Baker or William Hartnell. In addition to Davies leaving, so does Tennant, and this means the Doctor has to die.

We all know it's coming. "He will knock four times." The end of time is upon us. But how does it measure up?

NOTE: Spoilers are discussed in the following review. If you wish to avoid them, you might want to go watch the episode before reading this.

This special is, of course, a bit odd. It is the beginning to the end, to use a terrible adage. It has to set up everything for whatever explosive finale is to come, which will inevitably bring back every Who character from the past four seasons to say goodbye as we welcome both a new executive producer and a new doctor. Apparently Davies isn't happy with just doing that. Davies wants to change everything beyond that, and this episode clearly shows us just how far he's going to go before saying goodbye. And I can't tell how comfortable we will be with all said and done.

As the special begins, we begin to see how things have tied together. Specifically, we begin to focus on Wilfred Mott, a character who had been with us since season two, appearing randomly through out the series. As it of course turns out, he is more important than we original believed, and he is the new companion for all intents and purposes. Of course, this special also brings back the Doctor's greatest enemy: the Master. When we last saw the Master, he was burning to a crisp... yet some art of him survived in a ring that was picked up in an unknown persona. As we see, the Master had a contingency plan for the whole situation, but the resurrection is botched, bringing him back in an incomplete state. And once the Doctor is made aware of this by the Ood, all hell breaks loose.

The episode is probably one of the most different episodes we've ever seen, relying not so much on the Doctor solving a mystery as he is trying to find the Master, and the two have their various showdowns through out the episode. John Simm reprises the Master, fresh with a new set of hair, and he plays the part even more wonderfully than he did before. John Simm is the only Master my generation has ever truly known, and to have him laying the ultimate Time Lord villain again was of course a real treat. And with his curious new set of powers and blonde hair, he's even more wicked than before. This all leads to the end in which John Simm turns everyone on the planet into John Simm, finally creating the Utopia he had sought for for so long. Talk about wicked.

And we're not left with just that! The drumming inside the Master's brain we'd been teased about? It's something more! What is amazing about Davies' run on Doctor Who is that he consistently connects everything together, so for fans who have seen every episode, it's even more rewarding. What is inside his head? And what is coming? How are they related? These are the questions we're left with as the episode ends and we begin to wait for the finale on New Years. The ending of this year's Christmas special is by far and large the biggest twist we've ever seen - the Time Lord's are alive.

As we see, Mr. Skinner from Hot Fuzz Timothy Dalton appears in the biggest shocker: the Time Lords are alive. Just like the Daaleks, the Time Lords somehow survived. This is what I was talking about with Davies certainly pushing the limit of what we'll allow. It's easily the most polarizing move. By killing off all the Time Lords, Davies set a status quo for the show and most certainly created an intriguing set of events for the Doctor. When he learned the Master was alive, he was more obsessed with helping him so he wouldn't be alone. The Time Lords hadn't played a large part in the Doctor Who mythos of our show, but now with their return, what does this mean? And how exactly does it change things?

Ok, so it wasn't that great of an episode, but all the same it's difficult to judge. It did it's job, that's for sure, and it definitely did a good job of pursuing the Doctor's more recent lethargic state of mind. As his death approaches, the Doctor becomes a tad more lethargic and even more sassy than before. Tennant does a great job of portraying this, and the Doctor we see in this episode is definitely not a Doctor we've ever seen before. In fact, his portrayal in this is actually quite haunting in a way. There's an incredibly moving scene as the Doctor cries about his death in a small coffee shop with Wilfred, and we begin to see that it really is all over for him. He's come to grips with his death more so than anyone, and that's just a depressing thought. How can we count on a savior who is just as ready to die as he is ready to come to our defense?

All things considered, this is not the best Doctor Who special we've ever seen, but it's difficult to judge because it's clearly meant to be seen in full capacity as both the Christmas and New Years special. In that regards we need to ask ourselves, does the special do it's job? Does the special create intrigue for the final episode, leaving us on the edge of our seats with thousands of questions? Yes. Does it entertain? Yes. In that regards, it actually is a good episode. It's just difficult to watch since there are so much things left when all is said and done. I know I have a million questions, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to watch it again. As I write this, I'm actually watching the original Master trilogy of episodes from Season 3, in which the Master finally regained his persona from the Fob watch at the end of the universe. I can't wait for the final episode, and the return of all the heroes I've come to love.

So really, when it comes down to it, saying that this is a "meh" Doctor Who episode is like trying to pick the least pretty diamond in Tiffany's. No matter what, it's still great, and definitely some of the best television around. New Years isn't that far off, and while everyone else is out drinking and blasting off fireworks, I'll be quite honest - I'll be waiting for some way to watch the final episode of Doctor Who, because ultimately that's the most exciting thing I can think of.

