I don't normally do these things it's always nice to read your comments but really this two part-er was incredible. I'm doing this with the issue directly in front of me. We open to Clark informing everyone of the situation, while Bruce instead just considers them the same problem in a bigger package this is a good window into their minds, Bruce thinks of the worlds as rather black and white even when the operative word is "worlds". Then into the narration, we automatically realize that the last words of the world's greatest detective are directed towards his closest friend a man who "can hear glaciers melting" and "the turf wars of dust-mites". The imagery on the spread following is great we see Bruce forging the Radion bullet. And we see withing the bat symbol Bruce's eyes, a gun, and Martha's fallen pearls. The idea of course will be echoed across the issue that he is preparing to do the one thing that brought about the tragic loss of his parents. Morrison is using this narration in a way that is nigh poetic. Bruce is speaking to Wally about how the bullet is literally not only the thing but the idea of a bullet it is in it's own way mythic. This is very much a commentary on these incredible things that Bruce is now facing these aliens and god's are our fiction and mythic ideas as much as they are his. The idea of an element that kills cosmic gods is both outrageous and much above the level of thing Bruce tends to deal with. At this point it is not only the missing chapter to R.I.P. but it has deeply linked R.I.P. and Final Crisis. Back to the subject of this commentary on the mythic ideas of The New Gods. It is a great finish to it with the statement that it is the same bullet that has killed the most famous men in history, it is this idea that it is not the bullet that is truly the thought but it is truly the death. It has nothing to do with the projectile but everything to do with the fact that Bruce has never needed a bullet because he has never intended to kill. This is powerful to me. The fight scene with kraken and his commentary on the several weapons of his villains all being unified within her strikes shows a tad bit of romanticism between him and this moment, he has lived it before. On his knees captured by the villain and so far he has always escaped. Now one of the most powerful part of this book for me was the moment with Jim on the rooftop it is a flashback and at first glance "Why did you have to choose an enemy that's old as Time and bigger than all of us, Batman?" " same reason you did, Jim. I figured I could take him" this is an apparent conversation about Darkseid but my interpretation is that this is a question of why he fights Crime or Evil. Because Jim isn't fighting Darkseid they both are fighting this idea that is so much older. Batman is now standing before Darkseid, our villain. Batman decides to tell his opponent how rare of a moment it is that he is holding a gun at all. And this New Myth that Bruce mentions of course is a close allusion to Rorshach's response to the world in Watchmen. A fun close comparison showing you that batman at all times is a speaker for man from the masses. Incredible job with shot of Batman close to being sanctioned. This great montage like sequence while the explanation of how the Omega Sanction works does a great job of explaining something that was fairly ambiguous at first. It creates a history around Batman for centuries it builds a mythos that did not previously exist. It makes one a wandering god. The the short reference to Neil Gaimans "Whatever Happened To The Caped Crusader" was quite incredibly placed amongst thebats flying, the pearls and the Thomas Wayne/ Barbatos wall. This book was built as a well constructed tip of the hat to those of us that have been paying attention. There are no coincidences with the bat-mythos and this is very fun. Another incredible reference I saw was the gate which read "Willowood Asylum" and in my research came across a wonderful development. Thanks to the wonderful Timothy Calahan, https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDtsI0sCGlWfVEwEiaAw1_zOoG8hWZtYGSEcImT3xFkjyFvspVnAosQ9tZS8mszsjQC3JJFKay0HseCRFO_42NnU4iDRFzSp9y_gJBz2TY232GMUKMFeCq2sDR_7NmmeIUTTumOjtm3w/s320/World's+Finest+Comics+223-S%26B%2BDeadman.cbr+-+Page+16.jpg We then move to the Tape recorder from which or narration comes here again addressing Superman, with Rip Hunter and Red Robin. We now see Bruce with a green glow and Kirby Crackle. And his Funeral where he (a younger version) stands behind them telling them he isn't dead. And the hill where he and his Parents are all buried. And now Appearing amongst the Crackle tearing off his costume outside of a cave. He walks into the cave with bats scattering. He is seen by the old Anthro who is sketching the Anti-life equation and he falls with what looks like Martha Wayne's Pears which confuses me. Not only does everything the sanction touch turn to Myth but even Bruce is comparing himself to the Hero Theseus. In the end Bruce is every hero you have ever had. Not just you but Morrison is expressing the fact that Bruce will always be human and always be greatest human. He undoes his belt, leaves his final message on the recorder that being that when Bruce decided to walk this path he should have known that it never ends. This is why not a single news channel covered the death of Batman even when we were presented his charred body. This is because There is no way to kill Batman. Morrison can't do it and neither can Darkseid. This is possibly the greatest issue Morrison has written of Batman not including the fact that Tony Daniel was spot on with art duties. This was just everything You could have asked for.
