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!

X-Factor # 61 (Part 6 of The X-Tinction Agenda)

Writer: Louise Simonson
Artists: Jon Bogdanove, John Caponigro
Publisher: Marvel
Published: December 1990

Anyone remember X-tinction Agenda? If not a quick recap: the country of Genosha with the aid of Cameron Hodge (a crazy psycho cyborg) have declared war on mutants. A bunch of mutants have been captured and have had their mutant powers blocked. Hodge tortures the mutants forcing them to fight one another. One battle had Wolverine and Archangel forced to fight, where Wolverine is left badly injured. He is tossed into a cell.

This issue picks up with Jean Grey and Cable being tossed into cells as well. Hodge has Jean Grey placed in the same cell as Wolverine. As everyone knows, Wolvie has always had a major krush on Jean. His love for Jean is just another tragedy in his life, as Jean is loyally in love with Cyclops and can never return his love. Now that he's dying (because his healing factor is being blocked) Jean is drawn to him and able to bring some comfort to his life.

There have been many Wolverine and Jean Grey moments in X history, but I always remember this one as being particularly poignant.

Captain Dingleberry # 1

Writers: Harper Jaten and Rick Remender
Artists: Harper Jaten, Rick Remender, and Rory Hensley
Publisher: Underhanded Comics
Published: August 1998

Just over a week away from V-Day!

In my quest to find lovey dovey comics I've hit bit of a wall, ie. I didn't want to try today...because I'm feeling a bit shitty. However that being said, just like some days are shitty, so can love be shitty. So for today's romance comic review, here's one just on poo.

Captain Dingleberry is a superhero who can summon The Fecal Four from his butt. They are lumps of crap: Super Turd, Boil, Crazy Eight, and Runny. In this issue he is battling a bitter art nerd, who he ends up sending to Assville which is a universe that is entered via his poop shoot. In Assville, the villain heads to Yeast of Eden which is a Salon and Bakery, and it is here that he meets Sir Richard. Meanwhile, Cpt. Dingleberry and his Fecal Four are going to reign in Curly The Fallen Dingleberry.

No, I did not just make that up...this is one of those comics that ol' Voltaire has a saying for: "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

Vive Le Poo!

Marvel Romance Redux # 1: Guys & Dolls

Writers: Jeff Parker, Jim Starlin, John Lustig, Don Heck, Zeb Wells, Jean Thomas, Jimmy Palmiotti, Stan Lee, Frank Tieri
Artists: Jack Abel, Vinny Colletta, Gene Colan, Bill Everett, John Buscema, John Romita Sr., Frank Giacoia
Publisher: Marvel
Published: May 2006

It's that time of year again: Black History Month. Finally Chocolate City has become a reality. Nice.

Oh - also Valentines Day is fast approaching.

Here's a comic with romance on the agenda. Marvel's Romance Redux is equal parts an ode to the past and a satirical send up. Marvel has dug deep into the vault, dredging up the old romance comics of yesteryear and re-scripting the stories.

The first tale involves a witch who falls prey to a Diner Demon, and the second tale involves money and relationships. The third tale has a woman in love twisting her true nature, and the fourth involves forbidden love. Finally the last story has a star being born.

I found this issue pretty good. The new scripts were funny, and complemented the art quite well. I especially liked the issue involving the Diner Demon. The lead female character was a witch who was falling in love with a guy who only thought of food. Kinda reminded me of Carl Weathers when he was guest starring on Arrested Development.

The art is fantastic and even though the stories lack the original script it is pretty easy to figure out the original plot for most of these stories. They usually involve a lonely or unhappy girl who meets a man, falls in love, under goes some sort of drama, then it all wraps up with a kiss or the girl is still lonely. It seems like a lot of these old stories were all about finding a mate or your doomed to unhappiness, which I guess is what Valentines Day is all about!

Ghost Riders # 1

Writer/Artist: Chuck Austen
Publisher: Marvel
Published: March 2002

A few years back Marvel jumped on the manga band wagon and started up the Marvel Mangaverse series. I've read a few and they're not bad. This one of the better ones, simply because of, well, its simplicity.

Damion is trying to convince Johnny of his heritage. To do this, he invites Johnny to a coffee shop where he reveals the pentagram burned on his chest. Johnny is still hesitant about his heritage, when out of the blue, they are both attacked by their sister Satana. She is there to kill Johnny. Damion releases Johnny's true form - THE GHOST RIDER! Battle ensues and an unlikely ally comes to their rescue.

Wolverine # 70

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Steve McNiven
Publisher: Marvel
Published: February 2009

If you're a Wolverine fan (like I am), then this is the issue for you.







6 words: The Shit Has Hit The Fan.

Solo # 8: Teddy Kristiansen

Writers: Teddy Kristiansen, Neil Gaiman, Steven Seagle
Artist: Teddy Kristiansen
Publisher: DC
Published: February 2006

Today being the first of the month, I just had to get another Solo issue on this site. Teddy Kristiansen is not the typical comic cartoonist. His artwork doesn't have the snap, crackle, and pop of Jack Kirby or the polish of Alex Ross, but instead has a dreamy surreal quality...each panel is more like a single painting.

There are 5 stories included in this Solo issue. The first one has Deadman in a sentimental mood. The second has a missionary being saved from headhunters by quoting from the good book, Wuthering Heights. The third tale is about a humid summer crush, and the fourth is about ruins. Finally the last tale is about some explorers in Antarctica being trapped and the story follows their decline and eventual deaths.

I must admit I was a bit disappointed with this Solo issue. I'm not a huge fan of painted comics, (aside from Kingdom Come and Brereton work), and I found the stories "tried too hard." But much like Pokemon, I gotta have em' all!