Second Printing Dream Teams

There is no doubt that amongst the flotsam and jetsam there's a lot of really good things being done in comics.

If we ruled the comics world, I'm sure there'd be comics of characters currently in limbo that we'd love to see come back with certain creators attached.

That said, we all have favorite characters and creators. So, my question to you is this...

"What character or team, currently without their own series, would you bring back and with what dream team of creators?"

To get the ball rolling, I'll start:

HAWKMAN, written by Jason Aaron and drawn by Doug Mahnke

Your turn...

Seven Year Switch

Batman doesn't slap Robin around like he does in All-Star Batman and Robin. They're friends, after all.

It doesn't matter if Robin is Dick Grayson.

Green Lantern is one black man. (It's starting to really freak me out much I'm starting to look like this guy.)

The Flash has no kids and he's the funny guy in The Justice League.

These are the truths my seven-year old nephew knows about his superheroes.

I envy him this clarity.

To him, there are no Final Crisises.

It doesn't matter to him that Hal Jordan is The Green Lantern that most people in comics know. All he knows is that there is a Green Lantern.

It doesn't matter to him that for the majority of his short life, in the cartoon media, Robin was independent of Batman and the leader of The Teen Titans.

When they finally did put them together in The Batman cartoon, he was happily surprised someone put two of his favorite characters together in one place.

I've decided to read my comics as a seven year old would. With eyes wide open, not caring about continuity and what it all means. The rocket from Krypton will always arrive in Kansas. There is a Batman and a Robin and when they are together it's always a happy surprise.

On Stacking the Deck

I don't make much money, no - I have a more-or-less pretend degree that makes potential employers look at me like I am at a tremendous risk of spending my days tracing my hand and then making little cartoon turkeys out of the resulting shape, so I'm currently doomed to retail - and I'm faintly sure Marvel knows that.

This week, Marvel has an astounding thirty-seven books coming out. This includes, but is not limited to, both Avengers books (or "all the Avengers books" if you count The Initiative as an Avengers book. And that would be very nice of you); Brubaker's Cap, Uncanny and Daredevil; Immortal Iron Fist; Millar's FF and 1985; Red freaking Hulk; both First Class books (not to mention the other X-book, Legacy); Whedon's last Runaways and Ellis' last Thunderbolts.

If their goal was to make me look at the new comic rack, look down at the ground, sigh heavily while thinking of my bank account, look towards Final Crisis #2 and think "I actually don't really give a damn about the New Gods being dead" before picking up basically all the Marvel books I typically buy monthly EXCEPT ALL IN ONE GODDAMN WEEK, well, mission accomplished, you assholes.

Is Superman Fascist?

Despite the fact that many if not most super-hero comics are greatly influenced by the Jewish immigrant experience, there is always a looming sense that there’s something kind of fascist about them. Don’t believe me? Art Spiegelman once criticized Jack Kirby of all people for appropriating pagan images and overly glorifying the physical over the intellectual in his work, techniques that, according to Spiegelman, smack of fascism.

You can’t deny that the fundamentals of his criticism are sound. Super-hero comics do glorify the physical form, and the art is in many ways a stylized version of Greek, Roman, Norse and other mythologies where superhuman strength and will were akin to godhood.

Superman is the most obvious example and the most vulnerable to accusations of fascism. The mere appropriation of Neitzche’s term ‘Superman’, even if coincidental is enough to raise an eyebrow or two. In addition, the hallmark of Superman’s greatest adversaries is high intellect. They use reason and science to manipulate and destroy, whereas Superman, whose primary attributes are physical in nature always manages to stomp their nerdy asses.

‘Truth, Justice, and the American Way’ might sound harmless on the surface, but there’s some serious nationalism at work there. Frank Miller’s use of Superman as a tool for a corrupt government in ‘Dark Knight Returns’ is an example of many of these criticisms manifest in comics. Say what you will about ‘Dark Knight Returns’ but it’s an important piece, so you can’t just discount its portrayal of Superman out of hand.