Tell me what you think of this review and any suggestion of other books. My friend Steven Said he would start posting his reviews here and of Course Aris does he quick reviews on his blog every week. Now I'm gonna post a quick R.I.P. Missing chapter script I wrote for fun. It takes place between when Bruce "dies" and when Dick decides to be Batman. It will be posted later tonight. Cheers!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Starman! Each burns as bright!
Xylon: So hello everyone this discussion is all about Starman , personally one of my favorite characters, and definitely my favorite legacy in Comics! This will take only a little bit I'm sure but what do you think of Starman and his different incarnations, Aris?
Aris: Lol.I missed the boat completely with the modern Robinson version. Haven't read one issue.
I love the Golden Age character. Had a great costume. The gravity rod is awesome.
Xylon: Haha really now? That's an issue man, ahaha i love Ted though. Did you ever see the one form the seventies?
Aris: No. There was one in the 70's? I may need to read that...or maybe I did and totally forgot. I read All-Star Squadron and JSA.
Recently DC unveiled a "blue" character with the name? I have to say Justice League has been so bad for so long I ran from Cry for Justice like it had the coodies!!!
Xylon: Well the "blue one" is Mikaal Tomas he was in the Robinson series.
The order goes as such:
Starman I - Ted Knight is the original starman from the forties.
Starman II - The mystery Starman of the fifties.
Starman III - Mikaal Tomas is alien from the same string of planets as shadow lass, but he has a sonic stone in his cest which creates blasts.
Starman IV - Prince Gavyn The alien who is prince of his empire and has the shepherd's looking starstaff. he was the one in the DCU which made no sense to me.
Starman V - Will Peyton the man who got shot with the beam which made him star man he was the Starman with the ullet in the black white and red costume.
Starman VI - Davey Knight The holder of Ted Knights legacy and Jack Knights Brother. He dies within weeks of becoming Starman.
Starman VII - Jack Knight. The best Starman, hands down the reluctant Starman who knew when he was needed and how he was needed.
Stargirl - Courtney Whitmore is his successor. She currently owns the StarRod. Jack's StarRod.
Starman VIII - Thom Kallor. The gravity powered boy from the future who grew up and got lost in Kingdom Come's universe. And eventually came to our earth in the schizophrenic state.
Clearly this is the one hero with the largest legacy. One that is fun because not every Starman traces back to the original. Did you ever read the JSA stuff from before they re-started the series?
Aris: Thats great. Yeah I loved the 70's era one with the shephard staff. That was a great costume too.
Quite a varied and interesting legacy.
I love Courtney in JSA. although I dropped the book when Johns left. It quickly lost it's heart when Wilmingham and Sturges came on board. The characters are only recognizable because they look the same.
Xylon: Agreed. I loved the whole of the old JSA series and the new one when johns was on it. I wish he would come back and play with that whole "i'm billy batson's father and welcome to the rock of finality"
But yeah I think it would be great if Courtney got her own series. I would love that. The great thing is that to see Jack in any book you need Robinson's permission. I would love him to write an annual (even though the book is canceled) where all of the star men and women have to traverse time to defeat one common threat. it would be great. but yeah. What do you think about the idea of the inventive superhero, the one that really makes things. Ted Knight is a physicist and that's cool to me.
Well guys, this is one time where th bulk of this character is in the one ongoing so there wasn't much to talk about. But tell us who your favorite Starman was. Comment, share, tweet, and just plain follow our blog here. So yeah guys we will have a new post in just a few days I'm sure. Stay Tuned True Believers!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Howl at the moon! Or the is Moon Knight Bat-s#!% Crazy Discussion
Xylon: Welcome everyone to our latest discussion on the industry and the characters within it, this my wonderful friend Aris and I are talking about the most sketchy superhero of all time, Mon Knight (also unintentionally the first Jewish superhero)And to start right in, what do you think Of this character Aris?
Aris: I have to be honest I haven't cared for the character since...well since the Bill Sienkiewicz run way back in the eighties which was pretty amazing and the Fist of Khonshu stuff. But I really do not like the character. I heard he was a monster hunter recently. Which to me is kind of silly. OK...maybe I enjoyed some of the West Coast Avengers stuff.
He is in Secret Avengers and I will probably enjoy that. But he is not the major reason.
The character has potential. I am not sure he has lived up to it or Marvel's direction with character has lived up to it for some time. Great Costume.
Xylon: Great costume indeed. I especially have a great appreciation for the fact that it is basically a batman rip off. but he is legitimately crazy so i would like to see him actually go there and be crazy. what's your take on the schizophrenia thing?
Aris: I like it. It can be issued to add intensity to the book. And make him uniquely unpredictable.
