Direct Currents: Friday, December 31, 2010

I'm going to decline announcing the demise of these "Direct Currents" linkposts as a new year's resolution, especially in light of previous erroneous assertions. Suffice to say, I would rather contribute more material worth linking to rather than wasting hours promoting other people (rarely with anything like reciprocity,) and I'm taking the precaution of discontinuing as many blogs I've been following for this feature as my conscience and tastes will allow.

CBR's Ten Best Comics Of 2010

CBR presents the ten best comics of the year as voted on by our staff with choices that include in-depth character studies, over-the-top action serials, visionary takes on classic stories and more!

The 5 Worst Comics of 2010

Over the last couple weeks, the ComicsAlliance staff has shared our Top 10 favorite comics and graphic novels of 2010, the books that felt like Christmas morning, the ones that stuck in our hearts and our minds and made us proud to be comic book fans. But in every medium, a little rain must fall, and so we would be remiss if we weren't honest about the lowlights as well as the highlights -- the comics that best represented the biggest missteps and the most problematic trends in comics writing during the last 12 months. And so with no further ado, we offer you: The 5 Worst Comics of 2010.

CBR's Top News Stories Of 2010

As the clock ticks down on 2010, CBR ranks the top ten stories that had readers, retailers and creators buzzing from the past 12 months from DC's restructuring to the advent of a major legal digital marketplace and more!

11 for '11: Things to Watch in the New Year - SERIES/GNs

Major crossovers involving Marvel and DC icons, plus massive indie graphic novels are among what to watch for in 2011

The Top 10 DC Comics Coming in March 2011

We've been a little busy with the holiday season, but we're back now with our monthly look at the most interesting-looking solicitations for DC Comics. This week we're covering the March 2011 round, with a bunch of Bat-cancellations, the return of Milestone (again) and the long-awaited conclusion of Joe the Barbarian.

Get all up in the chicken-fish face of Green Lantern's alien Tomar-Re

Here's a brand new look at the infamous space cop and crafty Green Lantern trainer Tomar-Re. Looks good, real good. So how is it that a half-fish alien can look infinitely better than Ryan Reynold's super suit?

Milligan Sounds Constantine's (Wedding) Bells

Writer Peter Milligan spoke with CBR News about January's upcoming "Hellblazer" #275 which features what was once considered completely unthinkable: the wedding of John Constantine!

The Batman Islam Wars Turns Up A Notch

So the Batman franchise runner in Paris, France is an young man of Algerian Muslin descent. How did DC expect the blogosphere to react?

6 Comics That Need To Be In 3D -- Rendered In 3D!

Despite the fact that even William Castle -- the B-movie auteur who once attached giant joy buzzers to theater seats in order to get audiences interested in The Tingler -- was tired of it fifty years ago, modern moviegoing audience are witnessing a resurgence in the popularity of 3D! And as though gimmicky, headache-inducing films with inflated ticket prices weren't enough, the desire to add a few other layers to things -- visually speaking, anyway -- is now making its way to comics with Brian Haberlin and Philip Tan's Captain Wonder 3D...

John Babos Puts Together Geoff Johns’ Flashpoint Event

Flashpoint is the much hyped, much teased, upcoming Flash-related event by Geoff Johns. Thanks to John Babos of Comics Nexus for allowing us to reproduce his original piece on Bleeding Cool looking into the latest teases towards this storyline.

Mike Henry's Cartoony and Kinetic Batman Rogues Redesigns [Art]

Hearkening back to the look of Batman: The Animated Series, artist Mike Henry dove into some Bat-verse portraits armed with a Batcave arsenal's worth of color and some new looks for the Caped Crusader's villains that mesh the energy of Humberto Ramos with the clean, liquid-hot cartoony feel of J. Scott Campbell.

Judge Throws Batarang At 7097 Of 7098 Batman XXX Pirate Cases

It’s a good day to have illegally downloaded Batman XXX: A Porn Parody...

Comic Book Cocktail Recipe For Your New Year's Party!

