DC's STILL going downhill it seems

I've bounced from sinus infection to a cold, and last night I hallucinated a bit while trying to some-how sleep.

And, I wake up to see this, ss posted by Ragnell,
http://www.afhub.com/toy-fair-2007-update-ame-comi-super-heroines/

First reaction?
OMG MY EYES ARGH

Seriously...they freaking scare me.

Especially Supergirl.
Batgirl isn't too poorly concieved.
Catwoman....no.
Power Girl? very no.

I want to crawl back into a dark corner and forget today has even occured...

Comics!

I feel like I'm really out of the loop, after having to adjust to not using the laptop. Every night I would sit down on the couch with it in hand, reading news sites and weblogs, chatting, and writing. Now, everything feels forced if it happens at all. I'm not used to writing on a desktop - it just isn't as comfortable, you know?

Anyway, this week was pretty average with the exception to two titles. Those being, of course, Catwoman and Birds of Prey. If anything could turn around an expensive day of mediocrity, it would be those two.

First of all, Catwoman has shot up in quality quite consistantly since I began reading it. This issue was probably the best I have read yet, and I place the blame solely on Film Freak. I'm big into film and such, so I really enjoy the antics of him. I also absolutely love the constant homages to old movies - so with last week's Psycho bit and this week's King Kong bit, I am in heaven.

Birds of Prey - Thank you, Gail Simone, for that rip on Frank Miller. I don't know if it was on purpose, but it sure felt that way. I don't like the return of 'classic' Batgirl, but I bet that comes from higher up. It isn't really classic Batgirl, as far as we know, but it is close enough. I am curious about the whole 'getting shot like the original Batgirl, but unaffected' thing going. Two Oracles are too many and silly, so I doubt that'll happen. Maybe this it just a really crazy misleading story to bring back Cassandra Cain. No way that's going to happen, but I can dream.

Also, we need shots of this Guy Gardner film. Have them go see the movie so we can see the movie.

Comics - Aug 2006, week 3!

Figured I should go back to talking about comics at some point, and I'm a little off track from the last few weeks.

Catwoman #58 - Check out that cover. They went from an awesome Lone Wolf and Cub homage to this sexed-up Wheel of Fortune mess. I'm fairly impartial to Zatanna - I don't mind her in a story, but usually she seems very much like a background character. That cover puts her up front, and her costume looks several sizes too small. After a string of great covers, this one is such a miss.

Enough about the cover. The story is a good cap to the recent plot arch. Zatanna still feels like a background character despite her importance to the issue, but it is probably her reluctance to do anything seriously dangerous to fulfill Selina's request. I like how Angle Man retells his past, and how it shows how he has slipped into a low rate villain. Also, Black Mask is dead according to this comic, and not alive as shown in the Man-Bat miniseries (guess which one I am thinking is canon).

The best part, in my opinion, is the way Film Freak 'confesses' his crimes. Not how he interprets the command as crimes against cinema, but the freaking amazing Psycho homage. That made my week. 8.5/10

Street Fighter Legends: Sakura #1 - This came out of nowhere, but it did do for my fix of Street Fighter this month as I wait anxiously for the title to catch up on its release dates.

Firstly, Sakura isn't my favorite character from the series. Despite that, I do know she has the ability to be a fun connection to multiple characters in the franchise - as shown in this issue. She's an upbeat character, and always has been. This issue is fun.

If that isn't enough: This issue has Dan Hibiki and Rainbow Mika. Zangief also towers over everything he's around, but is relegated to comic relief. It also is stuffed with inside jokes and game references. The only thing that set me off a little in this issue was the hyperness of Sakura. I can't blame the writer for that, it's in character. I eagerly look forward to the next issue. 9/10

Manhunter #25 - I'm so glad this isn't the last of Manhunter, but we have to wait till December for more. I wonder if it will just come back as a group of miniseries to be sold whenever. I hope not, but whatever happens happens.

I was really curious as to how they were going to wrap up the Sweeny Todd story line. They built him up to be overly powerful, but they was he was taken out makes comic book sense. Things seemed to wrap up nicely in this issue, and could have easily been accepted as an ending to the title. I especially liked the twist at the very end. 7.5/10

Nightwing #123 - I was surprised with this issue. With the load of crap that has been released recently, this issue was rather decent. Relatively decent, of course. There were still many moments where it was rough, such as my dislike of the two brothers. Speaking of which, why did one of them suddenly develop a temper? Oh well, Dan Didio said things will turn around starting with #125.

