Comics Squee

Now Free to Squee Over Big 2 and Beyond

isilweth — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:43:25 GMT

We have had a change in the community guidelines.

We now welcome posts squeeing about recent comics from any publisher of multiple titles of western comics. Please, if you love Invincible, we want to hear about it. If Irredeemable or The Muppet Show knocks your socks off, tell us about it! Is there an unsung gem you're dying to pimp to the world? We want to know all about it.

Please see our updated interests for publishers. As always, if you have any questions, please ask.

No self-published, web-only, or manga please.

5 Things I Liked About Comics This Week

isilweth — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:12:06 GMT

It was very hard to narrow it down to five this week. :D

1. Nightwing #151 (Tomasi/Kramer, DC)
Wow! I enjoyed this issue from the first page to the last for the first time on Tomasi's run. :D I think my favorite may be the final three pages. Domestic BATS missing their Bruce! ♥♥♥

Detective #851 (O'Neill/March, DC)
Dick and Babs banter - Oh, how I've missed you. *squeezes tight*

3. Action #872 (Johns/Woods, DC)
If Nightwing isn't Kon, I will die of shock. *Squees*

4. Final Crisis #5 (Morrison/Jones/Pacheco, DC)

because dang if I don't love Morrison's outlook on creativity. :D

5. Immortal Iron Fist #1-16 (Fraction/Brubaker/Aja, Marvel)
(See, Marvel, I'm trying! I didn't include Final Crisis: Resist or JSA or Batman or Terra just so you could have a title on my list. See?)
I have finally read the first arc to the current Immortal Iron Fist and whoah is it fun! This page from #16 made me laugh out loud:

All thanks to these pages from #02:

I love Danny's expressions! I'm looking forward to reading the last four issues to see what of Fraction's delicious dangling plot threads the new creative team is picking up...

So what made you happy this week? I'm bouncy to know...

Starfire is hooked on a feeling.

cissie_king — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:39:02 GMT

From Teen Titans Go #17.

Very, Verily: Five Things I liked in Comics This Week

literaryll — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:10:39 GMT

I'm usually a week behind on comics even with how much I read and this week is no exception. Therefore, 'in comics this week', for me means stuff from the Wednesday before last.

V. Keeping it real. (Ultimatum #1, Loeb/Finch, Marvel)

I have something of a soft spot for dumb shit that makes me laugh. This panel from Ultimatum hit it so sweet.

That panel couldn't sum up the appeal of the Ultimates better for me if it tried. The sheer shamelessness of that dialogue in combination with Finch's SUPERHERO STRIKE A POSE (Thor's chest what is happening there?) 'realistic' art.

I mean, that's it right there right? The pitch of the Ultimates is to have the Avengers only in a realer world than the regular Marvel U, a Marvel U minus the crack. You put someone like Hitch or Finch on pencils and you reference recent current events and maybe you make some powers or costumes more believable. You update shit like Hawkeye being from the circus and instead make him a government agent. You streamline 50 years of continuity and make it simpler, less convoluted because that's more 'real'. Just by attempting this you're adding in the ridiculous and it'll just keep circling back on itself, getting more ridiculous and more real and more ridiculous and you end up with an uber drunk Tony + giant naked men + horny Hulk domestic violence involving ants + a flashing Wasp + hippie Thor + gay Jarvis + grumpy asshole Cap + asshole everyone + Clint killing people with his fingernails and god damn but if that isn't ENTERTAINMENT.

Putting Madureira on pencils canceled the whole thing out and made the book nothing but boring stupid. With Finch, we can put that whole thing behind us and at least get back to having a stupid good time for the next five issues (good time so long as they don't do anything to fuck up Ultimate Spiderman's perfect wonderfulness PLEASE PROTECT IT BENDIS).

And boy does it promise to be a fabulous train wreck. Who will die next? Will Hawkeye's outfit get any uglier? Will Tony get so drunk he can't function? Will he end up in a hotel room with piles of blow and a Wonder Woman costume? (ONE CAN DREAM) What will Magneto temper tantrum destroy next? It's all. So. ULTIMATE!

Did I mention that uber drunk Tony is best? Because he really, really is.

'Very, verily, Steve.' He says saucily right before he passes out.

IV. Rocket Red Glares. (Invincible Iron Man #7, Fraction/Larroca, Marvel)

Every month I find myself looking more and more forward to this series. Why? BECAUSE IT IS FUCKING AWESOME THAT'S WHY. Fraction's got to walk this fine line - give the people Tony from the movie, but keep him 616 and don't forget about all that Civil War stuff, he's a dick, but you like him, deal with Extremis and come up with cool uses of technology, keep the comic feeling futuristic but more present and *NOW* than anything else in the Marvel line with the possible exception of X-men and seriously now, don't forget to make it movie but comics. And has he been able to do this? With aplomb. Not only has he managed to do it but he's thrown in bonus awesome with things like Stain's horrible t-shirt (Iron Man was Right over Cap's skull omg SOB), that scene with Pepper and Tony where she was *flying*, and best of all having Tony beat his villain in his black boxer briefs. F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C.