Battle for the Cowl Aftermath And You: The Poster

- Posted by Matthew Meylikhov on Sunday, December 27, 2009

You know what my favorite part of any upcoming DC event? It's the way they promote it with their clever little posters. The one before Infinite Crisis and Final Crisis is of particular note in my mind. However, since I don't have either of those hanging up in my apartment - I have the one from Battle for the Cowl. And now that it's been a few months since BFTC has ended, I figured it would be fun to take a look back on the preview poster that was released.

Let's see how it goes behind the cut.

From left to right

The Joker card: I'm not entirely sure what this could necessarily entail. When we last saw the Joker, he was plummeting to his "death" off the Gotham bridge in an ambulance after being bumped off by Damian in the Batmobile. Since then, we haven't seen or heard from him. In a way, I suppose this makes sense - the Joker is only relevant if Batman is alive, and with Bruce dead, who needs him? However, we have seen two "forms" of the Joker. The first appeared in the new series Gotham City Sirens, where Gagsworth A. Gagsworthy (The Joker's original sidekick before Harley Quinn) attacked the trio, with the intent to kill Harley. The other is the Jester, who is apparently some sort of split personality tied to Jeremiah Arkham.

While neither are the Joker, one can't help but notice that the card is mirrored, so it may not necessarily mean that it is his return. At least not until Bruce himself is back. My money would be on Gagsworthy.

The first Batman in the "classic" costume: As we saw in Battle for the Cowl, this was Tim Drake, the third Robin, attempting to fill the void left by Bruce. He has now become the new Red Robin, starring in his own title written by Chris Yost.

Harley Quinn: Harley Quinn has been put to a starring role in Gotham City Siren, but based on the image, I would assume there is more to this than just that, mostly because Catwoman and Poison Ivy aren't prevalent in the poster. I would guess we probably haven't seen the importance of this yet.

Alfred Pennyworth: Alfred Pennyworth is dressed up in military guard... what? We have barely seen Alfred throughout the whole of the books, only appearing every now and then as a back up character. But some sort of military version of Alfred? The best I can guess is some sort of relation to the Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader story, in which Alfred tells a story of how he was every villain Batman had ever fought. Something tells me there is something more to this... and my guess would be that it appears in Batman and Robin.

Edit: Actually, upon reviewal, I realize that this could be a reference to the Outsiders? Batman charges Alfred with forming the new group. Perhaps Alfred in a military-type of dress could be a reference to him forming this new group?

The T-Rex: The T-Rex was last seen in Detective Comics, when it crashed to the ground and died during "The Heart of Hush" arc. RIP T-Rex.

The second Batman in the modern costume: This Batman is our current Batman, Dick Grayson, formerly Robin and then Nightwing. Though reluctant, Grayson is the one who dons the cowl at the end of the "battle."

The cowl in the glass case: This is Bruce's cowl, hanging in the cowl as many old suits now hang, such as the various Robin suits or the old Batman costumes. We've recently seen the cowl being focused on in Batman and Robin #7, and Morrison has hinted at the importance of this for the future arc.

The third Batman in the odd costume/the giant penny: Although unclear at first, we now know that this is Two-Face, as having appeared in the Judd Winnick arc. Two-Face knows that the new Batman is not actually Bruce (or "whoever he really was"), and dons his own cowl in order to beat the truth out of him and bring the real Batman back.

The fourth Batman with the guns: This is Jason Todd, the second Robin, returned from the dead. He feels that Batman has to take a new approach on criminals, specifically a harsher one. He then dons the new Red Hood costume, battling the new Batman throughout the ages of Batman and Robin.

Of course, I can't help but point out that this does look similar to the evil future Batman from Batman #666, who also was one of the three "ghosts."

(And I could of course point out that in Batman #666, one of the villains Damian as Batman has to defeat was the Flamingo, who just appeared in Batman and Robin #6.)

Batwoman with the magnifying glass: With Paul Dini leaving Detective Comics, we saw Greg Rucka and JH Williams III taking over, with Batwoman as the central star. This is also easily the second best Bat-comic currently coming out, constantly going up and down with Batman and Robin by Morrison.

Damian and Bruce Wayne with the bandages: One of the last things to happen in between both Batman and Detective Comics was Hush changing his facial features to mirror Bruce Wayne. One of the first things to happen in Streets of Gotham was Damian and Hush, now imprisoned, playing chess. It was possible at one time that Hush would try and manipulate Damian for his own advantages, and I'd say it's something that could happen in the future, but all things considered, it's not something I can see happening right now. Perhaps when the Zsasz story is over.