And yet, despite all this, I’ve come to the conclusion that Superman and other heroes are not in the slightest bit fascist. There’s no smoking gun for totalitarian nationalism in these comics. What Spiegelman forgets, and what I sometimes forget, is that the fascists weren’t the first people to use classical images of physical greatness for their own means and they won’t be the last. The old pagan mythologies give us beautiful legends and images, and just because they were used by a bunch of racist, nationalist bastards in the 30’s doesn’t make them off limits for all time. If anything, super-hero comics reclaimed these images for the good guys.

In addition, Superman’s duels with Lex Luthor and Braniac aren’t about the dangers of intellect or any sort of demonization of thought or reason. Rather, they simply suggest the limits of reason. Superman reminds us that there is more to life than what can be rationally understood. There is love, friendship, and countless other inexplicable concepts that the likes of Luthor will never enjoy or understand because of their devotion to a strictly Machiavellian world-view.

I’m not saying there isn’t some serious alpha male action in comics. Hal Jordan and his cult of pure will does smack a little of neo-conservative foreign policy, but the message that we are at our greatest when we can overcome our fears is an inherently decent and liberal sentiment, seen everywhere from ‘Defending Your Life’ (great film!) to Barack Obama. It isn’t the images and sentiments themselves. It’s how they’re used.

15 Questions And One Statment

TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE #5

1. Doesn't this issue make you wish the Teen Titans or Titans was this good?

2. Isn't Batman as "comedy relief" the greatest thing in the world?

BIRDS OF PREY #119

3. I realize there's a plot and everything but dang it, shouldn't every issue of this comic end with a fight between Manhunter and Black Canary?

HELLBLAZER #245

4. Holy crow, could this one have been any creepier?

5. Then again, isn't that what Hellblazer's all about?

6. Am I the only one who can't believe that this comic is up to issue 245?!?

TITANS #3

7. I just noticed. Where's Tempest (Aqualad)?

8. Roy Harper, the voice of reason?!?

BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #8

9. Who knew Batman standing around in a cave while giving others orders could be so legitimately thrilling?

CATWOMAN #80

10. You do know that NO ONE steals from Catwoman, right?

11. I'm gonna miss this comic so much.

12. Have there been any announcements as to what writer Will Pfeiffer will be doing once Catwoman wraps up?

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #22

13. Who'll be the first to ask if one of the reasons we all enjoyed the previous two issues of Justice League of America so much was that they were devoid of artist Ed Benes?

14. Does her name in the roll call mean that Zatanna is regular Justice League?

THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #14

15. Wow, DC really gave Deadman top billing over Green Arrow on the cover?

16. WayneTech makes parachutes, too?

A Fan’s Survival Guide in the Face of Comic Apocalypse

So recently, in case you haven’t noticed, this blog has been a bit down in the mouth about comics. It is not just we four either, I have noticed a general malaise settling over the blogosphere like fog in some bad horror film. Well, let the sunshine in because I have some quick, sure fire tips to get you through these dark days of four color printing.

Option One: Go for a company’s second tier titles.

There has been a lot of moaning about Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Justice League and other flagship titles and characters. I should know, I have been doing some of the complaining. The problem with the top billed is that they have too much editorial control, too many eyes watching, too many fingers in the pie. Didio wants Ras Al Ghul back. Quesada wants Spider-man single. As a result we get months, sometimes years, of crap.

Back in the day the term B-movie referred to the lower budget, less publicized film in a double feature. These films were basically created to fill screen time but no one expected them to have any importance or be any good. But you know what? Some of them were brilliant. In fact, it is the B-movie system that led to the creation of many the great film noirs that survive today. The studios paid less attention and therefore the directors were able to put out great, inventive pieces of cinema.

One should apply the same idea to a company’s roster of comics. Blue Beetle, Wisdom, Checkmate, the 2004 relaunch of Alpha Flight had the ability to be gems because it feels like editorial mandate is low. The writers just get to write good stories. Of course there is a danger in these B-side comics: sales will most likely be low. That will lead to either A) cancellation or B) forced tie-ins to hike up profits. Think of the “Sinestro War” issue of Blue Beetle or the “Amazon’s Attack” issues of Catwoman. They were terrible and just an example of forced plots messing up a good thing.