His first arc is done and if this issue is any indication it doesn't look like he's going to ease up on the greatness any time soon. For one thing, he put Peter and Tony in the same room. Teaming up. Not hating each other. Having this conversation.

Think about that for a second. Peter's spider tracer is so badass that Tony's ultra cool armor couldn't pick it up! Iron Man's book exists to make Iron Man look cool, giving us cool Peter at the same time is just extra cookies. To make him not only that cool but that . . . beautiful, that's the only word for Peter sometimes. If you ignore the handwavey logic of 'Well why don't you invent something else that awesome Peter? Something that won't give away your identity?', how perfectly Peter an explanation. Sacrificing whatever benefit his gifts/being Spiderman might bring himself for the sake of others. 'None of this is about me'. Fucking beautiful. On a Dick Grayson level even.

Tony dressing in front of him and Peter perched on the armor ain't bad either. It's a lovely scene all around. As was every bit of their interaction throughout the issue. There are continuity issues and questions that I'm still not all that clear on because of Brand New Day that Fraction didn't manage to completely clear up but I can't care (Hi, so I'm a DC fan). It makes me happy to see them come to some kind of peace and now that MJ is gone - slash, people. Slash them up! It's all kinds of wrong to have Tony tied up monogamously to Cap when there are other delicious options around. Even more wrong that there isn't copious amounts of Peter porn to be found. How can everyone and their grandmother not want to porn him up? He's so beautiful. Does whatever a beautiful can.

Best of all. Rocket wheelchair.

I will never get tired of comics so long as things like that continue to happen.

III. I feel the earth move under my feet. (Terra #1, Grey&Palmiotti/Conner, DC)

The only Terra I've had any experience with was the traitorous eww she's 16 and sleeping with Slade! Terra from Judas Contract. Needless to say, I didn't particularly care for her.

The only Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray experience I've had, that I can remember anyways, was on Countdown. Do I even have to say that I didn't care for it? No one in the universe liked Countdown.

The only Amanda Conner experiences I've had have been outstanding.

This issue had one thing going for it and to tell the truth the other things sounded so bad that I thought for sure they would cancel Amanda's artwork out. I only read it during a lull in the store because I was saving everything else I hadn't read for a better environment, one of total quiet, no chance of being interrupted, and hot chocolate. Thank christ for boring no one ever comes in Mondays. The issue left me so giddy and I-can't-wait-to-read-the-next-one comics satisfied. Which is always a great feeling but even better when you're not expecting it.

The writing is fun and well paced but Amanda Conner's art! I will never doubt its power again. It's spunky and humorous and charming as a motherfucker and could transform even the dullest script into something at least worth your time. And her women. Dear god her women. They're so full of spirit and expression. They're *fun*. They're what heroine sexy should be like. If all of the comic book T&A were to suddenly be like hers, I'd be the saddest little masturbator of them all, outperving even the grossest fanboy. She could draw Granny Goodness and make me fall in love with her.

That's what this was. Me falling in love with the idea of this previously unknown Terra person. She even managed to draw her powers awesome and if you've ever read anything with Geo-Force in it, you know what a feat that is.

Behold.

That's her saving some miners by wrapping them in a giant earth ball. After fighting off crazy rock monsters. While wearing those black boots with the white stripe. While having adorable butchy black hair and purple eyes.

Purple! With the hair and the boots and the powers.

. . . .

Saddest little masturbator, I'm telling you.

At least I'm not alone because midway through the issue Power Girl shows up and from first glance, this Terra is clearly rockin' her world too.

I'VE NEVER HAD A GIRL/GIRL SHIP BEFORE AND THE MIGHTINESS OF IT IS MAKING ME INCOHERENT AND REDUCED TO LISTING:

1) See how they are all cling, cling, swoon never let me go! With a side of let me bury my face in your cleavage.

2) How tender and gorgeous does Karen look gazing into Terra's eyes in the last panel? She's thinking mine, I want this to be mine. Please let it be mine.

3) Karen hip out and boot smashing while being protective = possibly the hottest thing I've ever seen.

4) How cool is that coral bridge thing in the first place? Again with the great use of a previously thought lame power.

5) Little rock dudes WIN.

6) They're like yin and yang. Similar bathing suit outfits with boots - one black, one white. Blonde hair, black hair. THEY LOOK AWESOME TOGETHER.

In case it somehow didn't come through, I'm a lot in love with Power Girl. The touching character work that Geoff's been doing with her the last couple of years, how could I not be? She makes me wistful sad. She makes me want to do nothing but give her hugs. Okay, a couple other things besides hugs. Wait, no. Thigh hugging my face is still a hug isn't it?

