It’s the NEW 52, coming right at you….

Posted on August 1, 2011 by

DC coming is relaunching everything.  They say it isn’t a relaunch, but when start something over at number 1, and change origin stories, its a relaunch no matter what you call it.   I think they are shying away from the word because of all the luggage that comes with it.

In the decades that I have been collecting comics, I have been witness (and sometimes the victim) or many relaunches.  I think Wonder Woman had a new #1 or a new creative team and “Bold, New Direction” about every 18 months.  Lets not forget the John Byrne Superman relaunch and whatever title the gave Strazynski to keep him happy and writing.

Dont get me wrong, some of these relaunches were great.  Strazynski’s Spider-Man run (yes, I know he started at #31, but it counts), Byrne’s Superman and Rucka’s Wonder Woman (I defend to this day that he is one of the few writers who were actually able to capture who Wonder Woman truly is.  If you doubt me, read the Sacrifice and you will see the error of your ways and repent). 

But for all the great ones, they are more really poor efforts (see: Aquaman). But the reality is, these relaunches almost have to happen for the character to stay viable.  Look at Superman, he has been around since 1938, just shy of 80 years.  How could they keep telling stories if they didn’t make changes and “relaunches”.  Remember, Superman didn’t fly in the Golden Age.

The thing that I am impressed by, and am a little fearful of, is the sheer magnitude of this relaunch.  Every DC title is starting over.  (After all these years, I can afford to buy an Action Comics #1 First Print.  And in 2 years, a Detective Comics #27.)  To my knowledge there has never been an undertaking such as this.  the closest thing is Marvel Ultimate Universe, but that launched an alternate timeline.  This is not that.  This is stopping everything in its tracks starting from scratch (Welllllllll, almost.  The Green Lantern storyline doesn’t seem to have veered THAT much off course).

Personally, I am looking forward to this.  There are a lot of aspects that I thnk can really work in what they are doing. They are taking a huge risk, but they aren’t doing it piecemeal.  Its a Brave, New world with such people in it!  Plotlines that have Clark Kent being orphaned for a second time on Earth, and not have the guiding hand of the Kents to teach him humanity.  This has the potential for greatness. Wonder Woman also looks like her Amazon teachings will start where Rucka left them, and grow. 

But, I am not a doe eyed teenager looking the the rose colored RETContact lenses,  I know things will not work, (fanboys across the multiverse have already started their protests).  Barbara Gordon as Batgirl, I agree with and welcome back, but didn’t DC say years ago that Babs WOULD NEVER be Batgirl again because they didn’t want to find a superficial way to make her walk again?  Lois and Clark not together?  I am not sure I like that, I think that they story lines worked.  But Jim Lee said in an interview, and I do agree with it, that some of the best storylines were with the love triangle between Superman/Lois/Clark.  I will have to wait and see on this.

As a reader of comics for the past 30 plus years, I am really looking forward to what DC is doing.  They are standing behind this play, and they have all their guys out there talking it up.  I hope that the fans will give it a shot (even Aquaman).

As a retailer, I want people to buy these books and keep buying them.  On our website, we have all 52 titles discounted @ 20% off cover price.  Not the best deal you will find in town, but not the worse either.  However you do it, I hope you give them a shot. 

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Our First Free Comic Book Day event

Posted on May 4, 2011 by

D and B comics has been in buiness since July 2005, but we have never held a “real” Free Comic Book Day event.  This is mostly because we are an internet based retailer, finding a place to hold it was difficult and my living room wasn’t nearly big enough.

Well, here we are 6 years later, and we found a place to have our event, and artists to be there.  The good people over at the Orange County Library – Alafaya branch have allowed us to come in for a few hours on Saturday to hand out comics and talk to people about them.  We also have 2 artists, Shawn Surface and Richard Livingston who will be on hand to do sketches and talk about what they are working on now.

So, if  you are in the Orlando area stopby and visit us at the library and get a free comic and a sketch!

Orange County Library – Alafaya Branch
12000 E Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL 32826

Posted in DC, FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, MARVEL | Leave a comment

Whatever Happened to the Princess of Paradise Island?

Posted on April 1, 2011 by

Last month, Wonder Woman #600 was published and it had the world talking.  Not because Wonder Woman is awesome, which she is, but because they changed her costume.  This angered many people; in fact, I think I am the only person who likes the change.  But that’s because I read the story as to why the costume was changed.   I have always felt that Wonder Woman does not get near enough of the credit and fan base that she should.  This change, which after reading #601 seems to be temporary, gave people a reason to talk about here.  Maybe even pick up the story and read it.

