Another Holiday message from the Doctor.
The BBC is having a lot of fun with David Tennant as he prepares to leave the TARDIS.
Here is a look at the latest Holiday station ID, now running on BBC1 in the UK (No word if it’s playing on BBCAmerica as well, yet)
Exile’s Read of the Week 12/10/09
 |
BOOSTER GOLD #27 Art: Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund Cover: Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund Publisher: DC |
Wow, I have to stop going out and getting a life - I know how much all 9 of you out there are waiting for my top pick for the week.
Once again, I am going to a Blackest Night tie in. The core story has such a strong emotional core it resonates out and makes all the books it touch that much better. Now for books like recent issues of Titans and JLA that is not saying much, but when it takes place in a book that is already as good as Booster Gold, well then it’s just that much better!
The dead have been rising all over the DCU and the late great Ted Kord has returned to visit his old teammate and best friend, Booster, to catch up, share some laughs and, oh yeah eat his heart! The emotional impact of this risen heroes had waned in recent stories. The superhuman phone chain has been working overtime to let everyone know that it’s the rings wearing the bodies, not the other way ’round.
Booster and guest star Jamie Reyes, the current Blue Beetle find a way to save Ted’s body from being used by the ring, and give him a proper final resting place. But not before finding out that someone has accessed the secret club house that Booster and Beetle had under Kord Inc, a few months ago. A place only Booster and Ted could access.
It was also nice to see Daniel (Carter) and Rose, Booster’s great great great great, etc grand parents. They need to decide whether or not Danny’s gonna be in that Supernova suit more often or not. In an epilogue, we discover the Booster’s sister, appears to be lost a few years in the past, and has settled down in Coast City (So I am guessing this is a pre- Doomsday Coast City). Cue the obvious dramatic stinger…
Comic books in general, and DC in particular walks a fine line with Time Travel stories. Continuity hounds are everywhere, waiting for a writer or editor to screw something up. And of course in a world where time travel is possible, why isn’t it used to fix all the horrible things that happen? Time cops, and “solidified time”. There, that is why
Grade – A
Exile on… the Pull List 12/3/09
Don’t forget to check out the Read of the Week – Blackest Night WONDER WOMAN #1
The Pull List
BLACKEST NIGHT THE FLASH #1- BLACKEST NIGHT TIE IN!
DC
Lead Story: Geoff Johns
Art: Scott Kollins
The Flash, written by Geoff, drawn by Scott. This is the way is the Flash, meant to be. I could stand to see more Wally tho (Scott fix that new costume STAT) Now if Flash Rebirth had been finished by the time this hit the stands, I am sure it would have made a little more sense. – Grade B+
JSA All Stars #1
DC
Story: Matthew Sturges
Art: Freddie Williams II
I was all prepared to be disappointed with this book, but I wasn’t. High Praise? Hardly, but a good start. How does the JSA’s (mostly) younger, newer heroes fair on their own? Who is the villain behind the attacks that have split the JSA in to? And why have the villains gone out of their way to NOT attack Stargirl? Here are most of the answers? Here is hoping the core book turns around now as well as this one starts.
- Grade B
The Great Ten #2
DC
Story: Tony Bedard
Art: Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens
China’s Super-functionaries have to face off against the Gods of Ancient China. And the origin of the Celestial Archer is told.
Grade B+
Jack of Fables #40
DC/Vertigo
Story: Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges
Art: Shawn McManus
As Dragon Jack seems to be settling into his cave, Young Jack Frost seems to be becoming quite the adventurer, and the star of the book. Not sure how I feel about that. But it was a good read. – Grade B
Cinderella : From Fabletown with Love #2
DC/Vertigo
Story: Chris Roberson
Art: Shawn McManus
I have been enjoying this book more and more, the mix of real world spy methodology and Fable characters and magic is a real hit. – Grade A-
No random pick ups this week
Need to save up the money for Holiday gifts.
So here are some links to some like minded bloggers.
The Nerdy Bird a/k/a Jill, has boobs, reads comics (and she is sweetheart too)
Batgirl Babs a/k/a Sara, over at The Comic Vine
See guys, there are women who read and love comics!
Batman Returns
Well… that didn’t take too long.
Grant Morrison has done an interview with USA Today’s John Geddes discussing the upcoming return of Bruce Wayne this summer.
They talk about Batman, The DCU, the Multiversity project, and Joe the Barbarian.
The Return of Bruce Wayne starts this April, in a 6 issue where a time lost Bruce Wayne begins his way back to the present from the Caveman era.
What this means for the current team of Grayson and Damian is anyone’s guess. But since this series is being written by “Batman and Robin” writer Grant Morrison, I am sure it will dove tail nicely. I am sure there will be plenty happening over in Red Robin too (and I was just about to drop that book)
The DCU blog THE SOURCE is also reporting the new
Exile on… the Read of the Week – 12/3/09
 |
Blackest NightWONDER WOMAN #1 (of 3) Story: Greg Rucka Art: Nicola Scott Cover: Greg Horn Publisher: DC |
Yes, I know there was no Read of the Week last week. I was out for Thanksgiving.
