All Star Superman # 10

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artist: Frank Quitely

Colorist: Jamie Grant

Publisher: DC

Published: May 2008

All Star Superman is probably one of the finest stories to emerge in the last decade. I was reminded of this particular issue after reading an interview with Grant Morrison. (It is a great interview, and I highly recommend it.)

Issue 10 has Superman continuing his journey to make things right and do as much good as he can before his inevitable demise due to solar poisoning. In this issue Superman creates life, frees an imprisoned nation, cures all disease, and in one of the most touching moments in the series, saves a life.

With one page, broken into 5 panels, Morrison, Quitely, and Grant reminded me why I love comics. As Morrison states, one of the things he hoped readers of All Star Superman would take away with them was that a few words and some figure drawings would have the ability to "make you cry, make your heart soar,..."

Well I nearly lost it in this issue. I've been feeling glum as of late. Very glum. But after reading this issue I feel a little better. This is going to sound weird, but I really like that Superman chooses to save us not because he can, or because he needs to, but because he wants to...(alluding to Mark Waid)...it's nice to know that Superman believes in us. That we're worth it.

Challengers of the Unknown # 82

Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Mike Nasser
Publisher: DC
Published: August 1977

The Challengers of the Unknown are Red Ryan, Rocky Davis, 'The Prof' Haley, Ace Morgan, and together they CHALLENGE THE UNKNOWN! Issue #82 has the Prof Haley dying. He has some weird sickness that is inside him, and the only cure is in Perdition, PA. This town earlier had a visit by the Swamp Thing who levied some justice on an unspeakable evil.




Too bad it lived on!

The 3 remaining Challengers and Miss Robbins, travel to Perdition, only to be beset by this lurking evil as the town is under the beasts commands, and this beast demands sacrifice!


The issue ends with Miss Robbins being served to the evil beast! Behold it's tentacle gruesomeness!


Behold a good time with the Super Friends!

Things From Nowhere

Writer/Artist: Richard Kolkman
Publisher: Xulu Comics
Published: 2002

I'd never heard of Richard Kolkman, but after reading Things From Nowhere, I kinda wish I had earlier. He has a unique sense of humor. He blends pop culture with his own slanted view on reality. Take a look:

Superman # 50

Writer: Jerry Ordway

Artists: Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding, Kerry Gammill, Dennis Janke, Curt Swan, John Byrne, Jerry Ordway

Publisher: DC

Published: December 1990

Happy V-Day!

I thought that Superman 50 would be the best comic for this day. This is the one where Superman/Clark Kent finally 'officially' hooks up with Lois Lane. It's a 48 page SPECTACULAR, filled with action, humor, drama,...but lets get to the point. The cover states: "You will NOT believe the last page!" so to save you folks some time, check it out:

That just happened. Now check this:

Supes puts his pants on one leg at a time - just like us!

Big Bang # 3

Writers: Gary Carlson, Bill Fugate
Artists: Jeff Weigel, Bill Fugate, Jim Valentino
Publisher: Image Comics
Published: July 1996

The Big Bang comic series are homages of old golden and silver age comics. The first half of this comic concerns Ultiman, (Superman), who battles a mad scientist by the name of Cortex. Cortex tricks Ultiman and creates a doorway which allows a reversed Ultiman to storm the city. Sound a little bizarro? The 'bad' Ultiman causes a ruckus so Knight Watchman (Batman) enters the scene to sort things out as only Bat - uh - Knight Watchman can...'cause that is what friends are for.

The second half is a homage to Mary Marvel. In this story, Thunder Girl is attacked by a duplicate of herself, Tornado Girl, where Tornado Girl is a common criminal suped up by the evil Dr. Binana (a evil monkey). Playing possum, Thunder Girl is able to easily defeat Dr. Binana and Tornado Girl.

Overall I was impressed by these two stories. When I first read them I thought, "this can't be right - these are blatent rip offs of DC heroes," but at the same time, they looked so true to the source material, I thought they might have been some old authentic knock offs. I guess that's just a testament to the talented folks at Image Comics.

Deadman # 4

Writer: Steve Vance
Artist: Josef Beroy
Cover: Mike Mignola
Publisher: DC
Published: May 2002

Boston Brand is a dead man.

Nope, that's not a line out of the Sopranos. It's an introduction to DC's favorite ghost. Boston Brand worked at a circus as a trapeze artist and would dress up in a red outfit with white makeup. His moniker was Deadman. Brand ended up getting murdered, and in the afterlife Rama Kushna gave him the power to possess living souls to find his murderer. Pretty cool, right?

