More GL Whacking

Let's give Hal a rest, so that he can recover from a wrench to the jaw. As hard as his head is, that's still gotta hurt.

Let's beat up Kyle instead.



Oooohh! Lantern on Lantern action, and it has the double impact of showing off Kyle's adorable behind. Woohoo!

It's Whack a Lantern Week!

Enough of all the ranting. I've worked it out of my system, and am ready for something a little more light-hearted...such as beating up my favorite boys. So, once again, it's Whack a Lantern Week! Please feel free to participate by putting up any pummellings that you wish upon your own sites!

And so, to start things off on the right foot...!



Ouch. That's going to leave a mark.

Boys, Just Lighten Up

Well, I'm still obviously in a cranky mood. Make of that, what you will, but I'm getting a little fed up with all the boys crying at the Airport. I use the term "Boys" with full malice, because REAL men, don't launch into hysteria over the concept of a tired overworked Airport Security detail accidentally touching their "Junk" during a patdown. Or, as Gina Barreca just put it, in a scathing and hysterically funny article in this Sunday's Hartford Courant..."Boys, don't get your panties in a twist".

The gist of her article was that most of the screaming is coming from the male gender. Women have had to put up with this sort of thing for a LONG time. And I couldn't help but think back to all of the hysteria expressed by certain Male Comic Book Readers whenever Alex Ross happens to portray realistic male genitalia in a painting of a superhero.

What IS it with guys and their organs? It's perfectly ok to reduce a woman to her intimate parts, to ogle them and pat them and portray them endlessly on cover after cover. If a woman should happen to mildly protest this treatment, she is immediately subjected to the "Get over it!" defense, and the shrill demand to not take away their godgiven right to drool over enormous bosoms.

But somehow, the hint...the mere hint of an inadvertent touch, or glance, or god forbid, the sight of a male bulge in a comic book, and they go to pieces. It's almost...feminine, the way that they have the vapours.

Except that I'm not laughing. I'm just tired, and a little crabby. Fortunately, I'm not aiming this tirade at any of MY male readers. Obviously you guys are all secure with your manhood, or you wouldn't be reading a blog about Green Lantern asses. But still...could we all just relax a little bit? And you pundits out there at Fox, an CSN, and MSBC and all those other 24-hour news places, just knock it OFF already! You people are like two-year olds, who have just discoverd how to talk and can't stop yapping about how fabulous your bowel movements are. We do not need to know about every thought that comes into your teensy tiny brains. And that goes for Sarah Palin too. For someone who hates the media, she sure seems to need a lot of it.

So let's all take a deep breath, and chill out a bit. Otherwise, you'll look like THIS at the airport...and trust me, nobody wants to see it.



Hal is SUCH a prima donna sometimes.

Adieu to the Justice Society

I think that I've reached the end of my tether concerning my beloved JSA. I've been reading it for a long time now, and it's just getting crappier and crappier. I'm one of those people that have a tendency to hang on for FAR too long...waiting for the next issue to be better than the one that I just bought, waiting...waiting...waiting.

I honestly couldn't make heads or tails out of the latest one. And I'm not too thrilled with the idea that Alan has somehow made some sort of "magic" land on the far side of the moon, because even for comic books, that's just weird. And the art has been subpar, and I miss Eaglesham, and I miss Geoff Johns, and in a word...I'm fed up.

THIS is my JSA.



You've got the grizzled veterans like Alan Scott and Jay Garrick and Ted Grant. You've got Hawkman throwing his weight around, and Power Girl. You have Star Girl and her braces. And Doctor Midnite and Sandy being awesome. Not to mention Mister Terrific, who is...well, pretty terrific. And Cyclone and Ma Hunkel making them all lemonade. ANd the Brownstone which is ALSO awesome. And Wildkitty, and Obsidian, Hourman and Liberty Belle, and everyone else that I'm leaving out.

They hung around doing awesome sorts of things. They had picnics, and went to firehouses, and helped people, and trained the younger generation. If you were a teen you went into the Teen Titans, and if you were a LUCKY teen, you went into the Justice Society. These were the sort of people who could walk into a room and call Superman "son". Who could even make Batman and Hal Jordan sit down and shut up.

