Superhero comics, especially ones that have been around for decades, inevitably have stories more complex than the casual fan realizes. Writers take great pains to create a ripple effect in their work–sometimes a villain will scuffle with Batman in one issue then return punch-drunk to fight Batgirl several issues later. Continuity, when it comes down … Continue reading »
Filed under characters …
Back to the Next Generation: All New X-Men #1
Comic: All New X-Men issue 1, written by Brian Michael Bendis When we last left Cyclops, he’d gone off the deep end a bit. Years ago, the love of his life, Jean Grey, was possessed by the Phoenix Force and wound up destroying her life and an entire planet in the process. Recently, the Phoenix … Continue reading »
Analysis of Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises, Part One: Feline Frisky
*If you haven’t seen The Dark Knight Rises, don’t read this article (spoilers). The biggest surprise in The Dark Knight Rises for me wasn’t Miranda’s double-cross or the last-minute return of Bruce Wayne. It was Catwoman. Specifically, I was surprised by how large her role was, and how much gravitas her character was imbued with. … Continue reading »
Hippie Hulk: Don’t Bogart His Gamma Rays
The Hulk in the 60s, or, Gamma Rays All In My Mind, ‘Scuse Me While I Hit This Guy On an episode of The Simpsons titled Little Big Girl (Season 18, episode 12), Bart drives a car to a different city and finds a comic book store called “Mylar Baggins.” Once inside, he lays his … Continue reading »
Get To Know Catwoman: Selina Kyle in Brief
As many Batman fans can attest to, the “Year One” series about the Dark Knight was quite possibly the best storyline in the hero’s history. It contained not one but two fantastic books: Batman Year One by Frank Miller and artist David Mazzuchelli, and Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale (both … Continue reading »
The Secret Origin of Batman
Recently I wrote a blog about the origin of Batman (click here to read it). Here’s a continuation of that focusing on his “secret origin.” Over the years, writers have found it necessary to tinker with the stories of how superheroes gained their powers, creating what are called “secret origins.” In the case of Bruce … Continue reading »
So, Icy Mr. Freeze Has Returned: Red Hood and the Outlaws Issue 9
I’ve been out of the loop with the new DCU (haven’t we all?), so I was surprised and pleased today to see my beloved Mr. Freeze defrosted and returned to the comics world in Red Hood and the Outlaws #9. He’s also on the cover of Batman Annual #1. Well Victor Fries, it’s ice to … Continue reading »
DC’s Most Promising New Comic: Earth 2
Earth 2 answers the question that’s been nagging at me ever since DC’s New 52 reboot: whatever happened to the JSA? As it turns out, they have been living in a parallel world, and they are not yet a team. Sound confusing? It is. In the old DC Universe, the JSA were thought of as … Continue reading »
“Mature” Comics: Grimm’s Fairy Tales Vs. Warlord of Mars Dejah Thoris
What Warlord of Mars Dejah Thoris and the Grimm’s Fairy Tale comic franchise have in common is that they both seem to be aimed at readers who have the shortest attention spans imaginable. This concept is particularly odd since comics already accomodate people who lack patience. They’re stories told in pictures usually featuring less than … Continue reading »
Professor Xavier: Prophet or Propagandist?
It’s fair to say that every X-Men fan has noticed that Charles Xavier–Professor X as he’s sometimes known–is a little creepy. Maybe it’s his bald and reflective pate, or it’s his arched and immaculately coiffed eyebrows, or maybe it’s something else. But what is this “something else,” this odd and hard to define quality that … Continue reading »
