Free Comic Book Day 2011!

Get this, you guys. I went to my local Comix Revolution today, looking for the Spidey Sunday Spectacular. As it turns out, they didn't have it, so I just got the free Marvel Thor saga promotion deal-y, and an ad for Free Comic Book Day.

Free Comic Book Day! The ad was advertising Jeffrey Brown of Incredible Change-Bots fame, and that reminded me -- my local library had a copy of the first volume.

So I visited my local library, except - guess what - I didn't have my library card! So I used my state ID, and it was all good. When the librarian noticed the comics I was checking out (Batwoman: Elegy, Get Fuzzy treasury, Incredible Change-Bots), she also said that the library would be participating in Free Comic Book Day. Amazing!

That's all for my trip. Make your own and pay a visit to your local comic shop/library!

A poor blogger's ploy to the FCBD winds

Do you know what year it is? Apparently, FCBD doesn't. Like, any other friendly neighborhood blogger, I go to FCBD's site and look for their new '10 banner, except all it has is their '09 banner!

This is pretty ridiculous guys. Even the link says "FCBD10_banner," yet the image promotes "May 2, 2009." That is just incompetent web design. Here is a copy of the vehement e-mail I sent:

Are you catching this, FCBD? I AM CALLIN' YOU OUT. YOU BETTER OWN UP TO YOURSELVES, OR I WILL KEEP PESTERING YOU with. . . . strongly worded e-mails.

Rock on, public education!

Oh wait. So you're telling me school isn't out now?

Right, rightrightright! Today is labor day, and a great deal of you crazy kids start school the next day! Many of my university pals started already 1 or 2 weeks back, but I still have a little less than two weeks to go myself. But anyways, today isn't about me. It's about you!

Good luck!

It's Kirby's birthday!

Jack Kirby! You know, the guy who co-created Captain America, the Fantastic Four, X-Men, the Hulk!

Celebrate!

All this hubbub. . .

. . . has got me wondering, just Who is That Lady?

Gosh what a beautiful song. I think it should be Misfit, even though it probably won't be. Because Misfit is that awesome.

How 'bout you?

And then, collectively, the world shed a single tear.

Michael Jackson (1958-2009), you thrilled a number of generations, but most importantly -- you thrilled our hearts.

Rest in peace, King of Pop.

It's okay, Peter Parker's floating head. So few of us did.

one more week!

If you haven't noticed the supercool banner to the left, now is the time guys!

Because it is just one more week to Free Comic Book Day. Yay!

It's an event so exciting, it's even garnered the likes of Hugh Jackman:

The more you know, kids. The more you know.

Check for the nearest comic store near you! Enter your zip code at Free Comic Book Day's site. Easy schmeasy.

Who's Watching Watchmen?

So, the Tribune has given a review for Zack Snyder's "Watchmen"!

The general consensus among the blogosphere seems to be that it is a faithful adaptation of the comic books. What else do you say? Not much else, right?

Luckily, this is why you get reviews from outside of the blogosphere, because the Tribune offers a non-fan perspective:

There are worries that it won't appeal to the non-comic-book-fanbase, and the article even brings up the long-standing concerns that comic books have appealed more "among older men but but less among teenage boys and men in their 20s, and still less passion from women of any age."

I don't really know what to say to this. Well, my dorm here is certainly excited about the midnight screening. Call it a hunch, but I think these people aren't "older men" but rather "teenage boys (and some girls)."

We all know that "The Dark Knight" performed fantastically. Alan Moore adaptations (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and V for Vendetta) haven't done so well if I recall correctly. Frank Miller's kind of received warm reception thanks to "300," and I don't know about Sin City, but that movie was fantastic.

I don't think I'll be watching Watchmen anytime soon, but how about you guys? What do you guys think of the public reception of a thoroughly comic-book-y comic book movie?

hey that's pretty cool

So, since we are all about New Krypton this week, I thought this was pretty appropriate: DC has caught up with the modern world, and released a video trailers for its sequel, "World of New Krypton."

For some reason, Newsarama doesn't let you embed the video, and I checked DC's impenetrable site, and couldn't find the video, so I had to settle for just linking it. See, DC, that's something you could do to improve.

All things considered, it's a pretty good trailer! By all means, you should click the link. It certainly got me excited about "World of New Krypton," and we all know how much "New Krypton" disappointed me.

Maybe it'll actually tell the story that "New Krypton" should've told.

Just a reminder!

Batman: the Brave and the Bold is premiering next week guys!

Check your local listings -- here's Cartoon Network's schedule for it! I'm in the Central Time Zone, so I'll be watching it at seven! That time'll be eight for you guys on the Eastern Time Zone!

Batman with a lightsaber! Explosions! Green Arrow! Batman with brass knuckles! More explosions! Blue Beetle! Punches in the face! Batman on a paraglider! Punches in the face!