I will catch up in this week’s pull list tomorrow.
Now, on to the Read of the Week.
This is the latest of the Blackest Night miniseries, the first to be written by Greg Rucka, and the first time Wonder Woman has been really featured in this story(Note this issue takes place before Blackest Night #5) Wonder Woman must face the undead Maxwell Lord at the tomb of the Unknown Solider. That’s right, Wonder Woman has to throw down against a zombie in a cemetery, Arlington National Cemetery to be exact.
It did lead to a brief but pretty cool encounter with a Black Lantern Unknown Solider. And considering the possibilities at the locale, it could have been very interesting. (Black Lantern JFK, anyone? I wonder what his approach to Princess Diana would have been.) Rucka brings new perspective to BN. One he has Wonder Woman sum up with one very simple but very true line. Life is more than seven colors.
DC take note now, Nicola Scott’s Wonder Woman is exactly how she should always appear. Get her on WW ASAP. I thought that when Diana recently appeared in Secret Six. I think it even more now. I do wonder whether it was her idea or Rucka’s to include the headstone for slain Civil Rights activist and WWII veteran Medgar Evers?
I am not sure how it will fit in to the main story. Since (spoiler alert – Wonder Woman has recently became a living Black Lantern along with several other previously resurrected heroes at the end of Blackest Night #5.) I imagine that parts 2 and 3 will be Diana on her way to Coast City.
Grade – A0
Thanksgiving break
Hey all
Sorry for the lack of updates I was away last week for a Holiday….
So to make up for my absence here is a an little Doctor Who Christmas Cheer…
and a new BBC preview of THE END OF TIME (Part 1)!
Exile on Comics – The Pull list 11/18/09
Don’t forget to check out the Read of the Week – FLASH REBIRTH #5
Now on to the Pull List
Adventure Comics #4 – BLACKEST NIGHT TIE IN!
DC
Lead Story: Geoff Johns and Sterling Gates
Art: Jerry Ordway & Bob Wiecek
Back up feature – Legion of Superheroes
Story: Geoff Johns and Michael Shoemaker
Art: Clayton Henry
Blackest Night goes Meta. Superboy-Prime reads the latest (and the very same)issue of Adventure Comics and discovers he is about to be attacked by Black Lantern Alexander Luthor. So what does he do? Does he review all recent Blackest Night issues to see how to beat them? Does he try to contact the writer or editors at DC to see how his story is scripted to end in next months part 2? No. He goes to a comic shop and checks the Internet for spoilers. How fanboy! Oh and there is a Legion Story.
- Grade B
The Outsiders #24 - BLACKEST NIGHT TIE IN!
DC
Story: Peter Tomasi
Art: Fernando Pasarin & Scott Hanna & Prentis Rollins
BL Terra shows up asking Geoforce’s (her half brother) help, Katana has a run in with the Black Lantern versions of her deceased family. Part 1 of 2 (like all BL tie ins)
- Grade B
The Brave and the Bold #29
DC
Story: J. Michael Straczynski
Art: Jesus Saiz
JMS continues to find the most interesting pairing in the DCU. I am hoping this leads to more Brother Power appearences! GEEK POWER! – Grade B+
Justice Society of America 80 page Giant #1
DC
Story:Zander Cannon, Kevin Grevioux, Felicia D. Henderson, Jen Van Meter, Jerry Ordway, James Robinson and Matthew Sturges
Art:Roberto Castro and John Floyd, Neil Edwards and Wayne Faucher, Renato Guedes and José Wilson Magalhães, Jesus Merino, Jerry Ordway, Freddie Williams II and others
So much talent, so little product. A big let down, especially considering the exposure these characters are getting (Two JSA ongoings, and the recent JSA vs. Kobra mini, and the new Power Girl and Magog ongoings) The narrative was confusing and fractured and the art was very inconsistent. Things like this make me worry for the JSA – Grade C
Farscape #1
Boom Studios
Story:Rockne S. O’Bannon, Keith DeCandido
Art: Will Sliney
FINALLY! THERE IS A FRELLING FARSCAPE ONGOING! Spinning directly out of the preceding Post Peacekeeper wars minis. Very glad to see Rockne is on board with the writing of this book. But it makes me worried about any possible TV or film prospects for the series. Is Rockne using the webisode stories here because they have been stalled for so long? Will is pretty decent artist, his Chiana and Aeryn are very good. – Grade B+
Random Pickups of the Week
Dr. Horrible
Dark Horse Comics
Story: Zack Whedon
Art: Joelle Jones
Confession time. I have not seen Dr. Horrible’s Sing along Blog. I know, bad geek. To be honest, I have never been overwhelmed by anything from the “Whedonverse”. I am not saying I haven’t enjoyed his work, I have. I am just not as obsessive over it as other have been. That said, this comic, penned by Josh’s brother, is a fun origin story for Dr. H and I was not hampered by my limited knowledge and quickly figured out the who’s and why’s – Grade A-
Transformers #1
IDW
Story: Mike Costa
Art: Don Figueroa
Another series of miniseries begins as a regular monthly. There have been many versions of the Robots who are more than meet the eye of late, and this series seems to be a distillation of the original 80’s toon and comics. I have not been following the later versions (Pretty much any version of these Transformers since 1988, I was a fan of the Beast Wars toon tho) No problem picking right up and knowing what was going on. This issue has the death of one classic Autobot (who I think they also killed off in the Transformer movie in 86) – Grade B+
Exile on the Tube. Doctor Who – The End of Time part 1
In a break with what has been the norm, BBC America has announced they will air the penultimate David Tennant Doctor episode “The End of Time” on Saturday December 26th!