They were magnificent, dammit, and now they're just a mess. And enough is enough. But I'm still sad inside.

Reviews of Wednesday's Books

Well...that was sort of a blah week. Nothing terrible, but nothing that REALLY set me on fire either.

Let us begin with Neal Adams' Batman: Odyssey #5. I'll come right out and say it...I don't have a CLUE as to what exactly was going on in this issue. It has Talia, and Deadman, and a bit of Aquaman, and the Joker, and it all LOOKS quite fabulous, but as for a plot...I couldn't even begin to recap what was going on. Oh, and Manbat was in there too, for some reason.

It is an incoherent mess, but I don't care, 'cuz it's pretty, and because I simply love Batman being incompetent. There...I've said it.

Batman & Robin #17 was a bit of a letdown after the glorious finale of the last issue. It was SUPPOSED to be Peter Tomasi whom I adore, and Pat Gleason whom I adore even more, but there was a problem with the scheduling, so they won't be starting for a couple more months. This was by Paul Cornell, and Scott McDaniel, and it was perfectly...adequate. Just a little on the dull side after all the insanity that was Grant Morrison.

Batwoman #0 was pretty good. Gorgeous artwork of course, courtesy of J.H. Williams. This was a bit of an introduction, with the REAL Batman back on the scene, he's busy scoping this new player out. He goes to great lengths to determine her true identity, and spends some more time deciding that she actually seems to know what she's doing, and that she seems to be awfully cranky for some reason. Being Batman, he decides that this makes her a good crimefighter. I'm looking forward to the next issue with great anticipation.

Green Arrow #6. Well, Ollie finally gets in to see the new Queen who took over his company and is doing its best to take over Star City. Being Ollie, he naturally decides to start angsting in the middle of a fight, and has to go scampering back to his forest. Again, not terrible, although I'm getting a little bit tired of Ollie's whining.

Gotham City Siren #117. Catwoman has been kidnapped in an attempt to learn the true identity of Batman. Zatanna and Talia show up, and go after her, along with Ivy and Harley, and there is a fair amount of fighting and hallucinating going on. In the end, they decide that possibly the only way to keep Selina safe, is to wipe her memory, so she won't know who Bruce is, anymore.

Well, crap.

Justice League: Generation Lost #14. Not a bad issue. It concentrates on Captain Shinypants, who is actually rather tolerable, as he once again gets thrown into the future by the absorbtion of all of Magog's energy from the last issue. And at least Winick isn't savaging Ice's history for a little bit, which is a relief. The art is pretty, Aaron Lopresti does quite a nice job. This time, it's only l00 years into the future, and Power Girl is there, along with Batman, as played by Damian, who may be old, but keeps taking refreshing dips in a Lazarus Pit. J'onn is there too, looking a little world-weary, and a new Blue Beetle and a new Black Canary, and a clone of Plastic Man, and the Creeper, and a new Red Hood. They're all still trying to stop the ruin of the world. Superman is hanging around, but he's off fighting off the Green Lantern Corps for some reason. Capt. Atom is highly confused by all of this and really, who can blame him? But he does manage to get some interesting help, in that as he's being transported back into the past, he has to save Wonder Woman from Max.

Payback IS a bitch!

Justice Society of America #45. Once again, I don't really know exactly what the hell is going on. Jay and Alan are fighting Nazis for some reason, and Alan is a real jerk. And then Jay ends up being appointed mayor of some town named Monument Point for reasons that I am unsure of. I...did not like this. At all. Where is my bright and shiny JSA? My loveable old farts and wide-eyed kids, out showing the Justice League how things are REALLY done? This was awful.

But on a bright note, we do have Thor: The Mighty Avenger #6 by Roger Landridge and Chris Samnee, and it was delightful. Alas, in their infinite wisdom, Marvel has once again decided to pull the plug on a witty and charming book, due to apparent low sales. What is WRONG with you people? This is great stuff!

Thor still hasn't clue as to why he can't get back into Asgard, and fights Heimdall, who turns into Fin Fang Foom for some reason, it really doesn't matter, and it's all fun.

Man, I'm going to MISS this book when it goes.

Dammit!