It's the end of the year, and that means that it's once again time for New Year's Eve: The Drinkingest Holiday of All! It's not just popping the champagne at midnight that makes it the tipsiest night of the year, it's the fact that parties built entirely around the twin themes of celebrating and getting ready for new things make the perfect opportunity to try out a few brand new, largely untested drink recipes on the guinea pigs we call our friends...

An Oral History of CAPTAIN MARVEL: The Lost Years, pt. 1

Continuing an in-depth oral history of SHAZAM/Captain Marvel with the 1st part of a look at his "Lost Years" - 1954-73.

An Oral History of CAPTAIN MARVEL: The Lost Years, pt. 2

Continuing an in-depth oral history of SHAZAM/Captain Marvel with the 2nd part of a look at his "Lost Years" - 1954-73.

An Oral History of CAPTAIN MARVEL: The Lost Years, pt. 3

Continuing an in-depth oral history of SHAZAM/Captain Marvel with the 3rd part of a look at his "Lost Years" - 1954-73.

An Oral History of CAPTAIN MARVEL: The SHAZAM Years, pt. 1

Continuing an in-depth oral history of SHAZAM/Captain Marvel with the 1st of a look at the SHAZAM Years - 1973-87.

Comic Book Legends Revealed #293

With the end of the year here, CBLR is all about time! What cult classic comic book series was originally going to be the tale of Captain America in the future? Was Bishop originally intended to be the X-Traitor? Find out inside!

BLOGS

The Absorbascon
The Human Flame is in my house!
Merry Clixmas!

Atomic Surgery
Beware of The Bug-Belle! (Weirdest Lois Lane Story Ever!)

The Aquaman Shrine
Secret Origins #32 - Nov. 1988
Guest Post by Joe Slab - Poll Results
DC Chronicles Aquaman Statue - 2010
Aqua-Gift Wrap!

Being Carter Hall
The Atom & Hawkman Heroclix Miniature

Diana Prince: Wonder Woman
Rule 63: Wonder Woman
2009 NYCC Wonder Woman & Artemis Commission by Stephane Roux

Diversions of the Groovy Kind
DC's The Shadow #12

Firestorm Fan
Firestorm in a lost issue of Marvel Two-in-One?!?!?!
Firestorm Rule 63

Green Lantern Butt's FOREVER!
About Ganthet And Guy

HeroPress
Wonder Woman Wednesday!

The Idol-Head of Diabolu
Despero: The Greatest Stories Ever Told
Despero Cast in new "Smallville" Spin-off?
Thunderbolts' Customs Despero Action Figure
2010 Custom Despero Frog by IcarusMach9
2008 HeroClix Arkham Asylum #054- Despero
Justice League America #42 (September, 1990)

Justice League Detroit
2005 Zatanna Art Book Piece by Brandon Peterson

Kevin Nowlan
2004 Mister Miracle & Big Barda commission
2007 Batman art for a charity auction
2004 Batman, Joker & Harley commission

Power of the Atom
Thunderbolts' Customs Captain Atom Action Figure

Siskoid's Blog of Geekery
Reign of the Supermen #70: Stan Lee's Superman

Subject : THE SUICIDE SQUAD (Task Force X)
JLA 18 - Vixen vs. The Suicide Squad & androids who like getting it on, then fall asleep and dream of electric sheep

Supergirl Comic Box Commentary
Brett Booth On Justice League

Weekend Review Section 12/31/10

The Buy Pile by Hannibal Tabu: Thu, December 30th, 2010

Comic shop comics: Dec. 15-22 by J. Caleb Mozzocco

2010: The Year Drawn and Quarterly Won Comics by J. Caleb Mozzocco

And Onto Reviews: Thursday, December 30, 2010 by SallyP

Todd Klein's And Then I Read: ADVENTURE 516 & 517

Empowered Volume 4 (2008) by Diabolu Frank

Newsarama's Best Shots Comic Reviews:

• Green Lantern #61 & more
• Batman: The Dark Knight #1, Red: Eyes Only
• Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special, Batman Incorporated #2

The Creeper's Top 10 Covers

As part of my ongoing effort to figure out Steve Ditko's Creeper character, who remains elusive to me despite years of exposure, I decided to compile a slightly different top cover list. I want to keep this one strictly top 10, which due to the many divergent takes on the character, makes this probably my least inclusive countdown to date.