Which could be fun. And her has to be brutal. I mean really brutal. To they point where its almost criminal.
his villains have to be absolutely deviant and inhuman. And pace in the Egyptian mysticism. Build to something big and unexpected.
Xylon: I think it would be great if he could actually try and find himself as a person and realize that without Khonshu he would have no identity, his least stable aspect is the one that is his anchor.
Aris: That works. i am really getting into Moon Knight now.
In the middle of a Secret Avengers mission he should brutalize Antman...
And then go on the run.
Xylon: I think that would be incredible. :) i never read Fist what was that about?
Aris: It was basically a cleaner version of the character. Less crazy, more in tune with the mythical stuff. I remember enjoying the art and the fact that he was given some supernatural power.
In any incarnation I believe he should have that and his sacred weapons. So when he goes crazy he is dangerous to his super-powered friends or allies....never mind the people he is close to . So he become a recluse. Hunting down evil doers and sometimes on quests from the Eqyptian dieties.
Could be fun. Should be drawn by Rags Morales.
Xylon: He should meet the ones that came before him, somehow like a place where he can meet them them but accidentally absorbs them into his schizophrenia so he has multiple personalities that are all different moon knights.
Aris: I kinda like the idea that he is REALLY crazy. He is like a dangerous unpredictable Jack Bower (sp?) from 24 with enhanced physical attributes based on the Moon cycle.
I think you got hit with the book Xylon!!! great character. He did a brief stint with the Defenders too. Early on. Back in the Valkyrie days and faced off with Wonder Man of all things.
Man comics were crazy back in the day.
Xylon: Haha So is that your story him going and hunting villains? and what do you mean about me getting hit with the book
Aris: If you or some one would write Moon Knight like this I would buy it!
nah. My idea is a super hero who is nuts. And over the top violent. And his gods need him to straighten out quick..
And be their hero...nut outs gonna end up epic fail no matter what.
Xylon: I would write just about any character so someone would buy it. :)
I kinda like the idea that there were more before him. and because he's a paranoid schizophrenic when he hears about other moonknights and traces of history they left behind he becomes paranoid that it's just him from the future trying to ruin the past, it would be a great story to show him lashing out against himself and his own stability. I kinda like him being like mr. hyde from league of extraordinary gentlemen. he would be the one you found over the brutally massacred two bit villain.
Aris: I am curious to see how he fits into the team dynamic now that he is part of Secret Avengers. I don't see him as a plays nice with others type. Besides from Antman...I didn't get a unique vibe off any of the characters. Its more about the story and Moon Knight seems inserted for no real unique purpose.
Xylon: Well remember back in civil war when cap told him to sit it out, maybe steve is just realizing that he needs a wildcard for whatever it is they are doing now.
Aris: Wild. Yeah. He should have a crazy off with Deadpool.
Xylon: What' great is that he is quiet and brooding he doesn't have banter or wit. he could really pose as any hero in the city's streets and no one would know. especially daredevil.
Aris: Yeah imagine it they team up and Deadpool is wise cracking and Moon Knight is just there grinding bones to dust.
Xylon:I would like to see Moon Knight and werewolf by night hang out or more of the old horror characters from the eighties and nineties.
Aris: Even better. Werewolf would be there dumbfounded....disgusted by Moon Knights violence. And he's a monster!
Xylon: Agreed. I also think I like him being like a silent Deadpool, chaotic and at times very intricate. I would love to see him take out a whole a drug deal with like an obnoxiously intricate set up of wires and bullets and shit. it would just show that mix of crazy and brilliance. people call him marvels Batman but i think he is almost supersane, like the Joker.
Aris:Works for me.
Xylon: So my next, what is you like about the costume?
Aris: Simple and elegant like Daredevil's...only scarier. I like the one color and even though its white he is invisible in the dark.
Its perfect for the urban night vigilante!
It needs no tweaks
Perfection.
Xylon: I like the way his predecessor looked in S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
Aris: ( not a fan of revisionist Marvel history. Hate that there were other Iron Fists too.
Xylon:
Aris: I have to be honest I haven't cared for the character since...well since the Bill Sienkiewicz run way back in the eighties which was pretty amazing and the Fist of Khonshu stuff. But I really do not like the character. I heard he was a monster hunter recently. Which to me is kind of silly. OK...maybe I enjoyed some of the West Coast Avengers stuff.
He is in Secret Avengers and I will probably enjoy that. But he is not the major reason.
The character has potential. I am not sure he has lived up to it or Marvel's direction with character has lived up to it for some time. Great Costume.
Xylon: Great costume indeed. I especially have a great appreciation for the fact that it is basically a batman rip off. but he is legitimately crazy so i would like to see him actually go there and be crazy. what's your take on the schizophrenia thing?
Aris: I like it. It can be issued to add intensity to the book. And make him uniquely unpredictable.