I hope you all enjoyed your comics AND your turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Ah...my absolute favorite holiday of the year. No presents, not a lot of decorating other than a pumpkin or two, fabulous food, the presence of my family whom I actually enjoy, and NO PRESSURE!!!

It's wonderful.

Which is why I'm going insane at all the news about the idiots who are already standing in line for Black Friday. They are giving up time at work, and the presence of their loved ones, to be first in line to buy a $20 DVD player. Isn't that a little...warped? I wonder who is going to be trampled and killed THIS year?

Anyway. Please have a safe and happy holiday.



Yeah, it's by Black Cat and I've posted it a couple of years ago, but what the heck. I LOVE this picture!

Why It's Wednesday

Lovely lovely Wednesday. I'm off to get my books, and to start salivating over the turkey tomorrow. Over the river and through the woods, and all that jazz.



I can only assume that these two are fighting over the last drumstick.

If I Ran the World

Things would certainly be different, that's for sure. I occured to me, after reading about all of the hubbub at the various Airports concerning body scanning and patdowns, that there was a way to put a POSITIVE spin upon this rather unpleasant experience. My brilliant insight just happens to come from years and years of reading comic books.

For example, if they hired some REALLY attractive men, I'm sure that quite a large number of ladies wouldn't object too strenuously to being body searched. The same could probably be said, if you hired attractive young ladies to do the same patdowns for the men. If you were to dress them up in skintight superhero comics, you'd have a line forming VOLUNTARILY to undergo this procedure!

Seriously, who wouldn't want to be checked out by Power Girl for smuggled explosives?

I've already explained by theory that we could wipe out crime by legalizing drugs...but only making them available through your Motor Vehicle department. Standing in line with other surly people, all clutching scads of obscure paperwork...it's just not worth the trouble to get high.

In that vein, I'd like to propose a way to wipe out our national debt...tomorrow! In states that still have executions...put them out there on Pay-Per-View! BUT, not just any sort of execution. Lethal injections are pretty dull, you would have to liven things up, by only using Comic Book Villain Death Traps! Giant Wedding cakes filled with quicksand, or flaming pits of boiling lava, mechanical cockroaches...there are all KINDS of truly spectacular ways to get snuffed...and provide entertainment at the same time!

I don't know if I'm being brilliant, or if my blood sugar is just low.

Green Lantern Corps #54

Hoohah! It's a throwdown between Kyle and Sinestro! As you all recall, Soranik Natu was kidnapped by none other than the biggest baddest Weaponer of Qward, in an attempt to lure Sinestro back to the Antimatter Universe. It seems as though they have something of a bone to pick with him.

Kyle of course, is frantic, to go and save Soranik. He's lost just a few too many girlfriends, so one can hardly blame him, so off he bustles, to find Sinestro, so that the two of them can ride in and save the day. Except that Sinestro is having none of it, and tells Kyle to get lost. In an attempt to get Sinestro's attention, Kyle makes the mistake of...punching him. Naturally, this gets Sinestro's goat, and oh boy, IT IS ON!

Or as the ring says..."fisticuffs enabled."

Hee!

Sinestro of course, can't resist a few taunts to go along with the pummelling, and sneers that he's been taught by a Grandmaster, and who, by the way taught Kyle?



Well! Kyle certainly has an answer to THAT! Not that it really makes much difference, since Sinestro still refuses to fly off and rescue his little girl.

Meanwhile, back on Qward, Soranik is getting to know her captor. I did enjoy the fact that the very first thing she did when she woke up, was declare that he was under arrest. Unfortunately, since he's taken her ring, it's a little hard to back up her words. The Weaponer explains that he holds no animosity towards HER, it's her dear old Dad that he wants, for crimes committed against Qward. He explains exactly the dire pass that they are in, because of Sinestro's actions, and then apologizes to her, saying that he knows Sinestro is still her father. Soranik surprises him a bit by saying that he's been no father to her, and frankly, if he wants to administer a little whup ass on him, she's all for it.

Heh.

Kyle manages to stumble his way back to Oa, and meets up with Hannu, who is impressed that he fought sans ring, since that is just the way that Hannu would do it. I love Hannu. So Kyle puts together a band of Green Lanterns and they all fly off to Qward.

And it looks as though the next issue is going to be one humdinger! I can hardly wait.