The Creeper was one of the many quirky characters created by Ditko who were vaguely reminiscent of Spider-Man, but without capturing even a fraction of the Amazing Arachnid's audience. I suspect this was for the same reason Jack Kirby never seemed to bottle lightning on his own... the need for a balancing collaborator. Stan Lee was the perfect writer for both men as evidenced by the birth of the Marvel Universe between the three. Joe Gill was nowhere near Lee's equal, but he worked well with Ditko on their early Charlton collaborations. At DC, Ditko was saddled with ideologically opposite scripters like Steve Skeates and, on Beware the Creeper, Denny O'Neil. This likely prompted Ditko to begin scripting his own work, which often seemed nothing but objectivist sermons. I suspect the Creeper got caught in the middle of two very different mindsets, but it was O'Neil who carried on with the character at various points for about a decade.



Shortly after his series' cancellation, the Creeper was played in a pseudo-adversarial fashion against the Batman and other heroes, which sums up most of his '70s appearances. I feel this proposition had a lot of potential, in the same way pairing off Daredevil and the Punisher did in the 1980s. Both may be vigilantes fighting a lonely war against crime, but there is a conflict in methods that would naturally cause the characters to butt heads. Also, making the Creeper a quasi-villain retains his essential queer menace, where playing up his clownishness, well...

The Creeper was linked to the Joker through a guest spot in the Clown Prince of Crime's solo series. While probably seen as a natural then, I think it hamstrung the Creeper as being the "good Joker," an untenable contradiction. If the Creeper is truly mad, he's a danger to everyone around him, which is what makes the Joker so sexy. If the Creeper isn't as dangerous as the Joker, and he cannot be as even an anti-hero, then he's just another disturbed super-hero plagued with duality, a dime a dozen in this industry.



If anyone could faithfully retain the essentially weirdness of Steve Ditko's Creeper, it was Keith Giffen, who teased the proposition throughout the '80s and '90s. Unfortunately, Giffen was on of the chief proponents of the "Creeper really is crazy" revision of the character, which could have worked if anyone had bothered to give him at least a mini-series to work with. Instead, the Creeper's primary role during these years was as one of a team of scrubs tasked with battling Eclipso in his two series from that period.

Beginning around the same time as the '90s Creeper series, the character once again played aggravating foil to the Batman in a series of animated style appearances playing the character as a goofy anti-heroic off-brand Freakazoid/Joker. Given my druthers, I'd take Ambush Bug in that sort of role, and I think it does the Creeper a disservice to turn him into an awkward comedic foil, not to mention a dayglo eyesore.

10) Beware the Creeper #2 (July, 2003)

A short lived female Creeper turned up at Vertigo in the early '00s. It wasn't a bad series, and each issue had an eye-catching cover by Cliff Chang. However, the artist was still developing his talent, and the writing bypassed Creepy for bohemian, which didn't quite work. I do like that this Creeper is almost asexual, almost completely covered in a thick, misshapen material.

9) The Creeper #3 (December, 2006)

Justiano was a rather good choice to handle the Creeper, as he brought I vibrancy long missing from the character. From the gummy death's head grin to that untamed mane, not to mention the ridiculous level of furious detail, that's a Creeper alright.

8) Beware the Creeper #5 (February, 1969)

Something I've never seen anyone address is the sexuality of the Creeper's appearance. I think the yellow is supposed to be part of a costume, but as depicted, the Creeper is a nearly nude jaundiced dude. Does that do anything for the ladies (or a supposed 10% of the gents?) Perhaps one thing the Creeper should have taken from the Joker playbook was his ambiguous sensuality, at least based on this curiously homoerotic cover. Peep the identity challenged Proteus preparing to reveal himself to his frienemy, tied up and dripping wet in an underground dungeon.

