Flashback Friday: Brave and the Bold 100. Feb/Mar 1972

Okay, I really hadn't planned on making this week's Flashback another Black Canary post, but Sea of Green's comment regarding Hard Traveling Heroes reminded me of this "gem."

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THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #100 (Feb/Mar 1972)
"The Warrior in a Wheel-Chair"
story: Bob Haney
art: Jim Aparo

On page one of this story, Batman gets shot and incapacitated. The problem, besides the obvious, is that he's just become aware of a huge heroin deal about to go down in Gotham City and he can't leave his wheelchair to stop it!! What to do!? So he pulls together Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Black Canary and Robin to track down the details and prevent the event, while he coordinates it all from the wheelchair. (Hmmm, that's an interesting concept!)

This story came out right at the tail-end of Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams classic GREEN LANTERN/GREEN ARROW run. So -- Bob Haney picks up on the strong-heroine vibe that O'Neil gave Black Canary and gives her classy dialogue like:She mocks Ollie, as if she isn't involved, aware or even cares about Speedy's drug problem. It's not helpful that the art in that panel makes her look pretty vacant.

But it gets better.

When it comes time for Black Canary's part of the plan...they can't raise her on the wrist-radio!! Batman sends Robin out. Robin refers to her as a "flippy female." In the Bob Haney universe, Robin's not far off the mark...And just in case you missed it:Yes, Black Canary is so out of touch with reality, that not only do her priorities jeopardize the mission because "the rain ruined my hair..."

But -- she's such a complete freakin' idiot, that she forgot she wears a wig!!

It's hard to believe that Bob Haney had read none of Denny O'Neil's stories, but how else can you explain him writing Black Canary as such a dip?

U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Warlord! Warlord! WAARRLOOOORD!

Comic Book Resources has got a lengthy, in-depth interview with Mike Grell about his new, upcoming WARLORD series!! Including a look at the first 5 covers!!

I didn't think I could possible be more excited, but I just may be!!

Hopefully now we'll get a proper Warlord action figure!!

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V returns!

A year or so ago, V creator Kenneth Johnson was hard at work on getting a sequel to his original V mini-series off the ground. He even wrote a novel, V - The Second Generation, which was published in February of 2008. Plans for the TV event were eventually scuttled.

But now, while Johnson has been pushed aside (again, as he was for V: THE FINAL BATTLE and V: THE SERIES), Hollywood Reporter has announced that ABC has green-lit a pilot for a new V series.

Although I believe it's disingenuous to exclude Johnson from the mix, when you consider it was the original mini-series that most people love and remember and not the follow-ups... Being the hypocrite that I am, I'm so excited about the possibilities of this new series. I just wish it was a continuation rather than a do-over (probably) in name only. I want me some Jane Badler as Diana!!!

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Cigam semoc ot Ellivllams

TV Guide reveals that Serinda Swan has been cast as Zatanna in an upcoming episode of SMALLVILLE.

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X-Men the animated series on DVD!

from Newsarama:

The legendary Fox animated series, X-Men, is finally coming out on DVD through Walt Disney Home Video. The first two releases, simply entitled Volume 1 and Volume 2, have street dates of April 28. Both collections have suggested retail prices of $23.98. Volume 1 is two disks and times in at 368 minutes. The second is also two disks and times in at 391 minutes.

Read more...

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ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS. HULK #4
Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU

Coming in April!!

Brave and the Bold. January 30 2009.

Comic Book Resources has a clip from this week's BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD.

"Journey to the Center of the Bat!"

This week Batman's life hangs in the balance when he is poisoned by Chemo, who is under the control of the evil Brain. The Atom races to the rescue with Aquaman by shrinking down and entering Batman's bloodstream. While Aquaman and the Atom battle the infection deep inside Batman's body, Batman struggles to end Chemo's rampage and defeat the Brain! This week's teaser features Elongated Man and Plastic Man teaming up to derail a bank heist and capture the criminal Baby Face.

Voice actors starring in this episode include:
Deidrich Bader: Batman
Tom Kenny: Plastic Man/ Baby Face
John DiMaggio: Aquaman
Sean Donnellan: Elongated Man
James Sie: Dr. Choi/ Atom
Dee Bradley Baker: The Brain/ Chemo

CBR also has a bunch of screen captures from the episode including this one, which makes me all kinds of happy!I LOVE this show!

