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.

Breaking Into Comics - The MARVEL Way # 2

Writers: Various

Artists: Various

Publisher: Marvel

Published: May 2010

This comic was a great way to introduce fans to some up-and-coming talent in the Marvel U. Breaking Into Comics is a showcase for new talent, who describe their experiences on getting hired by Marvel as well penning/illustrating some great stories. This particular issue has 5 tales, centred around a choice selection of Marvels characters: The Fantastic Four, Thor, The New Mutants, Psylocke, and Deadpool.

Of particular note was the New Mutant tale illustrated by Gabriel Hernandez Walta. The story is dark, very disturbing, and all grown up for a bunch of teenage muties. Hernandez Walta delivers top notch artwork. His work is foreboding, menacing, and deliberate. Just beautiful. After reading the tale, I couldn't get it out of my mind. It has such force.

The remainder of tales are great as well. With these folks propelling Marvel Foward, I'd say DC has their work cut out for them...then again DC has got Batman and Grant Morrison...

Here's a collage of some images from Breaking Into Comics:

Batman and Robin # 1

Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Frank Quitely
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC
Published: June 2009

From the imaginations of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely comes an unlikely duo: Batman and Robin!

Well, I guess it is far from unlikely, but nevertheless, Morrison and Quitely are teamed up once again, but this time instead of tackling a 'strongman in tights' they're diving into the Batcave. (ooh that sounds bad.)

The players are the same, Batman and Robin, but this time things are vastly different. Batman/Bruce Wayne is gone/dead. Now you may ask: "gee Comix 365 guy, who ever could be Batman and Robin then?" Being a gentlemen, this would be my answer: "a Batfan never tells."

Anyway enough of that. There are 5 reasons to get this issue:

1. The art is beautiful, and the sound effect captions are particularly nice.
2. The new Batman opens a world of new possibilities.
3. Robin is bad ass.
4. They have a Hover Batmobile.
5. The villain is creepy. Real creepy.

So go get it!

Bad Girls # 4

Writer: Steve Vance
Artist: Christine Norrie
Cover : Darwyn Cooke
Publisher: DC
Published: January 2004

I have no idea what this series is about, and starting at issue # 4 of 5 is not the best way to get what it is all about. I only picked it up because it was $1 and the cover was by Darwyn Cooke. Here's a link to a review of issue # 1.

Billy Batson & The Magic of Shazam! # 4

Writer/Artist: Mike Kunkel
Publisher: DC
Published: April 2009

Today's issue is dedicated to the most dreaded of feelings a comic collector can experience: jumping on the bandwagon once the bandwagon is gone. By this I mean, picking up a comic series that looks just awesome and you know is going to be awesome, but you're starting at the last issue.

I picked up Bill Batson and the Magic of Shazam! on issue # 4, and I don't dare read it until I have the first three. Only problem with this, is that the last three have long since exited Peterborough shops. I'm going to have to head to Toronto, cross my fingers, and hope that one of the multitude of shops down there will have them. Or I'm going to look to the internet and shell out the cash and pay the ridiculous shipping fees. Or worse, wait 10 months for the collected edition. Anyway, check some scans. It looks like (and I hope) it is going to be a great read.

Batman: Black & White # 4 Special 3D Edition

Writers: Brian Bolland, Jan Stanad, Archie Goodwin, Dennis O'Neil, Katsuhiao Otomo
Artists: Brian Bolland, Kevin Nowlan, Gary Gianni, Brian Steelfreeze, Alex Toth
Publisher: DC
Published: September 1996

If you're a someone, than you know or gots Batman Black & White. This is a Batman series that is exactly what it is called: Batman in black and white. Creators were given the chance to write/draw a 8 page self-contained story of the Dark Knight. Issue # 4 has got the infamous "An Innocent Guy" by Brian Bolland, which alone, makes this issue a hot number. What makes my particular copy extra special is that this is only 1 of only a 1000 issues printed that were in eye popping 3D!

Check some scans from the 5 stories contained in this issue:





An Innocent Guy
Monsters in the Closet
Heroes
Leavetaking
The Third Mask
Back Cover
Jealous?

More Comix 365 articles:  

Fantastic Four

Hellblazer #250

The Crow Book One

Writer/Artist: James O'Barr
Publisher: Caliber
Published: 1989

March 31 1993 Brandon Lee died on the set of The Crow.

This unfortunate accident is another note of sadness added to the comic. The Crow is an exploration of pain, guilt, tragedy, gravity, anger, destruction...pure emotion. James O'Barr's fiancee was killed by a drunk driver, and in response to the pain of her death, he wrote this over the course of several years, and each page is a burned line of his torment.

The Crow is about a man named Eric returned to life to exact vengeance on the killers of his fiancee Shelly. Book one is the first of four parts, whereupon Eric, painted and pained, begins his horrible journey into revenge and memory.

Years ago me and some close friends went to Seattle. There we visited Brandon Lee and Bruce Lee's graves. One Brando Lee's tombstone this is etched:

"Because we don't know when we will die, we get to think life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens a certain number of times, and very a small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon that's so deeply a part of your being that you can't even conceive of your life without it! Perhaps four or five times more. Perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty and yet it all seems limitless."

This quote was during an interview on set of the Crow.

Archie: The "Masked Marvel"

Writer/Artist: Unknown
Publisher: Archie Comics
Published: 1999 (original date: unknown)

I normally wouldn't post 2 Archie comics in one week, but after reading this one I had to get it out to the fans!