What I did like seeing in this issue was Dick finally talking about what happened between him and Barbara way back when he broke things off with her. I thought that little moment of angst was handled well, all things considered. 5.5/10

Shadowpact #4 - Stand alone issue with Blue Devil? I'm game, and it read well. I really lied the two demons speaking in a way to make themselves sound superior, and them taking care of the dragon thing for Blue. 7/10

Poor Booster. He deserved better, but at least he went out with a bang.

Been a while...

Been a while since I last posted. Health issues and such keeping me from various things I put on a lower priority, such as these weblogs. I didn't post last week about comics that came out, and instead of trying to backpedal and cover them as well, I'll just stick with this week.

Best of this Week: Robin #148
I think this will be tagged 'the Search for Cassandra' by people, expecially after the way Batgirl ended, and the OYL startup for Birds of Prey. There is a real mystery here thanks to the jump forward, and I am fully invested. Cassandra is alive, it seems, and is staying way under the Bat-radar for some reason. Robin is now wanted to murder. Batman is...accepting of opinions? Tim is proving to be stronger and stronger of a leader, much like Dick. I also want to know more about this bonding trip to Budapest Bruce took Tim and Dick on, becuase it seemed to work wonders.
5/5

Second Best of the Week: Catwoman #53
Lots of homages to Earth2, and pulled off well. Holly is going to make a fun Catwoman, getting stuck in bad situations and getting herself out of them. Also, the image of Batman holding a teddy bear will never leave my mind - it is burned in there. (yes, Kal, the father has every right to give his daughter a gift, but it looks really out of character).
4.5/5

So, what else was good? Well, I'll refer briefly refer back to last week to Birds of Prey #92. Refering, of course, to my feelings of 'holy crap Society guy defecting with info? What the...Lady Shiva is alive? Cassandra didn't kill her, so she's still ok! Dinah is getting schooled, but it is strangely touching. Wait, Shiva isn't the new member advertised? Sleathed?' So, yeah, that would have been my pick for last week's best.

Also, Batman #651 was a fairly good issue. I like how smooth the teamwork has become thanks to that retreat in Budapest, that I hope gets explained at some point (likely near the end of 52). I also find it interesting how the covers are building up to a big poster, but that's a whole different realm of interest. The story is decent, and broken up well episodically. I don't really know who the villain that was killed in this issue was though, as opposed to Detective #817

Comic run 2-22-2006

Green Lantern #9
Wow...this was probably the best issue of this run I have read. I am a bit biased though, becuase I am a Batman fan. Batman talked a lot more than usual, but it seemed like he was trying to reach out to Hal. I personally felt that despite talking a lot, he was in character.

The dialogue between Hal and Bruce was great, as it showed the different outlooks to fighting crime and tactics. The moment when Batman used the ring was amazing, and the aftermath was pretty powerful. Very much a "Batman is so hardcore" moment for us Batman fans.

Also fun to note: Hal didn't trap the demoness tattoo when he was onslaughted by all the tattoos. That made me grin, just as Rayner butt-shots make fangirls grin.

Supergirl #5
As annoying as the title has been, this issue has probably been the least offensive to my brain. Finally Supergirl beat up Supergirl, instead of making the Justice League fight like fools.

The whole physical split thing didn't make a whole lot of sense, but it did serve as a plot device to give Supergirl a unified mind and knoweldge of what her place may be now. Also, as Kal point out in chat, Superman verbally smacked her down with why he is more powerful than her.

I'm still not sure if I like the title, mainly due to not really accepting Supergirl, yet. I'll still read it though, since Powergirl will begin appearing in it (I like her a lot better, so it will at least still be somewhat enjoyable).

Batman #650
I don't think it can get much more twisted than this issue. Finally Jason's motives make sense, kind of. Everything has boiled down to a very worst-case-senario type situation. Joker makes a great hostage, and the outcome is very much something Joker would manage to do.

Bruce will get even more nutty after this issue, I'm positive.

Catwoman #52
Selina is slipping off the deep end, and now there's no going back for her. Don't want to spoil the issue so I'm not going to talk much more about it since it is a pivitol issue.

Thoughts about Infinite Crisis

Since issue 4 came out, I'm starting to wonder about what the outcome will be. I know others have posted rumors and ideas, and I thought it was about time I did as well. Who knows, maybe I'll get a few things right and I can rub into the faces of those who get it wrong...