She also reads as gayer than gay to me. Like she is not touching dick. Nuh, uh. We're talking Tim Drake gay. If you've been reading JSA, you've seen what girlfriends she and her Earth's Huntress were. How heartbroken she is just seeing her again. How she ran to our Earth's Helena without knowing why because it made her feel safer. Because there was such a draw there. Now Karen needs a new girlfriend. I want to see her share something with someone, to have someone outside of the JSA. Someone more hers. She deserves it and at the end of the issue, we find out that Terra girl has the same dna as the Terra skank that was on the Titans and I'm calling it right now - this is a Terra from another Earth. A lost Terra just like Karen is a lost Supergirl. If the comics gods are good, THIS IS WHERE THIS MINI IS GOING. To be followed by tons of Terra guest appearances in the upcoming Power Girl ongoing.

If the mood strikes you at all, PLEASE GO BUY THIS BOOK! Buy more than one copy. We need to show DC that yes, we do appreciate good books with female pov characters and yes, we do like to see female artists and things written by people other than Geoff Johns. (Which omg is not at all a slight against Geoff Johns because I love him obsessively to the surprise of no one who knows me)

II. It's in his kiss. That's where it is. (The Avengers v.2 #77, Austen/Copiel, Marvel)

This issue was waiting for me in the quarter bin at Half-Price Books like a gift from God. I've been digging Copiel's work on Thor so his name on the cover caught my attention. Also, you know anything with Clint Barton in it calls to me. Literally. You can hear his heart pounding out I AM CLINT AND I WANT YOU TO LOVE ME. Try it sometime. Set your copy of Secret Invasion 7 on the table in front of you and give it a second. You'll hear it. I have to put all issues with Hawkeye in them in the longbox right next to all Nightwing issues because Dick says the same thing and they help to drown each other out. Universe destroying cross company otp, right there.

Wow, Clint gets me on tangents. BECAUSE HE IS LOVE.

So Copiel's name and Clint's presence for a quarter got me thinking score! Little did I know the true treasure of what I'd found. It was beyond my imagining. It was Clint giving Cap girl advice.

YEAH GO AHEAD AND HEART ATTACK. NO ONE WILL JUDGE YOU.

Even better than me talking about is the thing itself. Take a deep breathe and once you've gained control of yourself, LOOK.

We interrupt this magic to give you a second to steel yourself for the next bit because if you come into it unprepared who knows what could happen. The winsomeness of their relationship and the thought of Clint being alone now with no Steve to bug might send you into a downward spiral of WOE WHERE IS STEVE depression and before you know it you could find yourself not bothering to get out of your bathrobe and sucking back vodka at 10 in the morning while reading something awful like Ultimates. Or the force of Clint's lovability could short your brain out and ruin you for any other character and you'll give up comics because there is never enough Clint Barton in them and without comics your life will be empty. All because you didn't steel yourself.

We also interrupt because I could stare at Clint in this art for a long time. I love his shaggy hair and his sideburns and how much smaller his body is than Cap's. I love his jacket. I'm looking at the page and making a ridiculous leer right back at him.

Okay you ready?

The way that the Valkyrie and Thor panel is like a little thesis for the Ultimates - this panel is that for Clint. 'Then kiss her for all your worth' could be his tagline. It's in everything he does. Always putting his heart and all he's worth out there asking people to take it whether he's killing Skrull queens or visiting Wanda up in the mountains or fighting with Steve. Wanting love, giving it - his bruised up still beating heart - that's his superpower. You don't want to fuck with it. Just ask the Skrulls.

And along with the heart, the slightly off-kilter nonsensical way he has of saying things and that clueless endearing obnoxiousness. It's all there. Perfect ♥ Someone help me out and explain why fandom isn't besotted with him? Or why there aren't epic fics with nothing but Clint interfering in Cap's love life, causing disaster after disaster (Bringing Up Baby style), only at the end to finally kiss him for all he's worth? I can't be the only one who thinks the sun shines out of his ass?

Bonus Clint and Cap public nakedness!

Ow!

I. Mystery Bat theater. (Grant Morrison's Batman run #655-680, Morrison/Kubert, Morrison/Daniel, DC)

During one of our weekly gabfests, isilweth and I had ourselves scared that Tim was going to be the Black Glove. To set our minds at ease/freak ourselves out more, we decided to reread Grant's run on Batman again from the beginning and play Try to Predict Grant. Which is a mighty fun game but ultimately impossible because it's Grant. We sat there for three hours in Target, stack set in front of us, stopping to discuss whatever clues we thought we'd caught and even after that, after inspecting each issue with a microscope, we came to the last page and we're still in total suspense and every bit as I HAVE TO KNOW NOW as we were when we started. Some might call that bad storytelling or Grant takes too many drugs. I call it thrilling.

My feelings for the first six issues or so are set in stone. They're probably my favorite Batman stuff ever. In my mind you just can't top them for zany Batman awesomeness. Manbats and art gallerys and little ninja Robin Damian and Bruce being cooler than James Bond.