7) The Creeper #4 (March, 1998)

Part of what's cool about this cover is that it's actually somewhat creepy, which one would think a Creeper should be. Another is that there's a sense of melancholy to the madness, which does a better job of evoking mental illness than a cackling buffoon. Mostly though, I like that it features Jack Ryder as a grim protagonist inextricably linked to "The Macabre Manhunter" without it necessarily relating to the nuttiness Ditko would have probably loathed from later interpretations of his character.

6) Justice League of America #70 (March, 1969)

I find this one of the most interesting covers from a writer's perspective. Ditko clearly intended the Creeper to be a sane man unsettling his foes with a madman persona, in the vein of the Shadow or the Spider. However, creators since at least the '80s have made the Creeper a legitimate basket case, involving psychosis-inducing drugs and multiple personality disorder to explain "The Leaping Looney." Most recent, creators have even gone the supernatural route, having the Creeper persona turn up as an actual demon from hell possessing Jack Ryder. Going back to the early days and seeing the Creeper as a literal puppetmaster with the mental facilities to manipulate the JLA seems a far more intriguing concept than the tired old Jekyll and Hyde routine.

5) The Creeper #1 (October, 2006)

I usually find this type of watercolor in comics pretentious (hello David Mack,) but it works here by externalizing the Creeper's madness in this incarnation (as it could be argued the original conception was nothing but external, performance "madness.")

4) Beware the Creeper #2 (August, 1968)

This paranoid piece does a great job of showing that the threat of Proteus, the Creeper's shape-shifting archnemesis, could come from anywhere.

3) Beware the Creeper #6 (April, 1969)

If you want to try to one-up Steve Ditko on his own series, Gil Kane would be on the short list of names to call. Caught in an inescapable death trap and preparing to die, the Creeper's grin is gone, which more than anything establishes the dire fate he faces.

2) Beware the Creeper #3 (October, 1968)

An exciting work as only Ditko could deliver, showcasing "The Giggling Ghoul" leaping at some sort of ritualistic cult.

1) Showcase #73 (April, 1968)

An easy choice, as this is the Creeper's debut appearance, and the single most famous image of the character. It also firmly establishes him as a weirdly maniacal nighttime avenger caught between the law and the underworld. Nobody is going to light a signal to call on this guy.

Direct Currents: Tuesday, December 28, 2010

11 for '11: Things to Watch in the New Year - CHARACTERS

Comics wouldn’t be anything without characters. From the multi-faceted adventures of the X-Men to the beloved Charlie Brown in Peanuts, it’s the personalities on the page and on the screen in comics that make them memorable to kids and adults alike. In this year’s list, a menagerie of characters came forth -— running the gamut from super heroes to pulp icons and even a whip-smart explorer from Belgium. From long-running serials to newer heroes, and even a classic character brought back from the archives, 2011 is shaping up to be a banner year for comics and comics fans.

11 for '11: Things to Watch in the New Year - CREATORS

From all stars doing their career-best to plucky unknowns out to blow you away, Newsarama has your cheat sheet for creators to watch in the new year.

The 8 Biggest Comic Book News Stories of 2010

This was a tumultuous and paradoxical year for the comic book industry, particularly the areas we like to cover here at ComicsAlliance. The most talked about topics were those having to do with pronounced growth and irreversible change, both positive and negative -- sometimes simultaneously.

Racists Totally Freak Out Over Muslim 'Batman of Paris'

Another day, another racist freakout over non-white superheroes. But unlike the hilariously dishonest racism we saw when the Council of Conservative Citizens called for a boycott of Marvel's Thor movie on account of mythical Norse god's depiction as a black man, a recent round of conservative attacks on Nightrunner -- DC's Muslim Batman of Paris -- are prejudicial in a more insidious way.