Green Lantern #59

Gosh, this is an interesting issue this month! Not a whole lot of action going on, but deep plots are being laid, not to mention philosophical discussions.

Just laying out the barebones of the story, a nice EMT is in an ambulance trying to save a life, when the ambulance is hit by a rather large truck. And ALL the Indigo tribe shows up to save the nice dying EMT, including none other than Black Hand. The nice EMT has now become the host for Proselyte, the Indigo Avatar.

Moving right along, the Flash has caught up with Hal, and the two of them are having a heart-to-heart talk. Hal's trying to explain that there's a bigger picture going on, while Barry just wants these nutjobs off of his planet...and really who can blame him? They even manage to drag poor Ollie into the argument, which is hilarious in a weird sort of way.

On Oa, Salaak is having his own heart-to-heart talk with the Guardians. They're a bit miffed at Hal, because he's gone off of the grid apparently, and they aren't sure exactly WHAT he's up to. Salaak likes Hal well enough, but he's not exactly overflowing with trust and good will either.

At this moment, the Indigos show up, with the new entity in tow, not to mention Black Hand. This turns out to be the final straw for Barry, who simply can't BELIEVE that Hal is hanging out with these sorts of people. And lo and behold, it turns out that the Indigos aren't exactly what they were cracked up to be either, thanks to Adara, the Hope entity.

It's getting a tad confusing here, but fortunately, the muffled little person who is behind all of this shows up with Parallax! It's quite the reunion going on, on that rooftop! But not to worry, Parallax isn't there for Hal this time...



Holy pastafazoola!

I did not see that coming.

What I found to be the most interesting in all of this, is the difference of opinion expressed between Hal and Barry. I can their individual points of view, but it is rather fascinating to see their personalities interact. Hal of course, thinks that he knows what is best, and tries to assure Barry that he knows what he's doing, and that there is a bigger picture that he's not seeing. But Barry knows Hal pretty well, and makes any number of VERY intelligent points about Hal's character.

Part of the fun, is that however much Hal may think that he's in control, he's being played by Atrocitus, and probably Sinestro, not to mention our ragged little Guardian-life creature. In the meantime, Atrocitus is playing Ganthet and Guy as well, so all of this is most assuredly leading up to the coming War of the Green Lanterns. I do love that Barry is less than amused by Hal and Ollie's shenanigans in the past. Oh Hal...everyone wants you for themselves.

Get this and read it, 'cuz it's awfully fun.

Bouquets and Brickbats

Well, that was an interesting week, to say the least. TWO Green Lantern books, not to mention that now that Batman is back, he's just popping up EVERYwhere.

So let's start with Batman, shall we?

Batman Incorporated #1. This was not bad. Not bad at all. I don't quite know what I was expecting, but it is always nice to see Bruce and Selina teamed up. And Yanick Paquette's artwork was VERY nice indeed. And tentacles can occasionally be a treat. I'm not too sure about Bat's new suit, the gloves are a little on the odd side, but hey. I'm not the one who has to wear them. So a nice little bouquet.

Batman: The Return #1. Still MORE Batman. I always enjoy seeing Damian, the little squirt has certainly grown on me. And his uncertainty about his future, and apparent desire to stick with Dick is rather endearing. The art was ok, if a little muddy at times, and man is that one weird looking old bat. But still...not bad at all.

Brightest Day #14. And here's Batman on the cover! Sheesh! Lots and lots of Deadman in this particular issue, which is a good thing, since I like Deadman, at least the way that Ivan Reis draws him. Who knew that Deadman could be so HAWT?! Bruce is being a bit of a tool, but that's par for the course, and the White Entity is just deliberately being obnoxious. At least, finally, Deadman seems to be getting the message. And call me a sap, but I loved the last page.

Awwwwwww...! So a very nice bouquet. With red roses for Deadman and Dove.

The Flash #6. Well, fry me for a donut, but I loved this. All the threads came together, and it all makes sense now! And a nice peek at the Rogues, which always makes me happy. I wonder where Boomerang DID go to? A bright and happy bouquet.

Green Lantern #59. I did NOT see that coming!

Green Lantern Corps #54. Yet MORE green green fun.