Well it is cool.

Issue # 4 has Brand on a mission to find some baddies. He ends up possessing the body of a local convict and is able to get some info on a group of terrorists who plan to nuke Glad City via a submarine unless some cash is coughed up. Brand infiltrates the submarine, possesses a few of the terrorists and saves the day, much to the displeasure of the bad guys, as the sub takes on a bit too much water and they all drown.

One of the best sequences in this issue is when Deadman is contemplating possessing the body of Clark Kent. He visits Clark and Lois who are about to eat dinner. As the two sit down to eat, Deadman watches Kent burst back and fourth from the table. Each time Clark comes back he mentions what catastrophe he had to avert, all the while Deadman stares on flabbergasted. By this point, Deadman leaves, not bothering to possess Superman as he already has a full plate.

Get it - Lois and him are trying to eat dinner! On plates! Clark's is full 'cause he is too busy rescuing folks! I wonder: Does Superman need to eat? I don't think he needs to, because he is pretty much a solar battery; and if he did need to eat, then technically he could suffer from starvation, which could lead to a lame way for the mightiest of heroes to exit stage left.

World's Finest Comics Starring Superman and Batman # 295

Writers: L.B. Kellog, David Anthony Kraft
Artists: Jerome Moore, Frank McLaughlin
Publisher: DC
Published: September 1983

I haven't read too many Batman or Superman tales from the 80s, but I'm beginning to think I missed a special time in their friendship. This issue opens with Batman on his deathbed after a gas poisoning by the Moon Dancers. Superman is at his side, and the two are sharing a silent moment.

I wish I knew how to quit you!
Turns out that the Moon Dancers, which include Harvest Moon, Crescent Moon, and New Moon, are working for a scientist hellbent on dismantling all nuclear weapons. Crescent Moon is responsible for gassing Batman, but she is unaware of her masters ultimate plan, to poison Batman with an unknown virus, forcing Superman to search space for a rare energy source to cure the virus. Of, course Superman is able to find the energy source, cure Batman, and then have it fall into the evil scientists hands. The issue ends with Batman and Superman teaming up to topple the mad scientist and his plans of using this rare energy to destroy all nuclear weapons.

I picked up this issue solely because of the Moon Dancers. I mean, come on, does that not sound awesome? Crescent Moon rides a crescent shaped hovercraft and looks remarkably like Dagger from Marvel, Harvest Moon looks like Neil Young, but real hot like...kidding! She's the red head of the crew and has the power to alter her size, and New Moon is the hippie looking lady who fires freeze rays. So, yeah, pretty cool right?

After reading the comic though, besides the Moon Dancers, awesomeness, I couldn't help but feel bad for Batsy. I mean, he ends up being beaten and manipulated by the baddies, which isn't a big deal, but when he's out cold, Gotham criminals, hearing that he is on the way out, end up starting a massive crime wave. However, after Batman has been cured and is resting, Superman flies into Gotham, and in a day's work ends up stopping and capturing all the criminals. If I were Batman, I'd feel a bit, oh I don't know, useless. Realistically, it would take Batman at least a couple of weeks to accomplist that feat! No wonder the two of them got a whole brokeback/hate thing going.

Solo # 1: Tim Sale

Writers: Tim Sale, Darwyn Cooke, Diana Schutz, Jeph Loeb, Brian Azzarello
Artist: Tim Sale
Publisher: DC
Published: December 2004

This is the first issue that started this magnificent series. Sale is teamed up with a pantheon of great writers, which is a testament to his level of artistic skill. I've read that Tim Sale is color blind. This isn't too surprising considering his work is highly stylistic, his brushwork is crisp, and his art looks fantastic when viewed in black and white.

Tim Sale's Solo issue has 6 short tales. The first one concerns a non-typical date between Catwoman and Batman. The second story is about debts owed, and the third tale is a 50's style romance with an extremely sad ending about Supergirl and Dick Wilson. The fourth tale is about Superman's prom date, and the fifth tale is a pitch perfect crime noir. Finally the last tale concerns a single kiss and a tear.

This issue of Solo is absolutely fantastic. I had read some of Sales work, The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Daredevil Yellow, and I found his artwork was breathtaking, seductive, moody, and stylized. With this issue, a sad romantic Sale emerges forth. Each story is about a relationship of some kind, be it crazy love, enduring love, first loves, bitter love, to old love. Each story is quite touching, and that combined with his artwork, Sale creates a romance comic of the highest order. Certainly one of the bests I've ever read.