Which could be fun. And her has to be brutal. I mean really brutal. To they point where its almost criminal.
his villains have to be absolutely deviant and inhuman. And pace in the Egyptian mysticism. Build to something big and unexpected.
Xylon: I think it would be great if he could actually try and find himself as a person and realize that without Khonshu he would have no identity, his least stable aspect is the one that is his anchor.
Aris: That works. i am really getting into Moon Knight now.
In the middle of a Secret Avengers mission he should brutalize Antman...
And then go on the run.
Xylon: I think that would be incredible. :) i never read Fist what was that about?
Aris: It was basically a cleaner version of the character. Less crazy, more in tune with the mythical stuff. I remember enjoying the art and the fact that he was given some supernatural power.
In any incarnation I believe he should have that and his sacred weapons. So when he goes crazy he is dangerous to his super-powered friends or allies....never mind the people he is close to . So he become a recluse. Hunting down evil doers and sometimes on quests from the Eqyptian dieties.
Could be fun. Should be drawn by Rags Morales.
Xylon: He should meet the ones that came before him, somehow like a place where he can meet them them but accidentally absorbs them into his schizophrenia so he has multiple personalities that are all different moon knights.
Aris: I kinda like the idea that he is REALLY crazy. He is like a dangerous unpredictable Jack Bower (sp?) from 24 with enhanced physical attributes based on the Moon cycle.
I think you got hit with the book Xylon!!! great character. He did a brief stint with the Defenders too. Early on. Back in the Valkyrie days and faced off with Wonder Man of all things.
Man comics were crazy back in the day.
Xylon: Haha So is that your story him going and hunting villains? and what do you mean about me getting hit with the book
Aris: If you or some one would write Moon Knight like this I would buy it!
nah. My idea is a super hero who is nuts. And over the top violent. And his gods need him to straighten out quick..
And be their hero...nut outs gonna end up epic fail no matter what.
Xylon: I would write just about any character so someone would buy it. :)
I kinda like the idea that there were more before him. and because he's a paranoid schizophrenic when he hears about other moonknights and traces of history they left behind he becomes paranoid that it's just him from the future trying to ruin the past, it would be a great story to show him lashing out against himself and his own stability. I kinda like him being like mr. hyde from league of extraordinary gentlemen. he would be the one you found over the brutally massacred two bit villain.
Aris: I am curious to see how he fits into the team dynamic now that he is part of Secret Avengers. I don't see him as a plays nice with others type. Besides from Antman...I didn't get a unique vibe off any of the characters. Its more about the story and Moon Knight seems inserted for no real unique purpose.
Xylon: Well remember back in civil war when cap told him to sit it out, maybe steve is just realizing that he needs a wildcard for whatever it is they are doing now.
Aris: Wild. Yeah. He should have a crazy off with Deadpool.
Xylon: What' great is that he is quiet and brooding he doesn't have banter or wit. he could really pose as any hero in the city's streets and no one would know. especially daredevil.
Aris: Yeah imagine it they team up and Deadpool is wise cracking and Moon Knight is just there grinding bones to dust.
Xylon:I would like to see Moon Knight and werewolf by night hang out or more of the old horror characters from the eighties and nineties.
Aris: Even better. Werewolf would be there dumbfounded....disgusted by Moon Knights violence. And he's a monster!
Xylon: Agreed. I also think I like him being like a silent Deadpool, chaotic and at times very intricate. I would love to see him take out a whole a drug deal with like an obnoxiously intricate set up of wires and bullets and shit. it would just show that mix of crazy and brilliance. people call him marvels Batman but i think he is almost supersane, like the Joker.
Aris:Works for me.
Xylon: So my next, what is you like about the costume?
Aris: Simple and elegant like Daredevil's...only scarier. I like the one color and even though its white he is invisible in the dark.
Its perfect for the urban night vigilante!
It needs no tweaks
Perfection.
Xylon: I like the way his predecessor looked in S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
Aris: ( not a fan of revisionist Marvel history. Hate that there were other Iron Fists too.
Xylon:
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Ask a Question, Get an Answer Week #3
Weekly Feature where me and Xylon ask a question and we look to fandom and pros for answers/ Stay tuned, every now and then you may see a familiar name,
Question of the week: Favorite Super-hero costume ever?
Answers
Nick St. Amant: Golden Age Sandman, Jack Knight-era Starman...you get my drift...:-p
Nick St. Amant: oh, Rorschach, too. Gotta love the inkblot bask!
Noel Luperon: Ultimate Thor; from campy to awesome.
Stephen Ganschow: Obviously...we ALL know it's BLUR from Smallville...! JK.....!::stop hating me in your minds!::
Damion Hendricks: Classic Namor with the pants and the vest.
Chris Striker Dalpe: Ultimate Thor, Midnighter and Red Robin.