Cartoon Network! Be there!

well, I can't say I didn't expect this

You probably have your own comics sites that you frequent now and then, when you're bored or what have you. Personally, I prefer "newsarama.com," 'cause it's so much easier to type out than "comicbookresources.com," even though I don't appreciate how it's branched out into other domains of media.

Or sometimes, I am just so authoritative and definite on every single opinion comics-related that you only need to visit here for your comics updates!

For mere argument's sake, let's assume the impossible--

--as I was saying Liz, let's assume the impossible and discard the latter notion for today's post, okay? Because according to Newsarama, it looks like three DC titles are getting the axe come the end of February: Robin, Nightwing and Birds of Prey.

I know J'onn. I denied them at first too, spewing laser beams from my eyes in a visceral rage, but let's get to the real problem here. The real kicker about the article is that we aren't told why the three are getting cancelled. It might be due to the super-huge event in the Batman titles, "Batman RIP," or it could very well be the result of low sales.

But I'm gonna admit it: I can't exactly speak for the other titles, but Birds just hasn't been the same since Gail left. It's been more about the villains than the birds themselves, and we haven't gotten to see 'em really shine.
We don't know if DC's planning reboots or replacement titles of any kind, but maybe a re-tuning is necessary?

Have you seen. . .

. . . the "Embrace Change" ads for Secret Invasion? They're in all the Marvel comics this week, or last week, or something. Here's a nifty "Embrace Change" infomercial, although I find it far too cynical and uneven in regards to human nature:

Did you find it a little creepy? If yes, so did I! I believe it was very, very creepy, and if not, maybe this will help you believe.

I also thought it was confusing. By saying "Embrace Change," is this ad asking me to

"Embrace the total destruction of my civilization as I know it and the replacement of said civilization with a Skrullian one, thus firmly eradicating me from the face of the Earth?"

Because, well, that's pretty much what's been going on in the comic right? People killing people? Has there been any kind of negotiation? Why are Skrulls killing the people they intend to enslave/enlighten?

Who knows. Only time will tell. There are still two issues left right? Or one?

Arghhhh, I really wanted to put reviews up today, but 1) my comics aren't with me, and 2) I haven't gotten me to a scannery! Reviews up. . . sometime? My Saturday oughta be free.

that's one strange name for a Green Arrow movie

A random fact for you guys: "WWILF" is a british acronym for the phrase, "What was I looking for?"

It refers to the general pointless internet surfing that we all do, and it was this instance that led me to a blog post at Newsarama, shockingly named Blog@Newsarama. Now I highly doubt that anyone will click that link, because, well, it's a lot of hard work to click your mouse, so here's a summary:

Green Arrow. Movie. "Super Max."

Apparently, DC is trying to counter Marvel's Iron Man success with their own billionaire playboy douchebag. Oliver Queen, AKA Green Arrow!

A quote from the site:

"In Super Max, Green Arrow is framed, stripped of his identity, and sent to a maximum-security prison for supervillains, with whom he must team to escape and clear his name."

I guess that's an interesting premise. I doubt that leaves much room for characterization, but then again, it's just a sentence!

It'd be awesome if Green Arrow got a higher profile. With his opinions and his flaws, he's a real-world kind of hero.

Ollie tells it like it is in Final Crisis #3.

"thoughts" on SDCC (for real this time)

Best quote from SDCC:

"The only time I've ever seen Brian Michael Bendis speechless is at Wizard World Chicago when a 7-year old in a perfect Hawkeye costume walked up to Bendis and said, 'Why do you hate me'"

-Peter David

Second best quote from SDCC:

"Thank you for being so hot."

-an awkward fan to Marjorie Liu, novelist and upcoming writer of "NYX: No Way Home"

Sorry about the craziness of last post, but then again. . .

So without further ado, let's just try to do what I tried to do last post!

• Willya lookit that. Looks like the super-books are gonna get a big storyline in New Krypton, with -- holy moley! 100,000 kryptonians populating Earth??? Crossovers are too rich for my blood, but that sounds very enticing. I'm already reading 2/3 of the super-books after all (Supergirl and Action Comics).
  
• Hey, that's pretty. . . interesting. JMS plans on using vintage Archie superheroes for his Brave and the Boldrun. I guess that gives me something to expect, because the title is one I generally read on and off, and with Stracynski on it, that's definitely an "on."
• How disappointing. It looks like Loeb gets a lot of the spotlight in the "Ultimate Marvel panel," and I think we all know what's happened to his writing ever si--

HOLY CRAP!

Professor Xavier fighting a dinosaur -- with bone claws! Hardcore, man.

• The cover for Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2 is really sweet too. Although Mark Brooks annoys me (the cheekbones! Everyone has the same cheekbones!), it makes me happy to see Peter and MJ together. In any continuity.
  

