Or – “And That Gail Simone Always Seemed So Nice And So Normal…”
Batgirl has been through some pretty intense stuff in her second run as a costumed hero, but nothing could prepare her (or the reader) for what happens next… Your Major Spoilers review awaits!
Or – “The Importance Of The Conjunction…”
This issue promises to be the first meeting of Batgirl and the man who crippled her since the events of ‘The Killing Joke.’ I’m presuming that they mean in the New 52, as I’m pretty sure that Gail Simone already wrote that same story back during the original run of Birds of Prey some years ago, but it should be noted that I’m trying not to say things like that any longer, as I don’t like being That Guy. What does ‘Death Of The Family’ have in store for Babs Gordon? Your Major Spoilers review awaits!
Batgirl’s origins are revealed as Barbara Gordon beats a cult leader into submission and gets her first up close and personal encounter with the Batman. More after the jump!
Or – “The Blood Puking Will Make For An Interesting Animated Series…”
When DC relaunched their universe last fall, they included a little something for everyone, from furthest reaches of their massive character library. Of all the relaunch titles, the one that appealed to me the least was probably Red Lanterns, a book that is paradoxically written by a writer whose work I have really enjoyed on other titles. With the fifth issue of the new order, I am ready to dip my toe into the sea of burning blood-vomit to see if my initial dismissal of Atrocitus and his minions was too hasty…
It’s showdown time in Gotham’s alleys. The mysterious new White Canary is playing her hand but can Black Canary and Huntress make it out of this fight in one piece? Is White Canary the mastermind behind the blackmail threat?
Here is some welcome news for those who have been lost without their Birds of Prey action – the series is returning in the Spring. And to answer the question that is ready to burst from your mouth, yes, Gail Simone will be writing. Join Simone will be Ed Benes, and all I can say is, “hubba-hubba”.
“I am really excited and I missed those characters terribly. I miss almost every book I’ve ever written, but the Birds have a special place in my heart and brain,” said Simone.
Check out the promo bit that DC released on their website. The comic book publishers have been blacking out a lot of characters on covers for 2010 as part of the buildup, and the two masked out above should get a lot of you guessing.
According to Simone, the new series will be a little tougher and a little naughtier than the original run. And if you are looking for a sneak of what to expect, Simone said, “Someone wants the band back together, and it’s NOT the Birds. Zinda gets a date. A long-promised headquarters is built. Black Canary kicks ass. Huntress thinks a certain big league bat villain should be left to die. A bird is charged with murder. Another might be working for the other side. And Catman leaves a naughty phone message for the wrong person.”
How many people just went, “SQUEE!”
The Source shared some images of Ed Benes’ cover work for the upcoming Red Tornado series that features the Red Torpedo. You’ll want to take the jump to see this one in its full glory.
In this issue: The Man of Steel on the auction block! The Commander In Chief takes over the industry! Wee Hughie oversteps his bounds! Plus: Deadshot’s in your house, shootin’ up your targets! I can has Silk Spectre? Chiana has invisible space blasters! And, Stephen Ignatius Schleicher is a rotten ol’ somepin somepin, and all sorts o’ mean nasty stuff, with 25 8 by 10 color glossy photographs with the circles and the arrows and the paragraph on the back describin’ each one! So, when the chorus comes around, everybody sing together… with feelin’…
Show Notes after the Jump!
The Glyph Comics Awards has announced the nominees for the 2009 awards. This is the fourth year for the competition and there are many new names on the list. Judging this year’s entries are: Valerie D’Orazio, president, Friends of Lulu; Mathan Erhardt, writer, Comics Nexus; Ed Mathews, columnist, Pop Image; Tim O’Shea, writer/interviewer, TalkingWithTim.com; and Elayne Riggs, comics reviewer and commentator.
You can also vote for the Fan Award for Best Comic between now and March 31, 2009, at East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention (ECBACC), www.ecbacc.com/wordpress. The full nominee list after the jump.
Or – “Slowly Crawling Back Into My Good Graces…”
It’s no secret that this incarnation of the Justice League has been problematical for me from the beginning. Brad Meltzer’s character-based stories were weak on plot, relying too heavily on coincidence, overkill, and the DC’s big three for my tastes. The art of Ed Benes is very cheesecakey (see Zatanna’s general pectoral regions above) and the fill-in artists seem to have been chosen for their ability to ape his good-girl style rather than their own artistic strengths. Add to that the fact that Meltzer left many dangling plotlines, and Dwayne McDuffie’s run has been full of crossovers and side-trips (which feel like editorial caveat to me) and you’ve got a not-entirely-satisfying reading experience. But, each issue feels a bit more like a League that I would want to read, and this issue continues that trend…