Aristides Iliopoulos: Classic Namor to me is the green undies and nay ankle wings. I am a fan of the Golden Age. For me it's Hourman. Love the yellow, black and red...with the hood.
Carlos Pedro: Spider-man.
Nick St. Amant: I'll second Midnighter and Spider-man. To add to that: The Flash (Barry Allen/Wally West version), Ultimate Captain America (WW2 version), and Kick-Ass (it has a gaudy charm to it).
Jon Carroll: Gonna go with DC's Captain Marvel. Great colors, nice iconography and the half cape brings it all together.
Mark Morales: The Hal Jordan Green Lantern costume. Simple and Sleek. The original Billy Batson Capt. Marvel is great too!
Michael Rea: Night Crawler and original Colossus.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Lets talk about Death baby....
Xylon: Welcome back everyone we decided to capitalize on the discussion of Death of The Endless. Disclaimer: I am a sandman fanatic, to such a level where I did a 3D project on sandman when I was in seventh grade. And seeing as she will be in Paul Cornell's Action Comics very soon our friend Jon suggested we talk about her. Haha what's weird is that going into this without going into sandman is the hardest thing for me to do ever, it's like writing about Rorshach without writing about Watchmen. I love sandman so much and I'm inlove with death. Did you like her character? Her first story with Urania Blackwell really throws you into what the endless are so much more than sandman's first story really.
Aris: I love the character as she appeared in Sandman. I did not read the Death series. I think there is a lot of potential with the Endless in the DCU. And if used wisely could play a very interesting and personal part of the story Cornell is crafting. I think he is reconstructing Luthor. And now that he has a fascination both personal and scientific for the power of the Black Lantern Death seems an interesting character to put in the story for sure.
I like the idea that the continuity counts in her Vertigo persona as well. By their very nature the Endless should be able to move between worlds and be in all types of stories with out blowing the minds of fans.
Xylon: What most people don't realize is that vertigo is a dc setting just an imprint for other standards. Constantine hangs out with Zatanna, books of magic went from sand man to Abrakadabra from flash's rogues gallery, sandman had superman and batman at his funeral and in his first story interacted with Martian Manhunter and mister miracle. The world is the same it's just a different set of standards for the reader where as marvel max is different. And there are vertigo books outside of regular DCU like the Invisibles and American Virgin but sandman is not like that. And before we go into what she does for Luthor what does she do for the universe as a whole. when she was introduced she helped someone die who did not know how, it was a story of death as release rather than loss, and i liked how Gaiman showed the many ways death can be existent. you?
Aris: yeah. that was great. But regarding vertigo. For the most part until recently that doorway between worlds or "standards" has been one way. And maybe not the exact iteration of the character at large in the DCU. Or in the case of Supes and Bats. Symbolic.
Death has been written by Gaiman with an interesting personality. I want to see what Cornell brings to her and how the interaction with Luthor works in his story.
Is she connected to Nekron? Does she approve of Nekron? If not why give him power in her domain? What happens when Luthor tries to take any part of that power?
Obviously Luthor won't die.
Aris: I love the character as she appeared in Sandman. I did not read the Death series. I think there is a lot of potential with the Endless in the DCU. And if used wisely could play a very interesting and personal part of the story Cornell is crafting. I think he is reconstructing Luthor. And now that he has a fascination both personal and scientific for the power of the Black Lantern Death seems an interesting character to put in the story for sure.
I like the idea that the continuity counts in her Vertigo persona as well. By their very nature the Endless should be able to move between worlds and be in all types of stories with out blowing the minds of fans.
Xylon: What most people don't realize is that vertigo is a dc setting just an imprint for other standards. Constantine hangs out with Zatanna, books of magic went from sand man to Abrakadabra from flash's rogues gallery, sandman had superman and batman at his funeral and in his first story interacted with Martian Manhunter and mister miracle. The world is the same it's just a different set of standards for the reader where as marvel max is different. And there are vertigo books outside of regular DCU like the Invisibles and American Virgin but sandman is not like that. And before we go into what she does for Luthor what does she do for the universe as a whole. when she was introduced she helped someone die who did not know how, it was a story of death as release rather than loss, and i liked how Gaiman showed the many ways death can be existent. you?
Aris: yeah. that was great. But regarding vertigo. For the most part until recently that doorway between worlds or "standards" has been one way. And maybe not the exact iteration of the character at large in the DCU. Or in the case of Supes and Bats. Symbolic.
Death has been written by Gaiman with an interesting personality. I want to see what Cornell brings to her and how the interaction with Luthor works in his story.
Is she connected to Nekron? Does she approve of Nekron? If not why give him power in her domain? What happens when Luthor tries to take any part of that power?
Obviously Luthor won't die.