Batman’s Politically Correct European Vacation

The whole situation is a misreading of what ails France. The truth is, neither communist Union members nor “Neo-Nazi” Parties are causing riots in France. Muslims are. Yet DC Comics is absurdly making a Muslim immigrant the “French savior”? This is PCism at its worst. Not only that but it is pretty condescending to France, too. France is a proud nation. Yet DC Comics has made a foreigner the “French savior.” This will not sit well with many Frenchmen, for sure. Nor should it.

Why Do Conservatives Hate Superman?

But this feigned anger from the right got me thinking about all the other immigrant super heroes defending their adopted country. It made me ask, why do conservatives hate Superman?

Even More of 2010′s Best Female Comic Creators

Amanda Conner has been a powerhouse of a cartoonist for a long time now, and as far as I’m concerned, one of the best cartoonists around – male or female, mainstream or indie.

An Oral History of CAPTAIN MARVEL: The Fawcett Years, pt. 1

We’re going to take you on a trip through Captain Marvel’s history from the 1940s to the present. But this isn’t just any trip – guiding you will be some of the names most associated with the character over the years, who’ll be sharing their thoughts on the character and some incredible anecdotes.

An Oral History of CAPTAIN MARVEL: The Fawcett Years, pt. 2

Paul Chadwick, the creator of Concrete, created this installment’s all-new art piece for Newsarama. And it looks like Captain Marvel’s found something a bit...off in the gallery of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man...

An Oral History of CAPTAIN MARVEL: The Fawcett Years, pt. 3

In addition to classic rarely seen art in each installment of our tribute, we’ve got all-new pieces from some of the best creators in the industry done exclusively for Newsarama.

Comic Book Legends Revealed #292

What innovative comics project by George Romero and Marvel Comics never saw the light of day? Also, did a popular secret agent comic strip spawn two separate hit songs for its two main female characters? Find out today!

Best Art Ever (This Week) - 12.26.10

BLOGS

The Absorbascon
Why the Holliday Girls Don't Need Men
The Scariest Place on Earth

The Aquaman Shrine
Justice League of America #200 - March 1982
Captain Action & Aquaman - 2010
AquaMemories: Aaron Bias
AquaSketch by Neil Vokes - 2010
DC Universe Legacies #8 - Feb. 2011
JLA Poster by Alex Ross - 2002

Armagideon Time
I can see the lights

The Cool Kids Table
The Jewish Justice League

Diana Prince: Wonder Woman
2010 The Comic Book Zodiac: Libra by Deaver Park Press
2005 Wonder Woman Art Book Piece by Brandon Peterson

Diversions of the Groovy Kind
Black Canary in "Television Told the Tale!" from Adventure Comics #399 (August 1970)

Every Day Is Like Wednesday
Trinity-Schminity: Wonder Woman not even in the top four

Firestorm Fan
Have you picked up Brightest Day #16 yet?

Girls Gone Geek
On the Eleventh Day of BatWondy …
On the Twelfth Day of BatWondy … The Case for Bruce and Diana

Green Lantern Butt's FOREVER!
Almost To the Finish Line!

The Idol-Head of Diabolu
Justice League America #37 (April, 1990)
Justice League America #38 (May, 1990)
Justice League America #39 (June, 1990)
Justice League America #40 (July, 1990)
1997 JLA Gallery: Don Hillsman

Jon's Random Acts of Geekery
Cool Stuff: Yes, More Batman Stuff!

Justice League Detroit
Justice League of America #178 (May, 1980)

Kevin Nowlan
Batgirl pin-up: 2003

Once Upon A Geek
REVIEW: DC Comics The 75th Anniversary Poster Book

Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine
Boy Commandos story, from Detective Comics #132, 1948

Power of the Atom
2010 Captain Atom Custom Statue by ~JokerZombie

Silver Age Comics
Mort Drucker Bio

Slay, Monstrobot of the Deep!!
Breaking Batman??