Justice League of America #51. I wasn't too sure about this at first, but it's growing on me. Nice to see Blue Jay, I thought he was dead! Lots and lots of violence and an interesting foe. Not a HUGE bouquet, but still, at least a posy.

DC Legacies #7. I was so delighted with this mini when it first came out, but to me at least, it has been slipping a bit. What I don't understand, is how the narrator, is shown as being OLD, when in the flashbacks, he's a youngish contemporary of all the DC heroes. He's certainly aged in a few years...unlike everyone else.

Oh well. But the Justice League International shows up with Booster and Beetle, and Ice and Fire and Guy, and that just makes my day. Well..and Maxima shows up too, but you can't have everything. So a handful of dandylions.

And Speaking of Wonder Woman

And isn't that a round about way to change the subject? I may deplore JMS's work ethic, but I can't really honestly say that I'm sorry that he decided to take his marbles and go home, because now perhaps...perhaps we'll actually get Wonder Woman back. Along with Themiscyra, and Hippolyta, and the Amazons and her clothes and such. Yes, I'm a traditionalist. I like Wonder Woman, especially when she's well written, and I'm really not quite sure exactly WHY it is, that nobody seems to be able to get a handle on her. Except for Gail Simone of course.

Because I really really want to see this happen.



Oh yeah.

Whither JMS?

As you've probably already read, J. Michael Straczynski is going to be quitting both the Superman and Wonder Woman books, which were lauched under his name with a fair amount of hoopla, and instead concentrate on a Superman: Earth One book. A number of people have covered this news, and with far greater accuracy and insight than I can offer. The gist of the thing however, is that JMS, (I refuse to keep typing out Straczynski!) has decided that monthly books are for the birds, and that trades are where it is at.

This news does not bother me in the least. While JMS can be a decent writer...in the same way that Judd Winick CAN be a decent writer, it is only when he wants to be. I do believe that he's actually a television writer, and not a REAL comic book writer. And therein lies the problem, as I see it. DC and Marvel each seem to hunger for a certain feeling of legitimacy, and keep trying to land REAL writers, as opposed to people who actually know how to write comic books. Joss Whedon is pretty decent, but slow. Jody Picault was a disaster. Weinberg was ok, JMS has his moments, and I'm sure that there are a ton more that I'm forgetting off of the top of my head, but somehow these little experiments never seem to pan out. Yes, they are REAL writers, in that they write for a larger audience tha comics provide...but that doesn't mean that they are necessarily as good when they try to switch genres.

It takes skill to write a comic book, and a certain mindset. The premise is that they are monthly...or at least supposed to be, with a certain amount of action and plot jammed into twenty or twenty-two pages or so, with a nice opening, and a decent cliffhanger at the end, to entice the reader to come back next month. As a superhero comic fan, there is a certain suspension of disbelief that is required, and lord knows that there can be some incredibly silly elements thrown in for good measure.

But please, don't disrespect comics as a medium. If you aren't capable of the work load, then don't say that you are, and then quit in the middle of a run. It isn't very professional for one thing. It's damned annoying for another.

On the other hand, I'm a bit giddy at the prospect of getting the REAL Superman back from his Pity Parade across America, not to mention getting the REAL Wonder Woman back. I'm hoping that she'll just wake up, and it will all be a dream or something.



So now other writers have to step in and clean up the mess. And apparently it is quite the mess, there are barely any notes, much less any completed storylines. Again, this strikes me as being unprofessional. So...enough with the Big Names from the Real World. Let's stick to people to actually love comics and know how to write them. Surely there are undiscovered but excellent writers out there, for whom writing a comic book isn't just a vanity project.

Man, I'm cranky today!

Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #4

Oh, I am just loving the piss out of this book.

With Bleez firmly in tow, our intrepid trio makes a side trip to Daxam to try and pick up Sodam Yat. He's not there unfortunately, but his dirtbag father is now apparently running the whole shebang, and is busy torturing a prisoner, trying to find out where his beloved son is hiding out...just so that he can shove him right back in that star and get his powers back. I thought that GUY had a crummy dad, but Sodam's pop is certainly giving him a run for his money.

Sodam's Dad is NOT happy to see them and spouts a lot of crap about proper jurisdiction, which of course doesn't worry Guy who gives him a nice KRAK in the chops. What is even more fun, is that Arisia does the same thing a couple of panels later. Arisia has developed a taste for punching people lately.