What I didn't know till I reread it all was that I feel the same way about the rest of it. The lateness of the issues, my dissatisfaction with the art, my concern for Bruce, and my Alzheimer’s about what happened from issue to issue had taken the edge of the joy off. But together? What a romp it is! It's one big crazy adventure - exactly like something that might have happened in Bruce's black casebook. I might be the only one but I'm not at all anxious to go back to the super loner, less fantastical, dickhead type of Batman stories.

The less amusing Batman stories (keyword less because Batman is always funny). The Batman type stories without panels like this one -

That one panel has everything that The Dark Knight, for all it's greatness, was missing. That's comics Batman. That's brilliant. That's ace, top notch Grant Morrison dialogue.

There are dozens upon dozens of moments like that throughout his run. There's this bit where it felt like Grant was talking specifically to isilweth and me -

I'm trying to steer clear of the defensive stance and tone that wants to shout and make itself known because hey, if people want to hate, okay. But this is the biggest reason I don't understand all the Grant vitriol. His humor infuses his books. It's on every page! He knows he's ridiculous. He knows the comics are ridiculous. Only it's not 'ha ha look at how silly this art form is'. It's more like - 'Of course this comic is ridiculous because life is ridiculous and you're ridiculous and I'm ridiculous and we're all ridiculous and laugh, you fuckers, why not?' I personally, want more of that in my comics and a whole lot more of it in comics fandom.

That panel is closely followed by this one -

I love that the preppy school boy in the back saved from becoming an orphan or worse, reflects both Bruce and Tim. I love that Tim is describing what is about to happen to Bruce within a few scant pages. I love Tim's 'No'. Just No.

I love grocery shop cart pushing, crystal meth Batman. I love Batmite.

I love that that is the most Grant answer possible. I love that he has Bruce running around in the boots that he has a fetish for because he can't help himself. I love booby trapped Wayne Manor and Talia and Damien coming to save Gordon. I love the red police line phone from the tv series showing up. I love Tim fighting mimes and his stuffing his face with French fries.

I love the Wayne family portraits and knowing that Grant definitely has at least five stories about Mordechai and Silas Wayne stored in his head and that he would share them if only you could get the chance to ask him.

I love reading other people's guesses as to who the Black Glove is. I love that I'm still excited about the last issue not because I want it out of the way but because I want to get there with Bruce and Grant. Because no matter what crazy random thing Grant pulls from his hat, I do trust him to get me there in the most rollicking way possible.

NEW FEATURE: Five Things I Liked About Comics This Week!

isilweth — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:54:21 GMT

Announcing a new weekly feature: Five Things I Liked About Comics This Week! The guidelines for this feature are simple:

♣In the comments, name five things you liked about reading comics this week. A sentence or two will do, but you can give a mini-squeefilled review if you want. :) "Comics this week" does not necessarily mean 'this week's comics', although that's welcome too.

♣The five things can be from ANYTHING from the Big Two you read this week. Yes, that includes comics older than two years. This is the one exception to the "recent comics" rule.

♣In keeping with the spirit of this community, we ask that at least one of the things you like be about a recent comic. This is not a hard and fast rule. If what you read this week is a bunch of old trades and that's what you want to squee about, feel free.

♣Please comment to other's comments! If you liked something too, let the poster know; share the squee! Feel free to talk amongst yourselves.

♣This will be a weekly feature. Please feel free to continue to comment throughout the week. Also, this doesn't replace regular Squee!Entries. Please continue to post separately about any recent comics or trades you would like to share the squee about! :)

I'll get us started. I don't usually pick up my comics until Thursday, so mine are all from last week or earlier. :)

1. From JSA Classified #28 by Fabian Nicieza with art by Steve Uy.
I picked this up from Half Price Books. This story features Jakeem Williams and Johnny Thunderbolt with back-up appearances by Courtney Whitmore and Alan Scott. Jakeem wants to help people in every way he can and learns a valuable lesson in the process. I love how proactive Jakeem is in this; what a great friend Courtney is; and Alan as the wise Elder. Plus, the art is really easy on the eyes. ♥

2. Justice Society of America #20 by Geoff Johns with pencils by Dale Eaglesham and Jerry Ordway.
My favorite things about this issue included the opening splash page featuring the colliding art of both pencillers. I also especially liked the bond between our PG and Helena Wayne, the meaning of Starman's uniform, and finally the temptation presented for Alan and Michael.

3. Final Crisis: Submit by Grant Morrison with pencils by Matthew Clark.
Jefferson Pierce being awesome by being a superhero, educator, and father all wrapped up with an intriguing "villain" and his family. I thought this was a nice quiet story in an otherwise epic event; not only did I enjoy the contrast, I liked the choices made and the commentary on what it means to be a hero.

4. Superman: New Krypton Special by Geoff Johns, James Robinson, and Sterling Gates and pencils by Pete Woods, Gary Frank, and Renato Guedes.
The Kents: Bruce showed up, Lana kept trying to find the moment to pay her respects and didn't get it, Clark's talk with Lois, his flashback with Pa, Ma eating dinner alone. Kandor: Zor-El's misunderstanding about Clark's father, Kara's reunion with her parents, the whale. It was touching, funny, and frightening all at once. PLOT: I'm very intigued about what is going on with Jimmy and the Lanes...