Xylon: I think maybe the coolest way to write Luthor meeting death would be for him to realize a certain energy pattern occurring shortly after someones death and he sets up happy accidents in the lab for him to be able to pinpoint and observe the phenomena but then realizes it's her. Luthor won't die but clearly she won't approve of death, her scale of death is much larger than Nekrons, in endless nights (great book if any of you have never read it) during dreams story which coincidentally involves the creating of the GreenLanterns powers, she is feared by the avatars of the stars and all things alike, she is the death of anything and everything not just organisms. She closes the door on destiny and then the universe itself when Tim meets her in Books of Magic. And as far as her approval goes, Nekron is the doctor destiny to her dream. He is someone with a fraction f her power that should not exist. what do you think of her showing up elsewhere as someone that people have seen, Deadman has met her, I'm sure.
Aris: Yes. Death..the Endless are power of a different type as well as scale. They are old eternal things...Death herself may not even notice Nekron. But if you read Blackest Night you know that as Johns intended, Nekron represents the primordial essence of Death. Death herself being that personification should make for interesting interaction. I mean if you follow the thread leading from the Black Rings, to Nekron, they should lead to Death.
I think no matter what her appearance she needs to be handled with care. Or she will become a cartoon of herself in the DCU. I trust Cornell and Woods.
I have been critical of Finch's work at DC so far. But this cover for Action Comics is really good.
Xylon: Haha agreed. Gaiman apparently approves of Cornell doing this and that's all i need. Have you read Endless Nights? Because in that same story i mentioned earlier there was a moment that may have went over some people's heads, it was in the background but it involved a conversation between Krypton's sun, Rao and Despair (the first one not the second one which is the only time we ever see the first despair) and she says that it would be tragically beautiful he created a completely unstable planet allowing one single being to escape from the planet before it's demise therefore creating the perfect portrait of despair within the survivor. This of course being an allusion to Kal-El but i thought I might mention it and how you think death could work in books across DCU as a whole as well as the other endless.
Aris: OH. I need to read that now. I have too. That sounds really great.
I think if Death or any of the Endless are used sparingly it should be fine. Not as a gimmick of course. Most of the Vertigo characters can have analogues. You know different versions. Meaning. The Constantine of the Vertigo-verse is not the same one in the DCU> But the Endless are the Endless all the time.
Xylon: I think Constantine can be Constantine all of the time, but just don't tell his grittier stories there, Shade the changing man is coming back and I think it would be great if we saw Tim be in regular dc books. I think it would be cool to see desire make mischief with different couples trying to split them up and such.
Aris: To Me, Vertigo and the DCU are two different places. Super heroes don't really work in the same in the Vertigo universe. And in the DCU the Vertigo characters are constrained by the four color capes cliches. Its like what Morrison was doing with Earth 2(?3) where on the Crime Syndicate Earth GOOD always loses. There is something on a metaphysical conceptual level that is different. You called it "standards". But it is something fundamental to the storytelling.
To be honest as much as possible for me it is better to keep them separate.The Constantine of the Vertigo-verse can't really be the same Constantine in the DCU.
Xylon: That's makes it confusing i mean the dc is not a grand place to be, Dr. Light did some messed up shit that you would have normally only seen in a vertigo story during identity crisis.
Aris: I don't see why it would confusing. It's comics. It's whatever the writer wants it to be. I accept 52 different versions of almost every character..including versions of the same character from the same universe no problem...why not two Constantines. I am not sure I want him schtupping Zantana from behind is Asmodeus bathroom any part of DCU continuity.
It should be part of the Vertico standard. The Endless are a different type of character. The exist outside the normal DC "multiversity" Like the Source. There is only one Source. And there should only be one group of New Gods. There should not be 52 different Darkseids or Orions.
Xylon: I want him shtupping Zatanna. Just saying. Agreed on all counts. I love how Death is completely revered by anyone who has power and never frightens those who are humble their are those that wouldn't give her a second look. One of my favorite stories with her is more of a sandman story, where sandman asks her not to make the man in the bar die, and so she doesn't let him die, and Morpheus and him meet every hundred years. What's great is that she completely treats her brother swishes as no problem i hate it when some one escapes death and it "unsettles the balance of things" she can do what she likes. and it is written.
Aris: Yes that is awesome use of the character. It works well when some one is capable of working with the characters at the level Gaiman can. Over use and too many hands can destroy that. And give the Endless a more pedestrian "standard" then what has been laid out by the likes of more thoughtful uses of the character.
Once some one makes them seem mundane it will do irreparable damage.