Huntress goes FWOOSH!

One of Helena Wayne's lesser known powers.

Looking at Marvel covers for April '09

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I'm not a Marvel reader, but I can still enjoy the pretty pictures they put on the front of their books!

ASTONISHING TALES #3
Cover by Kenneth Rocafort

Marvel is getting as much into the girl butts as DC is for April. Interesting cover, even if I'm not sure what's up with Spider-Woman's Human Torch hands...

NEW AVENGERS: THE REUNION #2 (of 4)
Cover by Jo Chen

Annnnd.... Here we go again! Although, this one is drawn (painted) by a female artist, so it's harder to scream "sexist fanboys!" And she also gives us a very hot looking guy for the price of admission. Check out the way Ronin is holding his dagger and the placement... Oh my.

SUB-MARINER COMICS #1 70TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
Cover by Mitch Breitweiser

Not only is the art (and Namor himself) hot on this cover; I love how it's true to it's golden-age origins: No nipples!!

WAR OF KINGS #2 (of 6)
Cover by Brandon Peterson

Brandon Peterson is just an awesome artist. I'm always awed by his work. Too bad Marvel only seems to use him on covers. But every one of them is so cool looking...

WAR OF KINGS: ASCENSION #1 (of 4)
Cover by Brandon Peterson

...even when it's a character that you just don't care about!

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS FINALS #3 (of 4)
Cover by Roger Cruz

Definitely an interesting color-highlighting choice there below the "X."

Hmmm...

Flashback Friday: Black Canary 2. September 2007

Here's a new thing I'm going to try and do every week. We'll see how that goes.

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I love Black Canary, always have. Maybe not so much when Mike Grell took away her sonic cry. Or when she went all butch leather-biker. But even as a kid, I used to draw Black Canary comics.

So, it's been kinda frustrating to watch Andrew Kreisberg turn Black Canary into a moron (she's leader of the JLA for crying out loud!):

GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY 16 (March 2009)

Especially when just 2 pages before, she was knocking an arrow out of the air with her sonic cry, and now suddenly she's just overwhelmed!? WTF!!?

That got me thinking back to better times. There's the obvious run in BIRDS OF PREY, where Gail Simone practically turned her into a top-tier A-lister. Even Judd Winnick didn't do too poorly with her on his GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY run. But inbetween, she turned up in a self-titled mini-series. Not that it was spectacular or anything, but Tony Bedard gave me, literally, a jaw-dropping, OMG, no way!! moment:

BLACK CANARY 2 (September 2007)

It starts off looking like one of those "oh, he's a misogynist, having the man overpower the woman by cutting off her power" bits. Then he turns around and gives something so original and unexpected that it's almost flooring, while coming across as an obvious "duh, of course she could do that" type thing.
I'm not lying when I say, my jaw literally dropped when she snapped the bow string. I was shocked and awed. I love that scene. Tony Bedard made Black Canary even more awesome.

Now she's a bumbling buffoon.

Sigh.

DC Love at Target!

You have no idea how excited I was when I stopped by Target about a week ago and saw this:
An actual DC Comics section! About 6 feet long! With a big ol' DC logo hanging over it and everything!!

Up until Christmastime, all you ever saw at Target was maybe 3 columns of pegs...and those were usually empty (still, it was more then you ever see at Wal-Mart)! I did go the day after Christmas and they had thrown up a bunch of DC Universe stuff, mostly to fill empty pegs, but it was more than I'd ever seen there at one time. I wonder if they had it all sitting in back this entire time and just never bothered to restock it? Hm.

But seeing this new section was kinda exciting!! Although it was kind of a jumble, they had Infinite Heroes mixed in with Justice League Unlimited. And even though Dark Knight had it's own section (to the right), they were also hanging under the DC Universe Classics. And some DCUC below the Batman: Brave and the Bold figures. The Super Friends pegs were all empty.

I don't care. They have a friggin' DC Comics logo hanging over the section!! I never thought I'd see that!!

Looking Ahead at DC Comics in April '09

The DC Comics Solicitation for April 2009 are up at Comic Book Resources and Newsarama. Here's my look:

THE WARLORD #1
Written by Mike Grell
Art by Joe Prado & Walden Wong
Cover by Mike Grell
On sale April 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

You have no idea how excited I am about this series. I can't even put into words. The only thing that could make this better is if Mike Grell were drawing it. But I guess we can't have everything. I just hope I don't get let down!! :)

Warlord! Warlord! Warlord! WOO!!