So off they go, with the poor prisoner, and discover that Sodam has departed with all of his new acolytes. Guy is less than thrilled about all of this, so Arisia gives HIM a KRAK in the jaw. He takes it fairly well, all things considered.

Meanwhile, Sodam and all of the NICE Daxamites have decided to take their toys and set up their OWN planet. He also changes the Green Lantern insignia on his chest to that one that rather resembles the Vitruvian Man. Heck, they ALL do.

Back in space, our quirky quartet are taking in the sights, which consists of a whole lot of nothing. Guy decides to have his ring look for Rakkonium, which is a rare and powerful isotope, which may have something to do with the drain on their rings. On the planet Rakk, there are some surly bully types lording over the slaves who are digging out the Rakkonium. The Green Lanterns...and Bleez show up, and put a stop to THAT of course. With the usual mayhem going on, Guy grabs the head bully and takes him right up to that particular spot in the atmosphere where air gives way to...space...and proceeds to ask him politely for information. As an interogation tool, it's pretty effective. Then Bleez shows up and tries to get Guy to lose his temper and give into the red rage, which he manages to resist. That saucy little minx!

Leaving the former guards in the unforgiving hands of the former slaves, they all fly off to see where the Rakkonium went to. Of course, whatshisname, the Bad Guy is watching, and sends in a reception committee that might surprise you.

This is just a lot of fun for me. It has pretty pictures of Guy, which is a bonus, it has Kilowog, whom I adore, although I would like to see him do a little bit more, it has Arisia,whom I am quite fond of, and it has Bleez, whom I'm starting to like a little bit. Sodam Yat doesn't do much for me, but what the hey. He's getting a bit pissed at the Guardians too. I can hardly wait to see where this is all going.

Bouquets and Brickbats

Well, that was a pleasant little week. For the most part, I am fairly pleased with my gleanings this week.

We begin of course with Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #6, which was pretty decent all things considered. I actually think that I enjoyed Batman and Robin a bit more, but this explains how exactly Bruce managed to get back without blowing up the Universe, and wrapped things up fairly neatly. It also hints about the ending for the Time Masters, but it was just so cool, that I forgive it that. Once again, Hal was acting like a douche and once again, he was schooled by Rip. Woohoo! Not a HUGE bouquet, but certainly a nosegay.

Birds of Prey #6. Well! This is a bit more like it! I was getting a little cranky about Dinah, but since Sin is involved, it actually begins to make sense. Oh, and Shiva shows up, and there is fighting and stuff. And Zinda makes a pig of herself, but heck, I find that endearing. So, a nice small bouquet.

Booster Gold #38. Oh heck, this was fun. I absolutely can't STAND General Glory, but I still enjoyed this little romp. I did feel awfully sorry for Ernie.2. But still...Nazis! I'm not exactly sure what bug got up Michele's butt...man was SHE cranky, but it was nice to see the kid again, and you certainly can't fault her logic. A bit silly, but enjoyable. A nice full bouquet.

Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #4. A nice big fat bouquet. More tomorrow.

Justice League:Generation Lost #13. I'm a bit torn here. I STILL haven't forgiven Winick for his hack job on Ice, and I won't until it's finally fixed. On the other hand, Magog! Getting blowed up! Blowed up GOOD!!! Be still my heart. I can't STAND Magog, and I've been rooting for his demise for quite some time. Of course, Max showed up and was the actual murderer, but he made it LOOK like it was Captain Shinypants, which is probably going to lead to some problems down the road. So, I can't exactly hurl a brickbat, but on the other hand, I'm still in too big of a snit to award a bouquet. So...a couple of dandylions clutched in one hand perhaps. With a thistle or two.

In Defense of Nerds

As a group, I must come right out and admit, that Nerds don't get a whole lot of respect. And probably for some very good reasons. We, as a group, tend to be humorless and just a tad dogmatic when in the throes of our particular area of nerdish expertise. And yet, I say, cannot this be said of just about EVERYone? Engineers tend to wax eloquently and earnestly on the tensile structure of bridges...not a lot of room for chuckles there. Same thing with Rocket Scientists and Brain Surgeons. And so on and so forth.