If you know me, you know that Superman is now, and has been for many years, my favorite superhero character.  What is not known, however, is that for about 10 years now, Wonder Woman has been a very close second.  (Green Lantern is third, for those who are really curious.  Batman is OK, but doesn’t rank that high with me). 

It came about because of an article I read about her.  The question was being posed by the author who the second most powerful hero in the DCU was – in his opinion (and mine now, though I didn’t agree at the time) was Wonder Woman.  He pressed his case by pointing out that she was essentially a god and could pretty much do anything Superman could do, and I may be wrong, but she has no kryptonite like weakness.  Now, in the TV series, they gave her one in the first season.  But Ill get to that in a minute.

Wonder Woman first appeared in comics in 1941.  Her creator, William Moulton Marston, realized that there were no strong female heroes in comics to counterpoint heroes like Batman, Superman, and Green Lantern. (Legend has it he model the character after his wife)  She was to be the equal in all things to the male heroes of the time.  She even joined the Justice Society of America in 1946. 

From the start, in my opinion, it was an uphill battle getting her in the DC Pantheon where she really belonged.  At her inception, women were really reading or having anything to do with comics.  Men read them, but as usual were drawn to the male characters.  I think it wasn’t until the time George Perez and John Byrne took her on that she really came into her own.

I think the best example of how she wasn’t taken seriously is the TV series.  Now, let me state for the record that I love the TV series in all its 70’s cheese.  But if you watch them again (and since I bough them, I can J) you will see what I mean.

First, they gave her a weakness.  She would lose her power if she took off her golden belt – which she was tricked into doing just about every week in season 1.  She also wasn’t nearly as strong as she was supposed to be.   I am not sure why they watered her down so badly, but live action TV shows were not good to any hero in the 70’s.  If you don’t know this, track down a few of the Spider-Man movies with Nicholas Hammond in the role, or go no further than Adam West’s portrayal of Batman. 

John Byrne and George Perez saw in Wonder Woman the strong character she was.  They gave her a new life in comics, and showed her as Superman’s equal in just about everything.  That where I started getting interested in her story.  It’s also when I started my art collection.  In the 90’s, as I started going to conventions I always got sketches from the artist, but I hadn’t found my theme yet.  Enter the article about Winder Woman (I wish I could remember the name of it).  That’s when I started getting my Superman vs. Wonder Woman art collection going.  I have several versions of Superman arm wrestling Wonder Woman.  I never tell the artist what I want to see, just the basic premise.  I leave it up to them.  In all of the ones I have, Superman has never won.  It’s either a tie, or Wonder Woman wins.  I think I like the ones that are ties, because I do think they are equals.

Even during that time, she didn’t have the draw that she should have.  Her series went thru several hiatuses and re-launches because that hadn’t found a writer who could hit it on all cylinders for her.  Enter Greg Rucka – he gave her the edge and plots that she needed.  And gave her what I feel to be her defining moment, when we realize exactly who she is.

What I mean by a defining moment is this, in the classic Superman story “For the Man Who Has Everything”, there is moment in the story when Superman is fighting Mongul.   In one panel, Alan Moore shows exactly how powerful Superman really is, and it worked so well because we forget how powerful he is – we have to in order to make him work for us (more on that in another blog). 

Greg Rucka gave Wonder Woman that moment in the Sacrifice storyline.  In the story, Max Lord had used his powers to take control of Superman and begins to use him for evil.  Wonder Woman is able to subdue Superman long enough to get to Max and make him stop.  Max tells her he never will, and the only way to stop him is to kill him, which she would never do. What happened next was this:

  

It didn’t show her physical strength as must as her moral resolve.  She is the only one of the Trinity (Superman, Batman, and her) to have killed deliberately – and Superman and Batman had issues with her actions in this.  But she knew what the right choice was for the protection of the world, and did what needed to be done.  Greg defined her, and in that one action, staked her claim as the runner up to Superman in the DCU.   

As of issue #600, J. Michael Strazyski has taken over the reins of Wonder Woman, and yes he is the one who instigated the costume change.  The story line he is presenting seems simple but powerful.  Wonder Woman is one of only a few survivors (that she knows of) of Paradise Island.  The Amazons, abandoned by Aphrodite, were attacked and destroyed by an unknown group.  Diana escaped as an infant was raised as an Amazon by those who rescued her.  Her mission now is to avenge the deaths of her sisters.  From what I have heard, there will be no guest stars in the coming months.  This will be a 100% pure Wonder Woman story. 