Archie is wearing a monster mask to school, and is insulted that people recognize him right away.

Betty remarks that the guys are doing this to boost their attractiveness, by taking of the mask and in comparison, they look much better. Veronica thinks the girls are too smart for this gimmick...but maybe she's mistaken:


Proving Veronica wrong, Archie corners a young damsel, and scares her into a date for Saturday night.


Betty and veronica assure the young lady that no date made under threat is legitimate, but the girl insists she must go. Veronica then asks why she was so scared when it was obviously Archie under the mask.


The young lady responds by removing her face and revealing a BIG GIANT EYE!



Oh, it's just Eyeda! Yuk yuk yuk...!! Too bad for Archie!
And the moral of the story is: don't scare women into having dates with you. You just may date a girl with a GIANT MONSTER EYE FOR A FACE! At least dinner will be cheap!

Archie: The Dream Shop!

Writer: Unknown (unless it is Harry Lucey)
Artist: Harry Lucey
Publisher: Archie Comics
Published: Unknown

I would be sorely amiss I didn't include an Archies tale in my blog. I thought I'd include one my favorite tales: "The Dream Shop!"

The story opens with Archie in a dream (see left panel - my favorite line is: " How can one man be so desirable?" I have to deal with that same sentiment day-in-day-out...sigh...). After waking from his dream, Archie visits the local dream shop where he meets this old man:






Archie is sold a dream, which makes Archie so desirable, even Veronica is willing to die just so she can be with him. However, Archie just can't 'play favorites' and leaves Veronica moping. As Archie drives off he is suddenly floored by a sidewalk blond bombshell: Betty Cooper!






Betty is now the most desirable thing Archie has ever seen! After some major begging, Betty relents and slams a hard kiss on Archie!


Turns out, Betty bought that last dream for him. Up next is a dream Jughead bought for Archie. As can be expected, it's just good ol' fun less any crazy girls.


The tale ends with Archie returning to the shop, only to have it nowhere to be found. Archie is pissed, while Betty and Jughead are left to figure out why Archie is in such a mood.



More Comix 365 articles:  

Harley Quinn

Spidey Super Stories

Batman Gotham Knights # 3

Writers: Paul Pope, Devin Grayson
Artists: Paul Ryan, Paul Pope
Publisher: DC
Published: May 2000

Chock this one up to laziness again. I had some more pre-scans of Pope's stuff. You know, when it comes to Batsy, Pope definitely has a handle on that guy. Year 100 is fantastic, and any other short story he has done is usually top notch as well.

Ok, Gotham Knights 3 has Batman battling it out with undead and Popes tale has Batman battling a guy in a giant robot suit, all the while suffering the indiginity of a broken nose. These black and white tales are the stories that compose the Batman Black and White Volumes. They're pretty sweet.

American Splendor # 4

Writer: Harvey Pekar
Artists: Darick Robertson, Ty Templeton, Dean Haspiel, Rick Geary, Gary Dumm, Greg Budgett
Publisher: Vertigo
Published: September 2008

I'm going to cut to the chase - I'm home sick with a cold like pestilence that derives me off all will to conquer my ability to exit the bed/couch let alone tackle the task I have laid out before me on this blog.

I've been giving this task quite the thought lately. In my enthusiasm to blog about comics, I ignored the cold hard reality of the work this thing would entail. First, I have to get/read a comic everyday. Second, I have scan images from it. Thirdly format the photos and add credits, and finally I have to write about it. All of this is difficult to do everyday, but the real hard part is keeping myself motivated, and when I'm sick, this is the last thing I want to do...

So, long story short, I'm going to stick true to my goal, even if I have to 'fudge the numbers'. But, to keep myself motivated and interested, it's time to let my blog reflect the reality of me and my life, even if it means I don't blog at all...

But not today!

American Splendor by Harvey Pekar was first turned on to me by the movie of the same name. A great movie that I would highly recommend to anyone. Harvey specializes in creating and delivering stories of 'real life.' He doesn't go for the capes and speedos, or the big bang explosions that most comics opt for. Instead he talks about his day, his cat, or the impending crisis of not filing his taxes early.

Issue # 4 has Harvey up to his same old shenanigans: having a dead car battery, thinking about writing stories, filing taxes, buying a gift, and writing about writing a comic. Good 'real life' stuff.

Batman Adventures: Mad Love

Writers: Paul Dini, Bruce Timm
Artist: Bruce Timm
Publisher: DC
Published: 1994

Keeping with my theme of romance and Valentines day et cetera, I had to get this one on Comix 365. Mad Love by Timm and Dini is one of those 64 page extravaganzas, but unlike most of em', this one actually is entertaining from beginning to end.

The story opens with Batman foiling another one of Joker and Harley Quinn's plans. Joker doesn't take kindly to the foul up and he ends up taking his frustration out on Harley Quinn and tosses her out on the street. Quinn, being the love-sick puppy she is, blames Batman and not the Joker. The story then journeys back into Harley Quinns past when she was 'normal'.

All Harley wants is to grow old with her lover-clown, so to get back in his good books, she plans to do something the Joker has yet to achieve: kill the Batman! And she almost succeeds! You can just imagine how Joker takes this!

He tosses her out of a window is how he takes it. Poor Harley! The issue ends with Joker foiled again and Harley back in Arkham. You'd think that after being beaten, humiliated, abused, and nearly killed by the Joker she would have enough sense to leave him, but sometimes when in love a person can be a little mad. Sorry...had to!