This morning, whilst idlely cruising the internet, I happened across an article mocking Trekkers, as written by a Helen Popkin. It was a mildly amusing article, holding up various Star Trek fans to ridicule because they had reacted strongly to an inaccurate article written earlier by someone else, that said that Captain Kirk was head of Picard's Enterprise...or something of that nature. I'm a mild Star Trek fan, although I tend to like TNG better than the originals, because those were the ones that I saw the most. I'm not a hardcore fan, but even I know that Kirk and Picard are from two different eras.

It wasn't the article poking fun so much that annoyed me. It was all of the commments about the article, very few of which were from Trekkers and most of which had comments along the lines of "Get a Life!" and "40 Year olds living in their Mother's Basement!". and more of the usual. To be fair, I can understand that a Trekker's single mindedness...OR a Comic Book Fans...can be intimidating to quite a number of people. There is also the almost irrisistable urge amongst most people to mock that which they don't understand, and to bask in the glow of feeling "better" than those sorry losers who care so deeply about something so silly.

I'm sorry, but this kind of attitude is just Rude! Everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE should have at least ONE totally ridiculous obsession in their lives. It doesn't have to be the same thing for all people, some prefer Star Trek, some prefer Star Wars, some like Dungeons and Dragons or Warworld, and some...like myself...prefer comic books. Collectively we are called Nerds and looked down upon by the rest of the world, who are secure in themselves and their superiority. THEY don't get all enraged by minutiae about such ridiculous things.

And yet...and yet these are the same people who know every statistic about their particular baseball or football team, and will hold forth about it ad nauseum to anyone who will listen. But somehow it is more acceptable to be a sports fan. Or there are people to dress up in Civil War outfits and obsess about what kind of buttons were used by the CSA, and whether or not they should march barefoot into battle like the REAL soldiers. There are people who like to golf. I am not one of them, and quite frankly, I think that golf is a pretty weenie sort of game, but if they want to don absurd pants and run around a nice field hitting a small ball over and over, then more power to them. But none of these activities are any more or less ridiculous than being a Nerd.

Someone also raised the point that wouldn't it be nice if all of that Nerd Rage and energy could be harnessed and used to solve "Real World Problems!"



Well...probably not. Nerds don't LIKE Real World Problems...which is why we are Nerds in the first place, that comic book, that movie, that television show, that game, are our ESCAPE from the Real World. The Real World is pretty awful, but Green Lanterns are pretty snazzy in comparison. Furthermore, our obsessions tend to keep us off of the streets and on our computers, and therefore out of trouble. You rarely find gangs of Nerds, except at Conventions, or occasionally book signings in Comic Book Stores, and although we can be surly and occasionally unwashed, we don't go around shooting people and robbing them, hurling molotov cocktails or otherwise making monumental pests of ourselves. Some of us have even grown up, and left our mother's basements and are holding down nice jobs, raising families and otherwise being model citizens.

In short...Nerds are simply finer people.



Because really, this sort of thing is AWESOME!

Spelunking Through Photobucket

Ahhh, Monday. Since I don't have too much on my mind today, I'm going to go diving through all the odd pictures that I have squirreled away. And I think that I've come up with a doozy! I know I stole it from somewhere, but I'm darned if I can remember.

Still...this is something that you just don't see every day.



I don't mean Hal getting punched in the head. Heck that happens on a daily basis. Maybe even on an HOURLY basis. But that's Jay Garrick lying unconcious, and darned if it isn't Vandal Savage kicking Barry in the 'nards.

Ouch.

I'm feeling quite sympathetic towards poor Barry. Hal...well, I doubt that he even FEELS it any more.

Well THIS is Pretty

I found an awfully gorgeous picture, that I'm just dying to show you.



I'm not quite sure where I found this, so I apologize for swiping it. But I simply couldn't resist. It's by a gentleman named Cinar, and it is just amazing.

Oh Guy. Be still my heart.

Bouquets and Brickbats

Nary a brickbat is going to be thrown this week, boys and girls. Not a lot of books, but some really GOOD books. Which makes for a HUGE change over last week. Man, but I can hold onto a grudge.

