Author: Matthew Peterson

Or – “A Key Bronze Age First Appearance Of A Big-Time Fan Favorite…” Geoff Johns is a talented writer, and he has a knack for bringing characters to life in new and different ways, making them feel fresh and iconic at the same time.  Sometimes, though, it’s interesting to go back to the beginnings and see how some of our favorites started out, like when the episodes of ‘Good Morning, Mrs. Bliss’ end up in ‘Saved By The Bell’ rotation.  Luckily, for everyone involved, there’s a lot less Mr. Belding here…

Or – “Their Stories Continue, Even If Their Books Tanked…” Many years ago, I came to the sad conclusion that my favorite titles won’t ever be big sellers with the general public.  Because of that sad paradigm, it came to be that I was reading and enjoying roughly 60% of the cancelled product of the New 52 thus far.  Although I didn’t read much beyond the first issue of Blackhawks, I appreciated their pedigree, and I have to say that it’s good to see O.M.A.C., Mister Terrific and Deadman again.  Your Major Spoilers review awaits! Oh, and Hawk & Dove…

Or – “I’m Just Hoping It’s Not Twilight With Swords…” I’ve been excitedly waiting for this issue ever since they announced that Amethyst was returning to comics, even if it was without Ernie Colón.  With the additional revival of minor 70’s swordsman Beowulf, I have hopes that this book won’t disappear like O.M.A.C. or Static did.  Your Major Spoilers review awaits!

Recent news out of the House of Ideas implies that Ultimate Captain America is going to be successfully elected as a write-in candidate for President of the United States of Ultimerica.  Leaving aside discussion of whether Ultimate Cap is a juvenile-wish-fullfillment-idea-of-the-military, jingoistic, sloganeering, aggressively confrontational jackwagon (which he unequivocally is, thank you) or the legality of such a bid (I suppose he is an American citizen over the age of 35) there are other unspoken issues at play.  Ulticap has been shown to be somewhat skilled in the role of field leader, but what real expectations could we have of…

Or – “The Immediacy Of First-Person Dialogue…” I am saddened to say that, of all the comics I’m behind reading, I’m probably furthest behind on Batwoman.  The last thing I remember reading was issue #4, and then there’s a huge blur.  I looked up from that comic in a brand-new year, and suddenly it’s nearly October.  Will Batwoman still hold the same power after a prolonged absence?  There’s only one way to find out, as your Major Spoilers review awaits!

For many years, I’ve had a devil of a time telling Bill Paxton (Chet from ‘Weird Science’) apart from Bill Pullman (Lone Star from ‘Spaceballs.)  Throw Adam “Jayne Cobb” Baldwin into the mix, and my brain will likely throw up a “Somebody Else’s Problem” field and ignore them all.  But a recent random internet posting pointed out that there are a lot more Hollywood doppelgangers than even I remembered, given the Elijah Wood/Tobey Maguire/Topher Grace paradigm and the ever-dangerous Bermuda Triangle of Clairol Mahogany that is Katy Perry, Alexis Biedel and Zooey Deschanel (whose entire name is as ridiculous as…

Or – “Will She Be The Weakest Link?” Idolized #1 introduced us to Leslie, a young hopeful with super-powers and a dream, vying for a coveted spot in the world’s greatest superteam!  Of course, first she has to win the reality competition and not get killed.  Oh, and there’s also a little matter of some skeletons in her closet as well…  Your Major Spoilers advance review awaits! *Idolized #2 goes on sale September 26th, 2012!

Yesterday, during my shift at Gatekeeper Hobbies, (Huntoon & Gage, Topeka!  Ask us about our Heavy Metal back issues!) I was overcome by a sudden sadness at the loss of Jay Garrick, elder statesman of the DC Universe.  During Wally West’s run as the Flash in the 1990’s, Jay was used as an avuncular presence, a superhero’s superhero, the guy who had it all together thanks to 50 years of thinking at super-speed.  After the Crisis on Infinite Earths removed Superman’s Golden Age origins, Jay replaced him as the first superhuman of the modern continuity, always ready with some folksy…

Or – “It’s Strange The Things That Stick With Us From Days Gone By…” It’s interesting to remember that, a couple of decades ago, the city in which I currently live, where I met my wife and saw my kid born, was just the far-off Big City home of my college roommate.  My first visit to Topeka involved a visit to the comic shop (one which changed hands in the ensuing decades, but eventually became known as Gatekeeper Hobbies) and the purchase of an ENORMOUS stack of comics out of the Five-For-A-Dollar bin.  This book was one of ’em, and…

Back in the wild days known as 1982, all my friends were TOTALLY into G.I. Joe.  With a best-selling comic book, a fairly affordable toy line, and the brilliance of Larry Hama writing both, it was pretty much a guaranteed seller.  To this day, I can remember line-for-line some of the wonderful moments in the back-of-the-package file cards that Hama wrote.  Of course, while most of my friends were torn in whether they most dug Stalker (the cool Green Beret with the camo fatigues), Scarlett (the gorgeous bombshell who could knock you in the dirt in a second), or Snake-Eyes…

Or – “It’s A High-School Issue!” One of the best Marvel Comics of the 90’s was the issue of Deadpool wherein Wade went back in time and impersonated Peter Parker during the events of Spider-Man #47, with Blind Al subbing for Aunt May.  Though I’m not a huge Deadpool aficionado, that story made me want to see what this one had to offer.  Will they be able to capture more lightning in that same bottle?  Your Major Spoilers review awaits!

A wise man once said: “Where goeth The Legion, there goeth comic books…  Eventually.”  Okay, maybe it’s a little presumptuous to call myself wise, but at the very least I’m vaguely shrewd, at least in the ways of pop culture and the super-capes.  As a boy, I was fascinated by the fact that, while the Avengers had five members and the JLA nine, the Legion consisted of nearly TWO DOZEN heroes on active duty, as well as other rotating in and out as guest-stars here and there.  With the news that the Marvel NOW! relaunch of Avengers would have EIGHTEEN…

Or – “Let’s See What His Origin Is This Time!” As a Legion of Super-Heroes fan, you get used to the timestream changing.  There’s a reason why it takes at least five minutes to clarify WHICH Wildfire, Timber Wolf or Saturn Girl you’re a fan of.  This issue promises to retell the origins of Brin Londo, late of the planet Zuun, but will it be a story with which I’m familiar or will it be all new?  Your Major Spoilers review awaits!

Or – “I Still Remember The FIRST Superboy #0.” The New 52 has made a lot of changes to a lot of characters, but none is as welcome as finally seeing Superboy in a costume that wasn’t horribly dated within seven minutes of its creation.  Will the REST of this special origin issue make readers as happy?  Your Major Spoilers review awaits!