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BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #5
Written by Mike Kunkel
Art and cover by Mike Kunkel
On sale April 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.50 US

I absolutely LOVE this series. LOVE it!! I'd be happier if it weren't published on a quarterly schedule, but I'll take what I can get if it keeps being as awesome as it has been!!

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SUPER FRIENDS #14
Written by Sholly Fisch
Art by Scott Shaw! & Terry Beatty
Cover by J. Bone
On sale April 15 • 32 pg, FC, $2.50 US

I've not been a huge fan of this incarnation of the SUPER FRIENDS. It's just so watered down. It reminds me of that SUPERMAN/BATMAN issue, where the cartoon versions of the JLA turn up, and Superman's origin is that his parents sent him to Earth so he wouldn't get wet (since it rained on Krypton all the time). That sums up this take on the SUPER FRIENDS. Weak.

But this looks like a fun issue!! Funny Animals and Scott Shaw! How can you go wrong!!? Plus, Wonder Woman has a Kanga for her super pet!! This might rock!!

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JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #26
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham & Nathan Massengill
Covers by Alex Ross
On sale April 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Kinda sad that Geoff Johns is leaving the JSA. But it might be alright. I'm actually complaining here more than not...

In order to get the complete cover (which would have rocked as a gatefold), you have to buy 3 copies of the same book!! WTF? Good thing there's not a recession going on...

And where is Hippolyta? They have Jack Knight, Superman-22 and robot-Hourman. Where's the JSA's Wonder Woman!!!?? Alex Ross sucks.

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I'm kinda glad that DC Comics, like comics in general, is getting away from the objectifying of women.

Oh.

Wait.

ORACLE #2 | SUPERGIRL #40
Cover by Guillem March | Cover by Joshua Middleton

Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to both these books, but come on! At least the artwork is good. It would be worse if they'd been done by sloppy amateurs, like most covers of this type are.

But, come on!

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THE FLASH: REBIRTH #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and covers by Ethan Van Sciver
On sale April 1 • 1 of 5 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Although I'm not the biggest Ethan Van Sciver fan (I'm more of an Ivan Reis guy), I'm still looking forward to this. If anyone can justify bring Barry back, it's Geoff Johns.

I'm am a little hesitant about it starting off with the death of a speedster, though. Who's it going to be? Jay Garrick, Liberty Belle, Wally West, Zoom? Will they bring Max Mercury back just to whack him? Or will it be some obscure character no one will care about?

Hmmm...

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TEEN TITANS ANNUAL 2009 #1
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Fernando Dagnino & Raul Fernandez
Cover by Andrew Robinson (altho it's signed "Eddy Barrows")
On sale April 1 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US

I like this cover, despite Cassie's lack of fashion sense. But the TEEN TITANS has been pretty much sucky lately, I'm not sure I'm excited about this crossover with VIGILANTE.

I'm more curious about the guy in the hoody:

Who is he? Why does he have a Wonder Woman emblem on his arm on the TEEN TITANS ANNUAL and what may be an oxen head or devil's head on the cover of TITANS #12?

TITANS #12 | VIGILANTE #5 | TEEN TITANS #70
Covers by Andrew Robinson

Look! There's Donna! Hi Donna! :-)

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SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUPER FRIENDS VOL. 1 TP
Written by E. Nelson Bridwell and Dennis O’Neil
Art by Ric Estrada, Vince Colletta, Ramona Fradon, Bob Smith and Kurt Schaffenberger
Cover by Alex Toth
Advance-solicited; on sale May 27 • 448 pg, B&W, $9.99 US

Now this is my SUPER FRIENDS! This will rock. I wish it was going to be in color. But 448 pages for $10!? I'm so there!!

The cover credit should read "by Alex Toth and Curt Swan," since DC had Swan re-draw Superman's head to conform to their idea of what Superman's face should look like...

Whatever. Not like Alex Toth wasn't a master, or anything...

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WONDER WOMAN #31
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Aaron Lopresti & Matt Ryan
Cover by Aaron Lopresti
On sale April 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

I was kinda hoping that the male Wonder Woman would have a more Wonder Woman-esque outfit. But I'm definitely not complaining about his lack of coverage.