So if you are going to go with this option be careful because it can be just as unrewarding.

Option Two: Go outside of your comfort zone.

When I was a comic shop clerk, I always heard people complain about the state of the superhero genre. Sure. What surprised me was the flat out refusal of said people to read anything else. Sure some of them dabbled in Star Trek or Star Wars comics but you give them something, say Hellboy, and they look at you like you have handed them a dirty diaper. It’s weird and I never understood it. Why cut yourself off from significant portions of a genre you love?

That is like being an avid music fan and saying you just don’t listen to rap. That might not be your thing but if you ignore it you will never hear the wonders of “The Black Album.” That is like being a film buff and saying you just don’t watch romantic movies. That might not be you thing but if you ignore it you will never watch some truly moving flicks like Truly, Madly, Deeply. That is like being - you get the picture.

In this dread time take the opportunity and really branch out. Grab Polly and the Pirates, grab SCUD: The Disposable Assassin, grab Scott Pilgrim or Street Angel or the Popgun or Flight anthologies. Grab something out of the ordinary. There is a world of books out there that you might not have looked because you are capes and cowls only. I ask, what has capes and cowls done for you recently?

Option Three: Go back in time.

I do not mean this literally, although how awesome would that be? What I am saying is go back and read those books you loved before. I just got the Starman Omnibus and it has filled my last week or so with joy. When I am feeling down about what is coming out monthly I reread Planetary or the “Black Reign” story arc in JSA. It is like being away at camp and you are scared and unhappy but you have your lucky blanket to get you through the nights.

Also, now is the perfect opportunity to read those books you have always been meaning to. I just read the whole run of Invincible, all fifty issues. It has blown my mind. Man, that book is good! For years people have been telling me to read it and for years I have just tap danced around reading it. Well, I am reading less monthlies and so Invincible it was. From it I got a few days of something I couldn’t complain about, something that renews my faith the quality of the genre.

Maybe it is time grab that copy of Batman: The Long Halloween you have been putting off or committing to Preacher. Take a trip back in time and pick up something good.

This is how I have been dealing with recent trends.

How Have You Been Surviving?

Devon's Fave Five Ditko Visuals

5. THE ASTRAL PLANE

Wanna blow a kid's mind? Give a kid raised under blacklight posters of afro-ed chicks reclining against black panthers reprints of comics featuring a guy who looks like David Niven from that crappy James Bond flick, dressed in tights and a cape, doing weird sh*t with his fingers, while speaking in tongues while fighting a guy with his head on fire done while running through mouths and eyeballs and stuff.

That kid will go on to write in run-on sentences on this blog.

4. SQUIRREL GIRL

I mean, c'mon... just look at her. She's just so gosh darned cute with her little furry sweater vest, Dorothy Hamill cut and bucked teeth! She has a tail. She's bright-eyed. She's bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! She has the proportionate strength, speed and agility of a squirrel, as well. And a squirrel named Monkey Joe. If I woke up one morning in The Marvel Universe and saw her sitting on a branch, I'd know that it was going to be a great day.

3. THE CREEPER

You really don't want a sinewy, yellow man in a Speedo laughing maniacally your way in an alley. Trust me, Jon Carey's told me stories.

As a visual, The Creeper is just... well, downright creepy and inspired.

2. SPIDER-MAN

This costume shouldn't work at all. For one, it's sort of ugly, really. The color scheme doesn't scream "spider" or "man," yet, somehow, it's somehow elegant in its design. Under Ditko, it suggested an implied inhumanity that's never quite been duplicated. Today, whenever an artist wants to suggest how menacing Spider-Man can be, they reference the visuals Ditko laid down over 46 years ago!

1. THE QUESTION

He is, simply put, one of the most stunning visuals in the medium of comics.

Take a ordinary man, put him in a plain everyday single-breasted suit and fedora and then...

REMOVE HIS FACE.

Allow no emotion to be shown, no questions answered from his facial features.

He becomes the epitome of "the element of surprise." He is the blank slate ready to be written.

"Unnerving" as an element of design.