Let us begin with Batman & Robin #16. I am FLABBERGHASTED! With JOY! All kinds of fabulous things happen, from the return of the REAL Batman, to Damian kicking all kinds of ass, to the Joker and his banana peel. There was also a whole lot of backstory filled in, that I for one, was exceedingly grateful for, since I'm not a huge Batfan, so I hadn't read some of the things that were referenced to. And wasn't THAT a convoluted sentence! Needless to say, Thomas Wayne is a bad bad man, and I was hugely happy at what happened.

I can't NOT show you this scan...


My heart was just filled with joy.


This was sensational.

Brightest Day #13. After a rather slow start, these books have really begun to hit their stride. This issue focused on Hawkman and Hawkwoman, and although I'm not much of a champion of either...it was still very good. Man, Shiera's mom is a REAL piece of work! She could give Peggy Louise Gardner a run for her money!

Jonah Hex #61. And here we have something of a flashback tale. It's about Mei Ling! You all remember Mei Ling of course, Jonah's Chinese wife from way back when. I never could stand her for one reason or another. She wanted Jonah to hang up his guns and become a farmer, and was always pitching fits when that proved to be impossible. And she whined a lot. And cheated on him. But here...here I actually LIKED her! Or could at least understand the attraction. Good stuff.

Secret Six #27. All KINDS of fabulous things are going on, between the two teams of the various Six. Bane doesn't die, which is a good thing. Scandal is hysterical and remorseful, Jeanette takes command of the situation as only she can do, and Catman puts on an interesting...and familiar outfit. Oh, and Spy Smasher learns an important lesson. Never EVER mess with Amanda Waller.

And my lone entry from Marvel, is the first out of a four-part mini-series starring none other than the Warriors Three. I love these guys, and this looks like it's going to be a reasonable amount of fun. The Fenris Wolf is loose, and wreaking havoc, and our intrepid trio is out to bring him in. Since it is written by Bill Willingham, I keep thinking that Fenris is actually Bigby...so I'm rooting for the wolf too. Still, it looks interesting.

I hope that everyone went out and enjoyed their comics too.

Oh Sweet Sweet Wednesday

A small week this time around, but heck, I'll take anything that I can get. And on the up side, all of those gawdawful political commercials are now over for a while at least. And it's a pretty day.

Getting back to Green Lanterns, as I am wont to do. I have been neglecting John Stewart, as I also have a tendancy to do. Which will never do.

So here's John and the love of HIS life.



Oh, if it had only worked out that way. I liked Katma dammit. I still do, for that matter.

Tuesday Ramblings

Oops. I COMPLETELY forgot to post yesturday! I actually worked late, and then had to take Chris to bowling, and get dinner, and stuff, and ended up watching a 1980's Perry Mason movie with David Hasselhoff as the defendant that was utterly HILARIOUS, and then I went to bed, and forgot to go on the computer at all. Which is not like me.

I'm still pissed at Winick, but I'm trying to rise above it.

I hope that you have all done your civic duty and gone out and voted. We have an INTERESTING race going on here in lovely little ol' Connecticut, with Linda McMahon, the WWF Queen vs. Dick Blumenthal, who has all the personality of lukewarm oatmeal. Nevertheless, I am voting for him with enthusiasm, because he may not be scintillating, but dammit, he's actually competent. And I shook his hand. And she scares me to death, since she always looks as though, if she doesn't get her way, she will CUT you!

I'm getting a little tired of rich CEO's who decide that they are OWED a position as a senator or governer or congress man or woman, simply because they've ticked off everything ELSE on their resume. Being a successful business man or woman is completely different from running a government. You can't arbitrarily fire people if things don't go your way for one thing. Ah, well, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I'm actually getting my snow tires installed ahead of the crowd. The usual thing to do, is to wait until the VERY DAY THAT IT SNOWS, and then 100 people show up at the door, demanding instant service. This is New England! It snows every year here! Also, everyone will rush out and buy a new snowblower. They should have kept the one from last year! They're reusable!

Man, I'm in one cranky mood! At least tomorrow is Wednesday, and there will be sweet sweet comics to soothe my fevered brow.

In the meantime, here's a picture of Kyle and Soranik smooching, which relates to my previous theme of Green Lantern Girlfriends. Oh Kyle, you're just too adorable for words.