5. Captain America #43 by Ed Brubaker with pencils by Luke Ross.
I liked pretty much all of this issue, but I think my favorite is: "I should be home in bed with my best friend." - Bucky ♥ I was ostensibly about Natalya (which I like) but I read it as Bucky continuing to think about Steve.

What did you like about comics this week?

Robin #175

isilweth — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:11:30 GMT

SQUEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so absolutely, completely thrilled to have Tim back to his freaky, competent, self-aware, compassionate yet dubious self. ♥♥♥♥

Considering the time constraints, it is nothing short of astonishing how well Nicieza wrote this book. He includes tie-ins not only to Morrison's R.I.P. story in Batman, but also Gotham Underground, the batfamily story in 52, and both Beechen's and Dixon's recent runs on Robin.

The art was good with little touches like Tim picking up a glass of champagne, making a face in the next panel, and putting the glass back on a tray in the next. Apparently, Tim doesn't like champagne. ;)

I loved Tim's justifiable anger at Steph for not telling him she's been alive all this time. I loved Steph laughing hysterically at his seriously voicing his fear that Bruce is 'crazy'. I loved Dick's detective and business work, and his friendly teasing of Tim in the flashbacks. I loved how Tim references advice and things he's learned from both Bruce and Dick, but that he's working independently with his own set of rules. (Like jeopardizing Harper's career and bribing Cobblepot to find Batman.) I love that Steph believes she's able to follow him only because something is wrong. I love how Tim is constantly thinking and questions himself.

Most of all, I loved that despite the guest appearances and the focus on Batman's insanity, this issue of Robin was all about Tim. I can't say how happy that makes me.

Supergirl #30, Trinity #1, Manhunter #31

seacrystal — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:42:39 GMT

Supergirl #30

This issue is like expecting a mousse cheesecake, and getting a chocolate gateau instead. Not what I had been anticipating at all (the continuation of the cancer arc), but it's still very good. Now, I should also say that I just simply adore Pfeifer's Catwoman, and his oneshot with Supergirl this time is no less incredible -- I really like how he decided expand on Puckett's "Ghosts of Krypton" story, which has always been one of my personal favourites.

The story opens with an absolutely lovely scene of Kara just hanging out in space. She broods and tunes herself in at the same time. Clark does this a lot too. ;)

Our Supergirl to the rescue, the crowd thanked her but their "disappointment" wasn't subtle at all.

Even before I turned the page, I knew already that this "someone" would be Bruce. Whenever Kara needs a heart-to-heart, she always seeks him out first. Sometimes, Diana or the elder Kents. Very rarely (if never at all) with Clark, lol. Even when he wasn't anywhere offworld fighting aliens.

What hit me again during this scene is just how utterly heartbreaking Kara's loss was, in making the ultimate sacrifice of leaving behind everyone and everything she had ever known and loved in her life, so that she could be the one to look after her little cousin. She had witnessed not only her parents' deaths, but also the death of her entire homeworld.

I love how she was all mad at baby Kal one moment and frantically trying to calm him down the next, I definitely can relate to that. ;p

At this moment, Kara wished for nothing more than just to be able to "talk" with her mom and dad again. Jor-El bundled up his son with all the super crystals, Clark still had the chance to get to know his parents and his birthplace, even if he didn't remember anything firsthand for himself. I can only imagine how Kara felt when she found out there was nothing for her.

But she didn't mope. She went off to talk with Pa Kent, and it was another great scene. Jonathan's "More power!" remark was funny, he really didn't strike me as a guy who'd use that kind of expression to make his point.

I admit, to have all three fathers thanking Kara for all she had done, got me a bit teary inside.

Kara says her final goodbyes, and makes her peace.

Trinity #1

This is just all kinds of awesome. And how cool it is that their date is in Keystone City, and I wasn't disappointed at all when I instantly hoped a certain someone would make an appearance. :D

Bruce ordering such a pompous coffee just cracks me up. He's definitely one of those people whom Lois had grumbled about in Lucy: "Whatever happened to regular old black coffee!"

I love all those people trying to speculate why these three were hobnobbing together. And the idea of Diana playing Bruce's new bodyguard just fills my Bruce/Diana shipper heart with delight. (that's a plot bunny right there)

WALLY!

Bruce Wayne aka Batman, sexy phone voice? What a shocker.

Ominous dreams only for the Trinity. Look at Clark and Diana with their twin glasses. :D

I meant to post JLA #21 last week just for the Clark/Diana/Bruce stuff, but hadn't got the chance. Here are my favourite bits anyway. :)

I love my pointy-eared dark knight to death, but it's always good to see people calling him out and putting him in his place. And I appreciate the way he respectfully acknowledged it instead of giving a jerk response.