• Kevin Smith, no. I mean, I appreciate that you're bringing back the enigmatic Onomatopoeia to the DCU, but could you pleasedo it in the Green Arrow book? Judd Winick doesn't write a Green Arrow/Black Canary/Mia Dearden nearly as well as you did.
• So here's the interview with the up-and-coming writer for Green Arrow/Black Canary, who also is the writer for Helen Killer. You might recognize the title as taking a deafblind historical figure and turning her into a super-ninja bodyguard. Cross your fingers with me, guys; let's hope he treats the Green and Black well!

That's what SDCC had for me! Anything from the con that has you excited?

Have you seen. . .

. . . DC's new company website?

The only thing new about it is the format though; it doesn't appear that they've added anything at all. The minisites are relatively new, but that's probably a month or two ago.

One general thing about the website: there's a lot more in the site than there appears. They should really work on making everything available or visible on the homepage.

For example, by looking at the homepage, you could never tell that they have a super-database of origin stories for everyone!


. . . The Dark Knight?

I haven't seen it yet, and I don't think I plan to. I mean, I know it's awesome, but the theatre's just all the way over there, and I'm too lazy to get anyone to go with me.


. . . the cover for Nova #18?

It's so bad. What happened to Alex Maleev? Did he get a stomach flu or something?

The question still stands! If you did see these and wanna comment on anything, feel free to!

Candle Crisis in Gotham

Today in 1939 featured the debut of a very special dark knight in DC's Detective Comics #27!

Who wouldn't, Wally West, who wouldn't?

But of course, Batman takes this none too well. You see him grimace and brood all the same, but when he takes off that cape and cowl in the cozy comfort of his cave, a different facade appears. . .

Yes, Bruce, you've reached that point in your life. It's bigger than any kind of Final Crisis or Infinite Crisis or even impending death. It's your mid-life crisis in comics time.

God help us all.

Hey! Look at me!

Hey there! Hey! Look at me, look at me!

Wait, no, don't look at me. Look at Dinah.

Over at the link, Wizard gives a sneak peek at the coming Black Canary 13" action figure (in her JSA costume).

Overall, I don't like the expression-less face on Dinah, and the holes in her fishnets appear too minute, but that jacket is rockin' and I love her karate-chop action pose.

I won't lie though; this post was just an excuse for me to show you this page, from the four-issue Black Canary mini, written by Tony Bedard and Paulo Siquiera.

That's what you call finesse, people.

Snippets from Marvel's website

Holy crap did you guys know that Marvel released an animated version of the first issue of Astonishing X-Men (reproduced below)?



I have to say, the editing is really well done. Excellent use of zooming in, blurring, music, all done to tell the beginning to a very strong story.

There are a few problems though, where Emma Frost's line of ". . . and I still rate below a corpse" is whispered when she finishes it.

Kitty and Scott's voices are spot-on, but Emma doesn't sound condescending enough and Wolverine doesn't sound mean enough.

All in all, a very smart way to market one of Marvel's strongest franchises and comic books. I'm very impressed with the steps that they're taking to shape modern-day comics.

ITEM: Kneel before M.O.D.O.G.!

At this article, Dan Slott and Marcos Martin tells us about Paper Doll, the villain who's obsessed with Celebrity Bobby Carr. It turns out that she's a meta-comment on fans who got worked up about One More Day. Slott tells us that Paper Doll is an example of how fans can,

"if they're not careful, might get a little two-dimensional."

Is this clever or is this a little condescending? I'm not so sure, because it's a smart way of writing, but I do believe that fans have the right to be indignant.

Feel free to comment on what you will. All I know is that Marvel is taking so many steps forward, no wonder it takes the top share every month.

Yes, DC, I'm looking at you and acknowledging your conglomeracy as a single being. Please get with the times before you're left in the dust.

I mean, Marvel's jointing up with other publishers from other countries (Soleil, France); they've got the Digital Comics Unlimited; they've got videos and blogs on their website; they've got movies every step you turn; they are the market.

And what have you done to keep up with this DC?

Fly! Be Free!

Tomorrow is free comic book day, kids!

Head over to your friendly neighborhood comics shop for special *free* comics!

My store's limiting me to three per person, which is totally all right by me. A free comic's a free comic after all.

So don't forget guys, and have a great Free Comic Book Day!

A post is forthcoming on what's going on with the blog this month.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

A post is coming up on what's going on blog-wise for this month, but for now, Newsarama is bursting to tell you something about Dan Slott and John Romita Jr's six-issue arc beginning in Amazing Spider-Man #568:

The storyline, according to ew.com, will also feature Eddie Brock, Venom, Norman Osborn, Green Goblin and Mary Jane Watson.

Mary Jane Watson! MJ!

MJ is coming back to Amazing!

Couple that with Jackpot appearing in this year's annual, and that makes for a very anticipatory, if not gleeful, friendly neighborhood blog. Maybe I can start picking up Amazing without breaking down in tears now.

Kidding, kidding, I'm kidding.

I hide in the bathroom before I start breaking down in tears.