After having read the first 2 issues, I am looking forward to this run.  J. Michael Strazynski is a master storyteller and has done amazing things with Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and Thor.  He is now taking on Superman and Wonder Woman.  It is going to be great.

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Where Have You Gone, Al Calavicci (or Waiting for Ziggy)

Posted on April 1, 2011 by

I watched a lot of TV growing up.   It just who I was (and still am, I guess).  I love the escapism that TV provides.  For any amount of time that I want, I can live in another person’s shoes. 

Also, TV was a conversation point with my Mother (and still is).  We talk about shows that we are watching, give recommendations and compare theories on what will happen.  They are many shows we both likes, but only one we both loved…Quantum Leap.

Being a fan of time travel, thanks to the good Doctor (Who), the premise of this show was brilliant.  A scientist looking to prove the mysteries of time travel, unknowingly launches himself into history to right wrongs and fight the good fight.  Again, brilliant.

It was an absolute crime the way it was treated in its last season.  Time slot bumped around on a weekly basis, not advertised changes, and a swift death 10PM on Wednesdays.  The last episode was at beast good, at worse a horrible let down.  It could have, and should have gone on.  Even the Quantum Leap comics never took off, but it didn’t help that Innovation Comics went out of business rather quickly.  I am hoping that Dynamite or IDW grab up the comic book rights and start putting out Quantum Leap comics. 

For a time, I flirted with sending SyFy a script for a series relaunch.  I would talk about it with my friend Howard, who was actually a screen writer.   He was as big a fan as I was, and it was fun plotting the points with him.

So I will indulge here, and share how I would relaunch Quantum Leap.  Maybe the .0001% chance that it will be read by the right eyes that like my idea and have the ability will get the show relaunched.  Never happen, but what is life without dreams.

It has been 15 years since Sam’s final leap, he has not been heard from since that day.  Al went on to head Project Quantum Leap and try to find a way to bring Sam back home.  He has brought on Sam’s wife and his daughter, Sammy Jo to work on the problem. 

Sammy Jo has a 15 year old son name Sam, after his grandfather.   The day he was graduating high school, he was crossing the street to meet with some friends when he saw a truck head toward him, and he had no tome to get out of the way.  Out of nowhere, a man pushes Sam out of the way and saves him.  The man is older, asks quickly if Sam is OK, and walks away.  Sam catches a glimpse of the man’s face as he looks back, and it seems familiar.  He chases the man as he turns the corner, but is blinded by a flash of blue “lightning” and the man is gone.

Sam goes on to graduate, he is salutatorian of his class, and the valedictorian is Allison Calavicci.  Sam tells Allie about what happened with the near fatal crash, and Allie is reminded of something she read in he father’s old files.  They go Project Quantum Leap, which has been shut down for the past 10 year because of lack of financial backing.   In Al’s old office, they hack into the computer system and find all the files on Dr. Sam Beckett, Sam’s Grandfather.  When Sam sees a picture, he realizes that it was his Grandfather who helped him that morning.  Beyond that, he begins to remember other times in his life that his Grandfather has shown up to help him.  Allie and Sam begin to explore the lab looking for more information.

Unrealized by them, their hacking woke up Ziggy, Project Quantum Leap’s AI interface.  She scans and finds the Sam and Allie, and sees that Sam is a direct descendant of Dr. Beckett.  She leads them to the lab where Dr. Beckett first leaped.

Meanwhile, Al gets an alert that Project Quantum Leap labs have powered up.  He calls Sammy Jo (Sam’s Mom), and together they rush to the labs.

Allie and Sam enter the lab and are greeted by Ziggy, who now has a hologram form.  She Gives them the history of the project and shows them Dr. Beckett’s first leap.  She tells them that Dr. Beckett is still out there, and because Sam’s genetic signature is close to Dr. Beckett’s, Ziggy can send him after his grandfather to try and bring him home.  Sam agrees and Allie agrees to stay behind and help Sam from the lap, like her grandfather helped Dr. Beckett.