Manhunter #31

I'm just glad this title's back again, and hope that it will stay around longer this time.

LOVE every moment of this one, and I nearly split my face when Jaime showed up at the end.

Ultimate Spider-Man, Amazing Friends arc (#118-120)

htbthomas — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:21:23 GMT

I love the idea of this community! Thanks for existing!

Anyway, I'm not sure how many of you are reading USM, but I haven't done this much twirling and squeeing for a long time on this book. And if your turn-on is identity-porn... (*raises hand*) well, this is the arc for you.

And OMG, I'm sorry how image-heavy this is! SO much happened! I tried to keep the image sizes down, though.

#118

It begins with angst from most of our major players...

Peter over the death of Harry at his father's hand:

Kenny (one of Flash Thompson's old minions, who is now hanging out with Peter more), over his crush on Kitty Pryde and keeping Peter's secret all this time:

Liz over how sick she's been feeling:

Johnny Storm over how his celebrity status makes his love life suck:

Kitty Pryde over always being on display at Midtown High (she left Xavier's a couple arcs ago):

So Johnny decides to visit Midtown to visit Peter, MJ and Liz (ignoring the fact that Liz is deeply mutant-phobic)... Peter isn't amused.

How about we make this get together even MORE conspicuous?

Oh, wait, it gets better. Let's add Bobby Drake!

Okay, so now that Peter and MJ are surrounded by people with publicly-known superpowers, let's have a day at the beach! (I just love how the boys are totally immersed in guy talk while the girls frolic in the water. But I'm quite concerned with the cell phone conversation Kenny seems to be having. :O )

But Liz gets a little too close to the flames...

Cue me (who had not been reading spoilers for this book): OMG! Liz Allen is Firestar!

#119

Liz freaks out - first Johnny tries to save her, then Bobby...

(I love Johnny here...)

But Liz is too freaked out by the possibility of being a possible mutant. So she takes off again. And for my favorite moment of the whole arc, something I've been waiting for since nearly the beginning...

YES!

After a moment to digest this, Peter takes off running through the sand. And then:

While Peter and Bobby are trying to calm Liz down, you can already see some hints to the "Amazing Friends" possible future camaraderie:

On to #120

But then Magneto shows up with some shocking news:

Liz escapes, confronts her mother, and then the cavalry arrives:

But Liz is deeply mistrustful of everyone, having been lied to for so long... so she goes to the one person she thinks she can trust.

And then my second-favorite moment!

Liz finally lets Bobby take her to Xavier's to train. And you'd think it would end there, but instead we get this delicious end tag... Blob!

Cue all of us just as curious as Erik about how that was even possible... :D

END! (Sorry so long! I was just so full of squee! Hope all the tags worked.)

Blue Beetle #25

seacrystal — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:14:19 GMT

There's a lot of love in this book, and everyone simply shone in this final installation of the Reach storyline.

My absolute favourite moments:

Guy and Milagro mirroring each other's smirks after he confirmed that yes, I'm the crazy Green Lantern Jaime has told you about.

Brenda and Paco, kicking asses, taking down names and... EEP! Finally.

Alberto Reyes telling his wife in the middle of the battle that their son was going to make it, he was "almost as tough as his mother" after all.

The Scarab's funny, dry and earnest narration throughout the story. Promising Jaime that they would see this through until the very end, together.

And of course, the serendipitious JLI reunion between Guy, Tora, Bea and Booster. Everyone being at the right place at the right time to help Jaime save the world and bring him back. I love how Guy was all paranoid that this could NOT be a coincidence, pinning the credit on Batman lol.

The Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #15

isilweth — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:00:50 GMT

BART!!!!!!!! Hee! I'm so happy to see him. I realize he won't have Bart's memories, since this is before he came to the 21st Century, but I don't mind. We still get him for a bit. Yay!

From Newsarama:

THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31st CENTURY #15
Written by Jake Black
Art by Robert Atkins & Rick Ketcham
Cover by Alexander Serra
Bouncing Boy and Triplicate Girl finally get their second date, but the trend of nothing ever going as Chuck plans continues when they get hopelessly lost in virtual reality…with a fast-talking, impulsive brat named Bart as their guide! Can they put their differences aside to stop a virtual threat that gets very real, threatening the existence of New Metropolis?
On sale June 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.25 US

Character tag removed to protect the spoiler-phobic.

Newsarama interview with Ivory Madison re: Huntress: Year One

isilweth — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:26:32 GMT

SPOILERS in the link.

Included in the interview are her rules for Helena's look:

"No arched backs, no ski-jump noses or baby faces, no heavy make-up, no painted-on clothes when Helena is dressed as a civilian. Basically, no body language or facial expressions for the Huntress that would not be the exact same body language that a male superhero would have in the same scene. If that’s how you’d draw a man’s body, facial expression, movement, and clothing, then you’ve got it right."