Xylon: I just went through some of my dream story notes ( i keep notes of the stories i wanna tell someday) and i found an old story i would only ever dream of writing unless Gaiman gave me expressed permission. But it was once mentioned that Destruction is the creator of most processes in the universe (particularly fusion). So i wanted to tell a story where destruction, Daniel and death helped destroy delirium to the point where she became delight again. i always loved the cynical idea that the universe has no delight, only delirium instead. So i want to see the return of delight. I think this has become a large endless discussion (get it). I like it.
Aris: I like that a lot man. You should probably get scripts ready for cons.
Xylon: I am working on it man. Alright guys this has been a very great discussion I think and things touched on here will be touched on so much further when we eventually do a Dream post. Alright see you guys next time!
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Miracle Machine! Part One!
Our URl is a Final Crisis/Grant Morrison reference, and the new feature I'm doing for the blog is reference to the greatest super-team of all time, The Legion Of Super-Heroes. The miracle machine is a device created by the controllers, that gives you your wildest thoughts, it hears your thoughts. My mind is the Miracle Machine, to test the validity of this statement i will be asking people on Facebook to give me random characters from comics, and as long as they are within reason I will create a brilliant Pitch for a story with that character within 24 hours. So I asked Facebook and my friend Paul Price said I should create a pitch for "Metamorpho, The Elemental Man". Now I have read Wednesday Comics beautiful rendition of Rex Mason By Gaiman and Allred. And my approach was to think of the character from a completely different angle.
The Pitch: Rex Mason: The Elemental Man
Overview: Rex Mason was and will always be an adventurer, a man who was subjected to the powers of "The Orb Of Ra" which Ra the Egyptian Sun God used to make soldiers to fight an undying Serpent God, Apep. Rex is among many Metamorphae through out history. And A thousand years from the time which turned Rex Mason into The Elemental Man, a young boy named Jan Arrah is born on the planet Tromm, unknowing that he will become the last Survivor of his planet. Nativesof the planet Tromm have very similar abilities to that of the Metamorphae. Rex Mason is about to find out why. He is a man bound by his humanity and his abilities reflect it. He will soon find e has the ability to become more than just human.
Th story: Our story begins with Rex waking up from a nightmare, and finding himself in Human form, he is excited and slowly starts to revert back to his elemental state, these pages are silent, we see him at the edge of the bed, crying, with his head in his hands, the teras flow down his arms and then absorb back into him. We see him doing regular Metamorpho things the next morning, fighting crime, and it is then we see him decide to go sit on the cliff at dusk. As the sun sets he hears a voice. It is the voice of Ra. It tells him to let go, he jumps from the cliff and we now see him in a completely white room talking to floating mercurial blobs which tell him they are ra. They explain that Ra is an idea that was tapped into by many cultures Ra is not our sun it is the silent and collective other-dimensional structure of every star in the universe. It tells Rex of the fact that although Rex is one of many that have felt the powers of Ra's transmutation, he is the first that has come close to realizing it's potential. This seen ends with Rex being pulled apart atom by atom revealing a small universe inside of him. It is the power of every star in this pocket universe that allows for his powers and once he can break his mental blocks he can use the power for transmutation.
This is our opening scene it allows for a self discovery and reinvention of what Rex Mason is to the reader. We return to a place within three dimensional space, Rex finds himself restructuring on the beach of New Zealand. People begin to run away, he runs into an alley and looks up as he is touched on the shoulder by a young blond man, Jan Arrah, the Legions's Element Lad. And suddenly we see Rex he is in human form again. Completely human form, And element lad says to him "Is this how you wish people would see you Rex?". This is the end of Issue one.
The story moves on to have Jan and Rex work together along with the consciousness of Ra to let Rex master his new near limitless power. Ra begins to push the Elementals towards secrets of how they are connected. Ra transports them to a planet where an alien scientist is creating Sun-Eaters to attack Ra personally. Ra makes them stop this man so Ra can continue to exist unharmed. In the process Rex sacrifices the suns in his pocket universe so that Ra and Jan could survive. As the Sun Eaters attack his universe, Rex's atoms crackle from his body and Jan infuses them into every atom in planet they are on. The stars explode and destroy the Sun Eaters. And Jan finds one small dense sun where Rex's body was, Jan touches the sun and with the help of Ra they re-transmute every atom in Rex's body back into his form. He is reborn in this part and Him an d Jan part ways. Jan takes a time bubble from the planet back to his own time. Rex decides to make Ra transport him "wherever it is most exciting in this big universe of ours". He appears right on an alien ship and a man comes up to him and says "I'm Tommy Tomorrow who the hell are you?"There are two small epilogues one involves that planet which was infused with his atoms, it eventually makes the inhabitant animals evolve into more and more human like creatures, and it becomes evident that he birthed Tromm, in that final fight with the Sun Eaters. The second epilogue involves a splash in which Rex is in the colors of his original look but more human looking than usual and shooting a bullet at a crazy new god. He changed the bullet to Radion. Rex Mason's life just got a lot more exciting.