The Wayne Enterprises box with the body: I'm a little lost on this one. During the Hush crossover of Batman and Detective Comics, Hush travels to another country to escape from the authorities and the Bat-family. During this is the only idea I have for this box... with the body possibly being Bruce Wayne. Although I am not sure of this one, and welcome interpretations.

Did I miss anything? Or am I... wrong? (Cue shock) Weigh in in the comments with what you think. In the near future of the Batman books, we have the return of Bruce Wayne from the past, Batman and Robin vs Zsasz, Red Robin teaming up with Ra's Al Ghul against the Guild of Spiders, and Batwoman continuing to have an amazingly well written book. Have we really covered everything in the poster, or is there more?

Burpee's Got You Covered!

- Posted by Brandon Burpee on Sunday, December 27, 2009

This weeks Burpee’s Got You Covered is almost entirely dominated by Marvel. There is only one exception in the whole list. Outside of that I’m introducing a special category I like to call, “The WTF Were They Thinking Cover of the Week”. Over time I’ll introduce little side categories like this when necessary. This week it was definitely necessary. I think you’ll agree. So let’s get to it!

WTF Were They Thinking Cover of the Week:

Trace Adkins is Luke McBain #2
By Brian Stelfreeze

I mean seriously? At what point did someone in the comic industry think that this book would be a great idea? I saw the cover and started cracking up. It’s just so fucking absurd. Haha At least its only a mini and I don’t have to buy it.

6. Web #4
By Stanley “Artgerm” Lau

5. Avengers: Initiative #31
By David Yardin

Just four words for this cover: Taskmaster Like A Boss! If that reference is lost on you I’m very sorry.

4. Captain America: Who Will Wield The Shield (One-shot)
By Gerald Parel

Cool cover. I dig that the Bucky side of the shield is clean and the Steve side is dirty and used. Pretty cool touch I think.

3. Dark Tower: The Battle of Jericho Hill #2
By Jae Lee

This cover is spooky as hell. Not reading this title but I do enjoy the Gunslinger books. Jae Lee is a fantastic artist. I would like to see more of his work inside the covers of comics I personally read.

2. Wolverine: Weapon X #8
By Adam Kubert

There’s an old school B-Movie Horror vibe going on here. The play of the Wolvie shadow in the back with the grainy look makes for a pretty cool cover. This arc in general has had some fairly satisfying covers but this one is my favorite so far. Probably my favorite arc of this title too.

1. Powers #2
By Michael Avon Oeming

Very captivating image. The helmet propped up with a rifle is an image that is very clear to those who live in the current climate of the world. The blood raining from the sky just adds to the ominous cover. I also get the feeling that this is an homage to a movie poster but I can’t quite place it. If you know if it is then please hit the comment button and let me know.

That’s all folks! So what did you think about my choices? What would be your choices for the best covers of the week? Please share and discuss if you would. I’m still aiming to make this an interactive conversation that we can all have while we watch Sunday morning football or whatever we all do on Sundays. Anyway, next week is kind of slim on choices so I’ll have to come up with something different. That’s always a dangerous option. See ya next week!

Movie Round Up - December 21th to December 25th

- Posted by Matthew Meylikhov on Saturday, December 26, 2009

This week is a relatively small round-up, what with the Christmas and all that stealing everyone away from the internets. But there were some relatively "big" things (if you like Kick-Ass), and there's enough in here to make you happy even if you're Jewish! So step on in, grab a drink, mingle, and enjoy.

I suppose the first thing to do is note that Brittany Murphy, who played Shellie in Sin City (which I called the best comic book movie of the past decade) has passed away. RIP Brittany.

That being said, what does this mean for Sin City 2? Shellie does have a large role in Dwight's storylines, and seeing as Dwight is the focus of the second movie, it could possibly lead to an uneasy situation, in which the actress will most likely need to be recast. Situations like that are always unfortunate, and often times ruin the "glamor" of the movies. It's kind of like how every Batman movie with a different Batman is incredibly odd to watch. That being said, Robert Rodriguez has stated that while he will return to the world of Sin City, the sequel is not high on his priorities, and it's definitely not his next film.

"I can't say no, because I don't know it's no. I know Frank wants to do it. I know I want to do it. It's always sort of a 'time permitting' kind of thing. But it's not like I can tell you definitely we're starting . It's not my next picture, I know that. It doesn't mean that it's not the picture right after 'cause that's still a possibility."

According to the interview there's been a script since 2007. Huh.