She's actually sent proofs back with notes to enforce her rules. Yay! for making this choice and hopefully the editors will stick to it. I look forward to Cliff Richards' drawings of a beautiful woman.

Justice League The New Frontier: Classified #1

isilweth — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 23:52:58 GMT

I think its generally hilarious when writers purposefully break the fourth wall. Thus, I found the opening of this comic and its commentary on how seriously fandom can take things like DC's ridiculous continuity absolutely delightful. (It should probably be noted I'm guilty myself of obsessing over continuity and the 'timeline'.)

For dial-up: 1 scan

9 scans from robin #171

cmer — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:12:01 GMT

red_handed squee'd about the recent Robin comic, but didn't have any scans available to share with the rest of us. Well, I do, and I tried to cover the points red_handed made in the last post...

Skipping to page 11...

Skipping to page 18...

If anyone has read something and wants to see the (DC only) scans posted here, feel free to leave a comment/PM at my journal and I'll do my best to accommodate. :)

I love that Red Bird car, by the way... <3

For dialuppers:
(to page 11)
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http://i26.tinypic.com/a5jj8x.jpg
http://i28.tinypic.com/e6rhur.jpg
http://i26.tinypic.com/1h5jf6.jpg

(to page 18)
http://i27.tinypic.com/35161af.jpg
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http://i27.tinypic.com/293g20g.jpg

Detective #841

literaryll — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:00:14 GMT

There wasn't anything especially earth shattering or of consequence in this issue. A little detecting, a little smackdown, a lot Gotham. Twenty two pages of Batman being Batman and doing his Batman thing.

Ho hum and a yawn cause we've all been there before right? I know I had it second in my not overly looking forward to it pile.

Well, WRONG. It's Batman doing his thing and doing it well. Paul Dini hits all the right notes and gets at the heart of what makes Gotham exciting. By the last page I remembered what I've known from the first day I picked a comic book up but have sometimes lost sight of with the amount of events, books, and clutter coming at me every Wednesday - There isn't anything better than Batman being Batman!

I should have known how hard the issue was going to make me smile the second I saw the absolutely stellar cover by Dustin Nguyen. Take a good long look at it.

Alice in Wonderland was my favorite Disney movie as a child, watched over and over. All things Alice held a real fascination for me and my sister. In fact, her room even now is Alice themed. Tea cups, mini doors, prints, different editions of the books, and white rabbits everywhere. So to see this, with BATMAN at its center that way - he's being positioned as Alice! Which is just . . ! It's the illustration of my dreams.

So let's see. Alice was a lost child who found herself amidst utter insanity. Very prim and proper and serious acting, playing at being a grown up, while surrounded by lunatics who turn out to be of her own making (or at least they are in the movie, it's been too long since I read the books to remember if they changed that). She's caught up in these ridiculous, pointless games with them every step of the way and she plays despite how absurd they are. Cue eyebrow raise of thoughtfulness. Sound like anyone we know?

Alice and Bruce as distant literary cousins. Man. Where's the fic where she finds herself in Gotham and is staying at the manor with Alfred bringing her tea and her asking very forthright questions of Tim - 'How exactly are you a robin? You don't look very much like a robin to me. *sniff*'

And! The cover's still amazing even for people unfamiliar with Lewis Carol because it has Batman with a bunny on his shoulder. Wearing that expression. How can you beat that?

The story opens with Bruce in his 'Bruce Wayne, Playboy and Blueblood Extraordinaire' costume watching a runway show. We're told it's Gotham's Fashion Week and that Bruce is attending by 'rote and with as much joy as I'd take in cleaning the gutters of my house, but with the small satisfaction that a pleasant exterior does much to defray unwanted scrutiny'.

Like you clean the gutters, Bruce. Please.

He goes on to feign interest in garments ridiculous even by super-villain standards . .

Which. I can almost hear Kathryn Beaumont's snooty, logical tone with that. I love it when Bruce is full on his 'I'M THE BATMAN AND NEVER FRIVOLOUS BECAUSE ALL JOY DIED WHEN I WAS 8' kick because it makes me *smile*. Sunnily.

As often happens in Gotham, an Arkham escapee busts in to ruin the party. This time it's, you guessed it, the Mad Hatter along with a couple of cronies.

It's dim witted Brucie to save the day!

Playing that moments after his assertions of seriousness is so perfect. It's Buster Keaton physical comedy. Batman slapstick!

Booster and Ted, much as I love them, have got nothing on Batman in the funny department. He's the most hysterical character in the DCU, hands down. Know why? Batman's funny in every way it's possible to be funny.

And sex on a stick MY GOD with the control of his body and the improvising and the protecting the innocents and so on and so forth.

Bruce goes home to brood in front of his computers and study footage of a Mad Hatter led bank and jewelry store heist. It looks like the Hatter is hiring two bit goons all over the place - putting together a Wonderland Gang. There's a guy named 'The Walrus' with a mean looking set of metal tusks hanging off his face. A woman in a skimpy set of coveralls calling herself 'The Carpenter'. A lion, a unicorn, etc.