Does that make me a hypocrite after complaining about the ORACLE and SUPERGIRL covers? :-P

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WONDER WOMAN 1:6 SCALE Deluxe Collector Figure
Advance-solicited; on sale September 16, 2009 * Collector figure * $99.99 US

Ever since DC Direct started the 1:6 figures, I've been waiting for a Wonder Woman. Waiting and dreading, truth be told. And I don't think I was wrong to dread this. I don't care for it. I really don't like the plastic molded hair. The face is so generic, doesn't say Wonder Woman to me at all. The costume is so ill fitting, she looks dumpy in it.

DC should leave Wonder Woman dolls to Mattel. At least they look good. Can I really justify spending $100 on this, when I can get a Wonder Woman Barbie that looks 100 times better for about half that? I love Wonder Woman so much, but...damn.

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WONDER WOMAN MINI NEON SIGN
15" wide x 5" high and has a base measuring approximately 5.5” in diameter.
Advance-solicited; on sale September 16, 2009 * Neon Sign * $89.99 US

I'm pretty sure I won't be spending $90 on this. It's kinda cool. But that's a lot of money to spend on something that I really have no where to display. Plus it's a lot of money that could go to other comics that'll I'd probably get more enjoyment out of.

Of course, if someone were to give it to me as a gift, I'd cherish it!! ;-)

LOL!

Out.

Brave and the Bold. January 23 2009.

Speaking of Batman: The Brave and The Bold...

Here's a sneak-peak at the upcoming eighth episode. Check out that guest-star!!!

"Fall of the Blue Beetle!" guest stars Star Trek: The Next Generation's Wil Wheaton as "Ted Kord / Silver Age Blue Beetle" and airs this Friday, January 23 on Cartoon Network at 8:00 PM.

Blue Beetle traces his legacy back to the original Blue Beetle, to learn why the Scarab has chosen him to share in it's powers and become a super hero. The journey leads him to the dangerous Science Island where he battles legions of robots alongside Batman and learns the truth behind Ted Kord's disappearance.

It starts out "Two Years Ago," and we find out how the Blue Beetle mantle passed from Ted Kord to Jaime Reyes.

Playing Devil's Advocate: I'm wondering if there's going to be continuity within this series. It doesn't really matter, but I have to be difficult.

In the first episode, "Rise of the Blue Beetle," Kanjar Ro is surprised to see Blue Beetle, thinking that he had killed him the last time they met. When he realizes it's someone different in the suit, he feels triumphant that he obviously had killed the previous Beetle.

Now we see that prior to Jaime, as in the comics, Ted Kord was Blue Beetle. Ted's BB doesn't really look much like Jaime's...so why did Kanjar Ro think he was fighting the same person? And since KR doesn't seem to be a part of this episode, which reveals "the truth behind Ted Kord's disappearance..." Are the two stories connected at all? Just makes me wonder.

I don't really care. I just like to stir up trouble. I love this series and they can do anything they want. I just wish they'd throw Wonder Woman fans a bone. I want a B:TBATB Wonder Woman figure!!!

Adam Strange & Starfire - Now On Sale!

The DC UNIVERSE CLASSICS SPACE HEROES 2 PACK: ADAM STRANGE & STARFIRE online exclusive is now available at MattyCollector.com!!

Complete your DCU Classics collection with this Adam Strange™ and Starfire™ 2-pack! The Savior of Rann™ and the beautiful princess of Tamaran will soon be available as highly detailed, highly articulated 6" action figures from Mattel. Pack includes Adam's trademark space pistol. Available in beautiful window box packaging perfect for display. Coming this fall to MattyCollector.com. While supplies last!

"Coming this fall" meaning January 15, 2009. LOL! You think they would've updated that at some point!!

The set sells for $25US and there's a maximum order quantity of 10. Who is going to need 10 of these!? Damn speculators!

People are already spending $35-40 (!?) for these on eBay. Buy yours direct and save some green!! (Matty's shipping is cheaper, too)

BATMAN: The Brave and The Bold TOYS!

I didn't even know there was a line of Batman: The Brave and The Bold action figures and things until I stumbled across these at Wal-Mart:
The Caped Crusader Kit is pretty cool, very Adam West, LOL!