They also have posted a scene from the upcoming episode on it’s Doctor Who page on the BBC America site.
If you don’t want to hop over the site, you can see it as it aired on the BBC Children in Need telethon this week below
This will be a mere 33 hours after it airs in the UK! The fastest a Doctor Who story ever made it on air in the US.
The Waters of Mars, the last special aired on Sunday 15 November in the UK and will air on Saturday 19 December in the US.
I will post my review of it closer to its airing.
Exile on… The Read of the Week – 11/18/09
 |
FLASH:Rebirth #5 (of 6) Story: Geoff Johns Art: Ethan Van Sciver Cover:Ethan Van Sciver Publisher: DC |
Geoff Johns has single handedly started the Second Silver Age of Comics. First he brought back Green Lantern. After that he restored the Teen Titans to their highest popularity in years. Then he brought back the DC Multiverse. Now he has completed his work by succeeded in bringing back Barry Allen, the Flash.
The Flash Rebirth, is just latest in a string of hits penned by the Spike TV Best Comics Writer Scream Award. winner. Geoff and artist Scott Kollins run on Wally West’s Flash title has always been my favorite run of my favorite character. So as you might guess, I have been a little worried about what is going to happen to Wally after this series. Is there really room in the DCU for 3 full time Flashes?
If they are written like the are right now… Hell Yes! Luckily each Flash is so distinct and each brings something different to the superspeed world. Which is good, because the Scarlet Speedsters are going to need every bit of it they are going to beat Professor Zoom, the Reverse Flash.
This is the penultimate chapter of the story, and there is always something I love about that part of the tale. It’s where all the pieces really begin to come together and the action rises to highest point. It is where Heroes are faced with the ultimate choice that shows why they are heroes, and this issue lives up to that. It always leaves you anxious and excited to the final chapter.
One of the best things Johns has done on all his titles is maintain a fans respect for what has come before, while not letting it get in the way of moving the story forward.
One of the highlights of this issue is the return of one legacy speedster and a new one taking up the mantle of another legacy.
While you can’t deny Ethan Van Sciver’s fantastic work, there is one thing I did not like, please tell me that is not Wally’s final costume! It is a variation of the DCAU Justice League Flash costume, and I ALWAYS hated that version of the Flash emblem (although I understood it, since it was easier to animate)
I hope when the New Flash book begins next year (with the Wally West second feature), that they fix it. I would love to see Wally begin to take on some of Jay’s costume, the helmet, etc.
I am also thinking once Barry is finally settled in, that he will be on the JLA with best bud, Hal. I would love for someone to have Wally step up to lead the Titans, with Roy (Red Arrow) Harper. The Titans’ franchises are a mess again (since Geoff left the book) And half of the classic team are now part of the JLA. So maybe Wally and Roy (who have both already had stints with the League) would welcome the chance to bring the Titans back and help with the next generation, After all they are already both fathers.
Grade – A
Exile on the Tube – Quicky – SMALLVILLE:ABSOLUTE JUSTICE
Earlier this week the CW officially announced it would be being airing its two Smallville Justice Society episodes written by Uber Comic scribe Geoff Johns (Green Lantern, Flash: Rebirth, and Blackest Night) as the two hour movie event Smallville:Absolute Justice, and they have confirmed that the team will include Hawkman (Michael Shanks – Stargate:SG1), Dr. Fate (Brent Stait – Andromeda), and Stargirl (Britt Irvin)
Then they released the first image of Shanks in full Hawkman (Not sure if he’s Carter Hall, reincarnated Egyptian Prince or Katar Hol, Thanagarian Police Officer)
Not bad, I am hoping that the wings get some post production help. But they went pretty classic looking with the costume. (Chestplate not withstanding)
Now in trailer on it’s website and airing on the CW for the second half of the season, We get a few more glimpses of The World’s first Super Team.
I’ll get some still’s up as soon as I can. But among the images we get to see The famous round table, a Green Power Ring being worn, The Sandman (Sandy Hawkins? Wesley Dodds?), and Dr. Fate in full faced helmeted glory. At the end of the trailer is Clark is looking up at a Alex Ross-ish style painting homage to All Star Comics #3, with the JSA seated around the table (among the characters you can see are the Original Star Spangled Kid, Wildcat, The Atom, The Sandman, The Spectre, The Flash, Hawkman and Hawkgirl, Dr.Fate, Hourman, and Mr. Terrific, (There are a few characters on the left side of the picture I can’t make out.)
Now Smallville has always been hit or miss for me, especially when they get deep into DC lore (Last year’s Doomsday – Blah) But this looks good, real good.
Here’s hoping.
