Today's Favorite Photo

Combining two of my favorites!

It's Getting Dark

One of my favorite comic books has been on fire the last two years and it looks like there is no putting it out now. Green Lantern & its sister book Green Lantern Corps has been in the midst of the ultimate color war for the last two years. For those ungeeked Green Lantern is the story of a man who is given a magic/science based ring that allows him to create pretty much anything he can think of as long as his will power is strong enough. There are at least two Green Lanterns (a title not a codename) for every sector of space and they all belong to the Green Lantern Corps. They are for lack of a better word Space Police.

First it was the Sinestro War with the will Powered fueled Green Lanterns versus the Fear powered Yellow Lanterns. After a hard won fight that took place over the summer, we the readers learned this was simply the beginning of darker days as the war of light was fast approaching. Since the end of the war we have been introduced to love powered violet lanterns or Star Sapphires, The Hate filled Red Lanterns, the forever Hopeful Blue Lanterns and the greedy Orange Lanterns. And while there are still a few more colors that have yet to appeared DC is gearing up for the baddest of mama jamas The Black Lanterns.

What makes the Black Lanterns such a big deal is that their corps is made up of the deceased and with all the big story lines over at DC there has been a lot of death. While no actual members have been listed it is rumored that the Black Lanterns will include Hawk man, Hawk girl, The Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, and a Superman (there are a few running around DC right now…don’t ask!) Anyway it’s is gearing up to be super cool and would you believe this whole blog was just supposed to be the upcoming picture, somehow I geeked out all over the keyboard…..

Oh Well

In Brightest Day……In Blackest Night!!!!

Comics not just for kids anymore! Top 10 TPB

Well honestly they have not been "just for kids" in many years but I digress. The NY Times Art Beat released the list of top 10 Graphic trade paperbacks as of March 21st. They are....

1 WATCHMEN, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. (DC Comics, $19.99.) This epic tale from 1986 signaled a new maturity in comic books.

2 LIGHT OF THY COUNTENANCE, by Alan Moore and Felipe Massafera. (Avatar Press, $17.99.) This adaptation of a short story by Mr. Moore tackles the magic and misery of television.

3 SQUADRON SUPREME: THE PRE-WAR YEARS, by J. Michael Straczynski and Gary Frank. (Marvel Comics, $16.99.) The American government wants super-operatives to crush its enemies, both local and global, but Hyperion has other plans.

4 SQUADRON SUPREME: POWER TO THE PEOPLE, by Howard Chaykin and Marco Turini. (Marvel Comics, $16.99.) New heroes appear to fill the vacuum left by the missing Squadron.

5 ASTONISHING X-MEN, Vol. 1, by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday. (Marvel Comics, $14.99.) A possible cure for genetic mutations, and the alien, villainous Ord, threaten to tear the team apart.

6 BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, by Frank Miller. (DC Comics, $14.99.) Another classic from 1986: The caped crusader comes out of retirement to save Gotham City from a depraved street gang that are more monsters than man.

7 HACK/SLASH, Vol. 5, by Tim Seeley and Emily Stone. (Devil’s Due Publishing, $18.99.) Cassandra Hack and her partner, Vlad, continue their hunt for “slashers,” monsters and killers up to no good.

8 SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE UNIVERSE, by Bryan Lee O’Malley. (Oni Press, $11.95.) Can Ramona’s twin ex-boyfriends be defeated? Sounds like a job for… Scott Pilgrim.

9 SHEENA QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE, Vol. 2, by Stephen E. de Souza and Rebekah Isaacs. (Devil’s Due Publishing, $18.99.) The jungle queen uncovers deadly Nazi secrets in Val Verde City.

10 WALKING DEAD, Vol. 9, by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. (Image Comics, $14.99.) The gripping story of the human survivors in a world overrun by zombies continues.

A couple of things that I think should be pointed out, especially to editors at Marvel and DC. The two DC books on the list are both from the 80's which means those stories are still reaching out to folks ,maybe more so than the summer flash bang storylines you have been churning out lately. For Marvel entertainment who has 3 books on the list, 2 are alternate universe books both of which where written by J. Michael Straczynsky and the other by Joss Wheadon who has his finger on the pulse. I'm just saying!

DC comics give 2009 to the Women

Anyone who has read comics on the Semi-regular basis over the last few years has come to recognize that the big two, Marvel and DC, are addressing the severe lack of diversity that the silver age clearly lacked.

The two most recent changes over at DC are the introduction of Super Woman and the Graduation of Bat Woman to her own book.

Batwoman was reintroduced almost two years ago during the “Infinite Crisis” company wide storyline. She made some appearances after a huge hype machine but never really found a home. Well with the current Batman RIP storyline Batman has disappeared from Gotham and is supposedly dead. So Kath Kane, wealth socialite by day and high heeled crime buster by night, will be starring in Detective comics for at least 12 issues.

Over in Superman the earth just fought of an invasion of Kryptonians (don’t ask) and all these super survivors have taken up residence on a planet in opposite orbit of Earth on the dark side of the moon (I told you don’t ask). One of the Kryptonians has decided t that is to turn traitor against her people and work with the governments of Earth to develop plans to fight off a Kryptonian invasion (I keep saying don’t ask!!). We know it’s not Super girl but that is pretty much all we know about her at this point.

Regardless of how I feel about the storylines it is good to see actually “Women” being thrown into the spotlight and not just “girls”.

Wonder Woman will still be Wonder Woman!!!