Sorry the pics aren't so hot: As a camera, the Samsung Instinct makes a good phone!!
I don't get into variant figures much (unless they're Wonder Woman), so I passed on the Batman vs. Alien Clash in the Cosmos set. Cool alien, but I don't need any poser Batman.

I didn't see any of the figures, so either Wal-Mart hadn't gotten them yet, or they sold like hotcakes!

About a week later at Target I found me a Batman:
He's labeled Battle Slam Batman, but for all intents and purposes, he's just yer basic Batman, so I'm happy with it. I didn't see any Blue Beeltes (except for the one that comes with the Blue Beetle's Bug, but it was more variant looking. Although the Bug looked pretty cool.
This is the back of Batman's package. Check out the typo: "Team Up! BUILLD Up! Collect 'Em All!" Power Prop Aquaman looks kinda stupid. I hope they have or are planning a regular Aquaman.

Some fun toys from the great new animated series!!

Blackest Night: A Black Lantern revealed!

Solicitations for an upcoming set of action figures, Blackest Night Series 1, gives away the identity of one of the Black Lanterns (so much for shock and awe, we'll just tell ya who they are before we print the story!!). Here's the image from the solicit:
I'm not going to tell you who the Black Lantern is, I won't be responsible for spoiling the surprise, but if you want to know...

*SPOILER**SPOILER**SPOILER**SPOILER*

Check out the solicitation info at Corner Store Comics. I'm warning you, if you read it, you will be spoiled!!

BlindMessiah posted this info at the Newsarama Forums.

Green Lantern head-butts and...um...butts!

Keeping with this month's theme...*

This is all Nightwing Wannabe's fault. I accept no responsibility!! He reminded me about the Green Lantern/Green Arrow throwdown in DC UNIVERSE DECISIONS #2, so I had to go take a look. And this one page just makes it!


In one page we get two -- TWO Green Lantern butts...


...and a Hal getting hit in the head!!


Not to mention this little gem, that makes up for no silly Batman!!

Ride 'im, Cowboy!!

The end.

What?

You want a foolish Batman, too?

Oh, alright. I aim to please:


*No, it's really not going to be this month's theme. This is it!


Maybe.

Legion. Smallville. Tonight!!*

Don't forget to watch Smallville tonight on the CW! The Legion of Super-Heroes pop in from the 31st century to help Clark against Doomsday, Brainiac and the Persuader!!

Here's a clip:

*"Tonight" being relative. If you're reading this on any other day than January 15, you missed it. Look for a repeat or pick up the DVD set. ;-)

Legion. Smallville. January 15 2009.

Just a friendly reminder: Don't forget that the Legion of Super-Heroes will be appearing on tomorrow night's Smallville!!

Alexz Johnson as Saturn Girl, Calum Worthy as Lightning Lad
and Ryan Kennedy as Cosmic Boy. With writer Geoff Johns.

The "How to" Manual for Bloggers

SallyP (of Green Lantern Butts FOREVER!) has come up with a manual for what to do when you hit a blogging dry spell!!

She says: "Sometimes there are the sort of days when you just don't know WHAT to talk about. You stare desperately at your screen, your fingers hovering over the keyboard, waiting...waiting for that jolt of inspiration...

That, my dear friends, is when you pull out the handy-dandy manual."

And since (1) I haven't been blogging much, (2) I really got nothing and (3) Sea_of_Green did it... I decided to go all "Me too!" and be the follower that I am!!

Here are Sally's instructions:

#1: Find a picture of Batman that makes him look silly or foolish.

Seriously, how often do you get to see Batman cry like a little girl!!!

#2: Find a picture of Hal Jordan being hit in the head.

The hard part with this is not finding a picture of Hal hit in the head, but choosing one from the thousands of times that it has happened!!!!

#3: Find a picture of a Green Lantern Butt

I wonder if I get bonus points for having him bent over...leaning into a shirtless Hal!!

* * * * *

Of course, being as I always have to be different (or difficult, I can't remember), I thought, you could also change it up a little:

Like combine the first two: Hal Jordan hit in the head by Batman!!


Or the second two: See Hal's GL butt as he gets hit in the head!!!


Okay, that one's good for two!

Come back all this month for more goofy-Batman and GL butt shots!! Woo!


No, I'm only kidding. I'm done. :-)