The Pitch: Rex Mason: The Elemental Man
Overview: Rex Mason was and will always be an adventurer, a man who was subjected to the powers of "The Orb Of Ra" which Ra the Egyptian Sun God used to make soldiers to fight an undying Serpent God, Apep. Rex is among many Metamorphae through out history. And A thousand years from the time which turned Rex Mason into The Elemental Man, a young boy named Jan Arrah is born on the planet Tromm, unknowing that he will become the last Survivor of his planet. Nativesof the planet Tromm have very similar abilities to that of the Metamorphae. Rex Mason is about to find out why. He is a man bound by his humanity and his abilities reflect it. He will soon find e has the ability to become more than just human.
Th story: Our story begins with Rex waking up from a nightmare, and finding himself in Human form, he is excited and slowly starts to revert back to his elemental state, these pages are silent, we see him at the edge of the bed, crying, with his head in his hands, the teras flow down his arms and then absorb back into him. We see him doing regular Metamorpho things the next morning, fighting crime, and it is then we see him decide to go sit on the cliff at dusk. As the sun sets he hears a voice. It is the voice of Ra. It tells him to let go, he jumps from the cliff and we now see him in a completely white room talking to floating mercurial blobs which tell him they are ra. They explain that Ra is an idea that was tapped into by many cultures Ra is not our sun it is the silent and collective other-dimensional structure of every star in the universe. It tells Rex of the fact that although Rex is one of many that have felt the powers of Ra's transmutation, he is the first that has come close to realizing it's potential. This seen ends with Rex being pulled apart atom by atom revealing a small universe inside of him. It is the power of every star in this pocket universe that allows for his powers and once he can break his mental blocks he can use the power for transmutation.
This is our opening scene it allows for a self discovery and reinvention of what Rex Mason is to the reader. We return to a place within three dimensional space, Rex finds himself restructuring on the beach of New Zealand. People begin to run away, he runs into an alley and looks up as he is touched on the shoulder by a young blond man, Jan Arrah, the Legions's Element Lad. And suddenly we see Rex he is in human form again. Completely human form, And element lad says to him "Is this how you wish people would see you Rex?". This is the end of Issue one.
The story moves on to have Jan and Rex work together along with the consciousness of Ra to let Rex master his new near limitless power. Ra begins to push the Elementals towards secrets of how they are connected. Ra transports them to a planet where an alien scientist is creating Sun-Eaters to attack Ra personally. Ra makes them stop this man so Ra can continue to exist unharmed. In the process Rex sacrifices the suns in his pocket universe so that Ra and Jan could survive. As the Sun Eaters attack his universe, Rex's atoms crackle from his body and Jan infuses them into every atom in planet they are on. The stars explode and destroy the Sun Eaters. And Jan finds one small dense sun where Rex's body was, Jan touches the sun and with the help of Ra they re-transmute every atom in Rex's body back into his form. He is reborn in this part and Him an d Jan part ways. Jan takes a time bubble from the planet back to his own time. Rex decides to make Ra transport him "wherever it is most exciting in this big universe of ours". He appears right on an alien ship and a man comes up to him and says "I'm Tommy Tomorrow who the hell are you?"There are two small epilogues one involves that planet which was infused with his atoms, it eventually makes the inhabitant animals evolve into more and more human like creatures, and it becomes evident that he birthed Tromm, in that final fight with the Sun Eaters. The second epilogue involves a splash in which Rex is in the colors of his original look but more human looking than usual and shooting a bullet at a crazy new god. He changed the bullet to Radion. Rex Mason's life just got a lot more exciting.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Ask a Question, Get an Answer Week #2
Weekly feature where me and Xylon ask a question and we look to fandom and pros for answers. Stay tuned, every now and then you may see a familiar name.
Question of the week: Would you buy 128 page black and white newsprint anthologies of new comics (not reprints) from Marvel and DC for $7.99?
Answers
Stephan Ganschow: No...probably not. I would if it was say...$2.50 though!
Xylon Otterburn: Why yes I would.
John Carroll: From Marvel, Probably not. From DC...Hell's Yeah!
Aris: I would definitely pick it up. Then again I'm a comic book Mikey...I'll buy anything.
Hank Cannon: Hell Yes I would buy it!
Marc Deering: Yep:
Russell Hillman: Depends how interested I am in the content. I'd give it a go, definitely.
Todd Gross: I think it would depend on the content and creators involved. I really don't see top talent being on a book like this for very long, if at all. If nothing else, it would be a great place to break in new and up-&-coming talent. I don't see it staying for the run though.
Steve Higgins: Yes I would.
I appreciate all the folks on Facebook that responded, next week we will run an Olivia Munn question...just kidding...maybe not...nom nom nom...
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