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Miracleman # 1

Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Gary Leach
Publisher: Warrior, Eclipse
Published: March 1982, August 1985

M is for Marvelma-eh what's that Marvel? You want me to say it's called Miracleman or you're sending in the Avengers to 'fix' things. Well ok...

Probably one of the best series to hit the comic scene that you'll never read. My little speech above about Marvel is just the tip of the iceberg as to what is plaguing the re-release of this great series. Miracleman is tied up in so much legal mumbo jumbo over the title, content, and ownership that it will be a cold day in hell before us little folk will ever be given the chance to purchase this comic. Which is a shame, because this series needs to be read by any serious comic fan.

Miracleman issue one is broken into four chapters. The first chapter is written/drawn as if it were straight out of the 50s sci-fi comics. It involves the Miracle Family having to travel through time to 1981 to stop the Science Gestapo from controlling the Earth. The Science Gestapo had traveled back to the 50s to overrun Earth with their superior weapons, but were unprepared to deal with Miracleman and Co.

The second chapter we are introduced to Michael Moran, a freelance journalist, and his wife. Michael suffers from migraines and nightmares of flying and then being burned by a horrible explosion. Later, while at a job, he is taken hostage by terrorists. His migraine worsens, and he feels he is being forced to remember something. That something just so happens to be the magic word to summon Miracleman: "Kimota" (Atomic backwards). Once spoken, the word transforms him into Miracleman, whereupon he burns and destroys his captors. He leaps to the air, exclaiming he is back!

Finally the third and fourth chapter has Miracleman explaining to his wife that he is indeed Michael Moran. After some awkward explanations, she begins to accept the truth. The issue ends with Michael being contacted by an old friend, Johnny Bates (Kid Miracle of the Miracleman Family), who is not as he appears to be. By this I mean, he's a raving lunatic corrupt with power. The issue ends with Kid Miracle about to show Miracleman what 27 years of unchecked power can really do to a person.

OK, so I've set the stage, and your probably sitting on the edge of your seat in excitement. If not, blame me, not Miracleman. This story deserves your attention, because if those sharks in suits keep about their business, the world will never get the chance to see Miracleman in action. Normally I don't advocate torrents, on the grounds that it is stealing (and it is, and we all do it to one degree or another so lets not delude ourselves and call it what it is - stealing) but this series deserves to be stolen, 'cause otherwise you'll never get the chance to read it. Once you're done head out and buy Swamp Thing or Watchmen to alleviate your guilt.





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Justice League: The New Frontier

Writer: Darwyn Cooke
Artists: Darwyn Cooke, David Bullock, J. Bone
Publisher: DC
Published: May 2008

J is for the main course consisting of steak (medium rare) with a side order of JUSTICE! Justice may be blind, but even she can't deny the sweet smell of a steak grilled to succulent satisfaction...ummm....

This issue of Justice League was released just before the DC DVD, Justice League: The New Frontier, hit the stands. It is comprised of three short stories revolving around Cooke's interpretation of DC's Silver Age heroes.

The first tale has a battle between Batman and Superman, with Wonder Woman breaking them up. It covers the first meeting between Batman and Superman. Supes has been ordered to take down Batman, and being the boy scout he is, he plans to, even without Wonder Woman's help. So when the big day comes and Superman makes his assault, he's a little unprepared for what Batman has in store for him. As usual. When will Superman learn?

The second tale is about Robin and Kid Flash taking down some dragster thugs and communists.

Finally, the last tale is about Wonder Woman. This is by far the best tale of the bunch. It has Wonder Woman living up to her standard of the ultimate Feminist Hero. Wonder Woman is enraged at the sexist views that pervade America. She exclaims that if equality won't stand on it's own, then she will enforce it. This leads to her and Black Canary infiltrating a newly opened 'bunny club' in Gotham.

Now, I hate to give away too much of this tale, but I just have to add that it involves a burning breast plate that fueled an ideology that lit America on fire in the 60s. Aw forget it, I'm going to attach the image. This is one of those tales that has to be shared, because I don't imagine it'll go into reprint. Also, props to J. Bone for making Wonder Woman a little more curvy than usual. It really suits her. And props to Darwyn Cooke for being the only artist (that I know of) for having the male genitalia to draw Wonder Woman taller/broader than DC's big boys. As he says, she is Amazonian after all.