Batman figures out who the Hatter's going after next. Guess who's coming to dinner?

I can't be the only one who wants to get naked when Bruce says things like 'Buona Sera, Little Italy' can I?

Everything is ace about this scene but a few standouts for me are:

1) The detail of the kitchen. You can see the tomatoes, the bricks in the wall, the different oils, the garlics. It's a lived in space as opposed to blurry background.

2) Nguyen's body language is fantastic. You can hear Little Italy's accent, his flow of talking, and the growl in Batman's voice because you can see them.

3) His rings are red, white, and green!

4) I'm always an extremely happy camper whenever we get glimpses of Batman interacting with regular civilians and here he's conspiring with an old woman ♥

Next, Gotham is creepy.

Beautifully, wonderfully so. The panel with the Hatter sitting alone and small in the tea cup is so ominous and lovely and of course Batman had to fly in front of the moon. That's like a rule in the Batbooks. I love that nobody in Gotham has had this amusement park torn down. Bad, bad shit has happened there over the years and yet it stands. It's the kind of thing that makes Gotham such a rich setting.

We find out who the real culprits are -

Fun house mirrors. What'd I say about Gotham being rich? I noticed that lamp and thought it was awesome but hold on it's about to get a whole lot more awesome in a minute.

A BATTLE INDEED. Batman schools everyone when it comes to dramatic entrances.

TOLD YOU THAT LAMP WAS GOING TO GET REALLY AWESOME. Bruce is so quick and swoon worthy on his feet.

This would be Bruce being mean funny. A classic.

The unicorn isn't the only one 'fixated' on Bruce and 'impaling'. Pant. YES, I'M A JUVENILE PERVERT.

OH FUCK YEAH! Fist to the face and a sofa bitchslap! Bruce is quick and swoon worthy on his feet with extra points for brute macho strength and creativity in his violence! Dini, you give too much.

Which kind of funny is this? Sexy funny?

This conversation is so . . kooky. I love how Bruce is all 'That was blah blah lame even for you' but still taking the time to reason it out with Jervis. It's for the benefit of the reader, so we're all clear on the plot, but I like to think of Bruce actually engaging that way. He likes to be sure he was right about everyone's motivations and psychology. It's part of Bruce's bottomless compassion to bother giving Jervis the benefit of the doubt, to talk to him like he's a person and it goes back to the Alice comparison and the endless games.

The issue closes with the Hatter's gruesomely fun revenge on Dumfree and Dumson.

There's no place like Gotham.

'If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?'

Catwoman #69, Catwoman #71

seacrystal — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:25:21 GMT

Bruce holding a baby, and with her trying to say "Batman" in baby talk -- these are the kind of moments where my brain just turn into a complete mush.

And look how Bruce just couldn't hide his deep affection for Helena here, and how she was so at ease with him that she didn't even mind being woken up when he took her in his arms again.

Nightwing #140

isilweth — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:36:48 GMT

Cuts are used for spoilers and large images unless otherwise specified.

I have much love for this issue! Let's all ignore the big pink elephant and see what there is to enjoy...the art, the story, the characterization. *SIGH*

OH, DICK! How perfect is this as your hobby! There are so many things I love about these two pages I don't even know where to start. They give me happy goosebumps.

jaklfdlkdfslkfdlljkalkjdldslj
*wibbles* OMG, SO MUCH LOVE!!!!!!

Dick strides in all happy and high from his flight. :D

And we see how his family reacts to his new hobby. Tim with his continued hero-worship:

Alfred with his calm acceptance:

And Bruce. Oh, Bruce! With his need to protect:

Dick regales them with his exhilarating tale. I love their different reactions and how you can see it in their facial expressions and body language: Bruce's worry, Alfred's understanding, and Tim's delight and awe. HEE!

Then its down to business:

where Tim is his awesome self. Notice how the Robin mask appears over his face as a shadow:

Bruce tells his family just how much he loves them:

Awwww. Then:

LOL!!! HAHAHAHA! And his boys know:

Words cannot express how gleeful this made me.

A gratuitous butt shot, just because it's so pretty:

Throughout this whole issue, I was imagining Dick singing to himself and lo' and behold, look:

He IS!!!! It's such a Dickie song, too:

Other things I liked about this issue include Dick's research at the library. The continuity from the Resurrection crossover, including the conversation with Talia. The kick-ass fight scene. Dick and Tim. The surprise appearance of Supes. Did I mention the art? The backgrounds were beautiful, each character looked unique, the movement dynamic. SO MUCH LOVE!

Scans for dial-up: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

cmer posted the last three pages at scans_daily, including some lovely Tim/Dick interaction. Also, dragonbat2006 wrote Falling With Style, a ficlet based on this issue. :D

All in all, I'm really looking forward to reading the Tomasi/Morales run on Nightwing. I'm intrigued with the storyline and I'm loving the characterization. *blissfully ignores pink elephant*