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We've finally got some Green Lantern news. While we know who will be our super pilot Hal Jordan, we have only mere rumors about who might possibly play Sinestro. Now, according to the Latino Review, Carol Ferris is down to just 5 actresses.

1. Eva Green
2. Keri Russel
3. Diane Kruger
4. Blake Lively
5. Jennifer Garner

RIGHT OFF THE BAT, I'm saying PLEASE no to Jennifer Garner. I do not enjoy her. And Russel, Kruger, and Lively are all blonde. But Green? AKA Vesper Lynd from Casino Royale? Wait a minute... isn't... OH WAIT. THE DIRECTOR OF CASINO ROYALE, MARTIN CAMPBELL, IS DIRECTING GREEN LANTERN. Hmmmmmm.

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So aside from me, is ANYONE interested in a Venom movie? No? No one? Alright. Well, while a script has been written and is being sent through the revision machine, some people are wondering if Topher Grace is being offered to reprise the role of Eddie Brock. Some people like me are hoping that he isn't. So what's the word, Topher?

Grace: I don't know. I haven't heard anything.

Q: There's been no talk?

Grace: No. I don't think so.

Nice. Currently, Gary Ross is slated to write and direct the movie, putting Venom back into the Lethal Protector character he was during the comics in the late '80s and '90s. I approve.

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Ever hear the name Judd Winick? He writes comics for DC. Trials of Shazam, recent issues of Batman, the Outsiders back in the day. A lot of people are torn on him as a writer. I personally don't like him. With that in mind, supposedly the next DC Animated Movie will be Under The Hood, based on his storyline starring Batman vs. the Red Hood. Could be interesting... but will most likely end up just being pretty poor. Like that whole arc was anyway. But that's just me being a sour puss. Weren't they going to make a Judas Contract movie?

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Here's something brief: a new red-band trailer of Kick-Ass: click

According to some site called Pajiba, DC and Warner Brothers are thinking about making a Hawkman film. While this does seem unlikely, I would like to point out that that is awesome. I know that both Marvel and DC are thinking of branching out into lesser known comic characters in order to help bring new readers into their books as well as introduce their characters to a new audience. Hawkman would be a great character to do this with, as he is particularly bad ass. Plus, with how Marvel is doing the Avengers movie, Hawkman could be a good start for a JSA series of movies. Just a thought.

As an editor's note: please excuse the extreme idiocy behind what the writer says about Hawkman. I'd personally love to see a Hawkman movie, especially under Geoff Johns' "explanation" as to the many different versions of Carter Hall. It could be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, we can't expect everyone to know who a comic character is if the word "man" isn't superseded by Super, Bat, or Spider. Sucks to be them.

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In a random tidbit of news, don't expect to see that Magneto movie we've been teased about for so long any time soon. According to an interview over at Heat Vision, X-Men: First Class will come out before we see Magneto, to the point that elements of the Magneto plot will be incorporated into First Class, seeing as First Class supposedly has a young Magneto in it. Feh. Not too excited on that one.

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Here's a quickie: Edgar Wright talked with the BBC about Scott Pilgrim. Listen here: click

Moving on: Remember Karl Urban from Star Trek? He played Bones, and he was definitely my favorite character in the movie. Anyway, he's been cast in Red the upcoming Warren Ellis adaptation. It also has Bruce Willis, Hellen Mirren, and Mary Louise Parker. Is it just me, or does this sound like it's going to be the best movie ever? Granted, for those of you who have read Red, Warren Ellis has explicitly stated that this will not be like the comic. Even so though... great cast.

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For those interested: Jamie Alexander is tweeting a whole lot about Thor and her role in the film, as well as the other actors and actresses. Check it out here.

So guess what! There is an update on the Bone movie, and while it is brief, it's awesome! Dan Lin, the producer of Bone, recently did an interview with Collider in order to help do publicity for his upcoming film, Sherlock Holmes. In talking about Bone, he said that the feel they have for the movie is Shrek meets Lord of the Rings. Not going to lie, that's pretty accurate. While Shrek is not the EXACT feel of the book, it's a pretty good description. I'm pleased. Dan Lin seems pretty enthusiastic about the whole project, so that makes me excited to have a good producer on board.

Dan Lin also does another interview with Collider about the Justice League movie, as well as a Suicide Squad movie. Not as exciting as the Bone but, but even so.

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Here's a quickie: Joel Silver talks about a lot of different DC projects he is producing. Most of which? Won't probably happen. Just saying. clickety clack

You know who I don't like? Steve Niles. But some people do like him. And some people think that 30 Days of Night was good. So guess what? Steve Niles talked to Bloody Disgusting about the sequel, and if you're interested, you can click here.