First of all, its pretty obvious that the universe will end up with a single, lonely, Earth. Frankly, its a bad idea to have multiple Earths outside of Elseworlds (which I really like the concept of). The two Earths will merge once again in the grand climax of issue 7, another obvious note.

I seriously doubt Superboy will return from the Speed Force, since, well, the Speed Force is now gone. I'm clueless as to how that happened, maybe it got indigestion after eating Superboy? Anyway, if the Speedforce is gone that means Superboy must be gone as well, at least until the Speed Force returns.

What I think will be the big twist at the end will Lois2 dying shortly after returning to Earth2 (issue 5 i predict) (kind of a seeing home and able to let go finally), and that Superman2 will become a bit wrathful afterwards (end of issue 5 i predict). Massive chaos and destruction, but he actually doesn't directly kill. Luthor2, however, will play the destruction out and kill off those he sees as not belonging, probably with his crazy tech stuff or something...

I'm betting that in issue 6, Superman2 will actually kill someone...wild guess would be Luthor2. This really messes Supe2 up, and begins to realize all the wrong he has done in trying to bring back Earth2. He then tries fix what he has done, and merges the two Earths back together. (issue 7)

I'm not exactly sure how that would happen, but I bet if SuperboyP could move and change so much, Superman2 could do it just as easily. (Still not sure how he moved the center of the universe, figured it was a something abstract...maybe he just moved half the universe a little more outward).

Anyway, I'm quite sure Lois2 will die next issue, there isn't much of a way to get around it - She's mortal with no powers, age will take its toll, and the relief of returning home should allow her to finally be at piece, thanks to her love doing everything he could and succeeding on her behalf (quite romantic, if you ignore the mass destruction and death).

I don't think we are nearly through the carnage, and I suspect a good number of people will not really survive being ripped from their place. Also, when the two Earths merge again, isn't that going to rewrite history once again? Nice excuse to fix things or change things, as DC sees fit.

I could talk a bit about the reulting OLY and 52 storylines, but personally I am not trying to predict anything at this moment, rumors or not. Yes, some of the issue previews give hints, and people half played detective to figure it out. I'm keeping an open mind, but there are a few rumors I tend to like. The main one was sparked by Diamondrock concerning Wonder Woman taking over for Batman as he retires (temporarily, I hope) to start up a family with Selina Kyle, if she stays sane thanks to Zatanna.

Actually, I'm thinking that Bruce Wayne may have a big part in helping keep Selina a good girl. They have had a thing going off and on for so long, and seem to trust each other enough for something like that to work. There isn't much question that they'll get together, becuase it had already happened (on an alternate Earth).

Anyway, that's just my thoughts...as limited as they are, hopefully something's right.

Lost topics

Well, Lost has been postponed for some football match. I'm not too happy about that, becuase I had hoped to respond about the episode afterwards. Instead I'll talk about comics.

Comic delivery was postponed again this week until tomorrow, which is also a factor in my unhappy mood - that and a loss of sleep (not a very interesting topic, so I won't talk about it unless someone pressures it). Instead I picked up a number of back issues from last week and the week before. I'm actually starting to spread my tendriles out to pick up other titles (aside from the core Batman titles). First it started with Green Lantern, thanks to Kalinara, and now I'm bleeding into Wonder Woman and Catwoman while picking up odd issues of Robin and Superman.

Overall I have been happy with what I've picked up and read. I'm sort of jumping on the bandwagon as Wonder Woman heads to a conclusion (was able to get 223 and 224). I'm curious about what will happen, and I enjoy the extra background into what is going on in Infinite Crisis.

Robin 145 was a fun read, especially with the many small time villains getting in each others' way. best quote: "Behold, I am the wicker man!" - "Behold, I have a woking lighter!" - "I surrender."

Picked up Catwoman 49 and 50 as well. 49 was the end of a multiparter, so I was a little lost as to motives, but otherwise it wasn't half bad. 50 was, to say the least, a little disturbing. I have to admit I really don't want Selina to become chaotic enough to go back to her old self, or become as psychotic as Bruce is right now. I know Zatanna meant well, and is trying to make amends with her mistakes, but she should really just stop before she unravels other things. I did like an actual explination as to why Selina became a 'good guy' - but I would have liked it more if she was able to turn herself around under her own willpower (gives her more credit, and a stronger character).

Tomorrow should be a more interesting day, since I will actually get to read 'new' comics...