Sammy Jo and Al enter the lab just in time to see the Quantum Leap Accerator activae with Sam inside.  He body is surrounded by a blue electric glow, and in a flash he is gone.  Standing in his place is a man around 20 wering baggy jeans, a tie-dye shirt and sunglasses carrying a sign that says “Welcome to  Woodstock”.  Al and Sammy Jo look at each other and say “Oh Boy”.

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Strange Visitor

Posted on April 1, 2011 by

In 1938, two Jewish immigrants came up with an idea.  It wasn’t a quick discovery, one that took a long time to get to.  The evolution of a hero that couldn’t be hurt by mere mortals.  A hero who could right any wrong without fearing mortality.   He was faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall building in a single bound (in case you didn’t know, originally Superman didn’t fly, so Smallville isn’t that far off).

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster ushered in a new age of heroes that the world was more than ready for.

The character of Superman, to me, has always presented a bit of a problem.  (Please keep in mind that Superman is my all-time, #1 favorite superhero).  The problem is how do you write for someone as powerful as him?  Really, he can move a planet out of the way when necessary.  When you have someone capable of such tremendous feats, how do you make him accessible to us “mere mortals”?

Back in the 80’s, John Byrne changed Superman to do just that.  We were just coming out of the Silver Age in comics -  a time where every new issue of Superman saw a new superpower.  Super-Ant Control, Super-Vetriliquism, Super-Shrink – the list goes on.  The writers of that time used a new power every week as the Deus Ex Machina to get Superman out of trouble.  They were more comedic than dramatic.  For those of you Smallville fans out there, it was very much like the Meteor Freak of the Week storylines of the first 2 seasons.

It seemed to me that John Byrne was having the same issues I was having with Superman.  He was too powerful, and in being so, there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do or win.  He was losing his appeal.   People were coming back to see what new power he had for that issue, but it was going downhill fast.  At least for me it was, I was getting ready to drop Superman from my reading. 

Byrne retooled Superman to make him more “belivable”.  He took away the “nothing can hurt him” idea, and he couldn’t be killed but we did see some bruises from time to time.  His weakness to Kryptonite was still there, but there was only one piece know to exist.  (In the Silver Age of Superman, you could by kryptonite at the local Walgreens).  His weakness to the supernatural was exploited more.   But there was something else changing about Superman.  Its wasn’t fully realized  until after Byrne left the book, and something only hinted at in the previous ages. 

 What they finally realized is that the best Superman stories are ones that ones that rely on his solving the challenges at hand with only the lessons that Ma and Pa Kent taught him, his “human” side.  That or a story line that is saw raw emotionally that we can identify with someone we shouldn’t be able to identify with.   It’s cathartic to watch someone as powerful as Superman has to deal with issues that we face, and watch him struggle as we do.

There are three specific story lines that come to mind.

CRISIS AT HAND

2 issues – Superman: The Man Of Steel #16 / Superman (2nd) #72

Clark Kent over hears his neighbors fighting, as Superman he goes to help to be told his help isn’t needed or wanted.  He confides in Lois about the first time he got involves with domestic issues, and how it turned out.   Its intense to watch him struggle on how to deal with something like this.  There is no one he can punch to make it go away, especially when they don’t want him to help. Only two issues long  but an exceptionally powerful story.

Action Comics #719

Lois Lane has been poisoned and Superman is told by the Joker that the antidote is in his blood and the only way to save Lois is to kill him and take the antidote from his dead body.  Superman, who swore he would never take a life, has to struggle with what to do.  It is only through the guidance of Batman that he realizes the insidious trap of the Joker’s that he almost fell into.  The Joker realized, and so did Batman, that the only way he could destroy Superman is by making him compromise his beliefs.

Superman #704

Now I know this one hasn’t come out yet, and I haven’t seen a preview copy, but the cover says it all. And if that doesn’t tell you this is a storyline similar to the other 2, here’s the publisher’s blurb on it:

J. Michael Straczynski’s “Grounded” storyline, which has made headlines in USA TODAY, THE NEW YORK TIMES and ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, continues right here as Superman visits the Chicago area! In this issue, Superman discovers that there is a darkness even more immense than outer space: the darkness of the human heart turned against itself.

Superman vs. child abuse.  Maybe?

This is why I love what Strazynski is doing with Superman for the next year.  By grounding him, he is forced to deal with human issues.  There are no interstellar invasions, no Braniac or Lex Luthor to try and kill him.  Just real people with real problems that he can’t solve with physical strength, but rather with his strength of conviction and morality.

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