Subject : THE SUICIDE SQUAD (Task Force X)
Suicide Squad & Checkmate "mini - mes"

Supergirl Comic Box Commentary
Review: DCU Legacies #8
Back Issue Box: Christmas With The Super-Heroes #2
Review: Justice League Of America #52

The Thought Experiment
Daily Batman: Deeaaaaaaad

1984 The Martian Manhunter Postcard by George Pérez

THE MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Brought to earth by the ill-fated Professor Erdel and unable to return to Mars, J'onn J'onzz adopted human form. His powers include telepathy, super-strength, flight, and invisibility. His only weakness: vulnerability to fire.

I'm not 100% sure how I was introduced to J'Onn J'Onzz. I suspect it was either DC Comics house ads circa 1984, or my having bought a heavily discounted Super Powers Collection action figure. I loved that toy, and was given a more thorough feel for the character through his appearance in Crisis on Infinite Earths #7. A saleswoman at Waldenbooks thought I was just too cute in my raggedy Houston Oilers jacket, and gave me the comic for free just before I went on a trip to Colorado Springs. Not only did the Martian Manhunter come off well in the double-sized issue, but in my mind he would always be at his coolest when drawn by the master himself, George Pérez. Also, Supergirl died, but that stuff never takes.

There must be something about the nomadic Martian, because a dinged copy of Justice League International #8 was one of the last comics I read in Texas, and a guest appearance in Action Comics #595 was among the first comics I bought when I arrived in Nevada. I'd tried Martian Manhunter#1 in 1988, and was not amused, so I tended to discount any further J'Onn J'Onzz solo reading. I followed the Martian Manhunter's appearance irregularly for years after that, mostly as a result of being a Justice League fan. Alternately, I started buying Justice League Task Force for its Nightwing appearances, and the post-Zero Hour J.L.A. for Wonder Woman and Hawkman.

Despite lots of good stories and nostalgia for my action figure, I didn't truly become a diehard fan until 1996, through Mark Waid, Fabian Nicieza, Darick Robertson & Jeff Johnson's Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare mini-series. It was like a therapy session had unearth repressed memories. Something about the moment where J'Onzz's family is taken from him again hit me with a tidal wave of emotions related to years of accumulated stories. I was an old lady sitting on the bus sucking humbugs, finally realizing I was a Rider on the Storm. I was a J'Onzz Fan, man!

JLA and my introduction to the information superhighway soon followed, and upon learning there were no Martian Manhunter fan sites on the internet, I resolved to one day build the first. It took me a couple of years to get started, by which time a few sites had emerged, but they're long gone now. My Martian Manhunter: The Rock of the JLA lasted a couple or three years, and was a major learning experience. Three years ago, inspired by Rob Kelly's The Aquaman Shrine, I decided I would reconstitute my old site material into a daily blog. The Idol-Head of Diabolu has, to this day, barely touched any of the old material. This is one part because I'm a dimwit masochist, another part due to my becoming a better writer, and yet another part due to the format freeing me to go into both deeper and broader exploration of the character than I would have otherwise considered.

Above is one of my favorite images of the Manhunter from Mars, a lovely postcard I picked up on eBay about a decade ago. I used to feature it prominently on my old site, along with the two articles Who is the Martian Manhunter? and J'Onn & Me, neither of which have been restored to the net.

Direct Currents: Sunday, December 26, 2010

Contractual Changes On Creator Owned DC Comics

I understand from a number of impassioned pleas by Vertigo creators that there has been a major contractual change instigated at Vertigo. And indeed I’m now told it will apply to all new creator owned series at DC, Vertigo or otherwise.

Remembering Adrienne Roy by Todd Klein

"During the ten years I spent on staff at DC in the Production Department I saw and spoke to her often, she was a busy colorist for all of those years (1977-87)..."

Black & Blue: JAMES ROBINSON on the JLA's New Members

DC's March solicits reveal that Saint Walker is joining the JLA and Supergirl is going Dark. We chat with James Robinson for more.

ROBINSON'S JLA pt. 2: 'Epic' ECLIPSO Arc Brings Changes

In part 2 of our interview, James Robinson discusses the upcoming Justice League Eclipso story arc.

SOME MIDWEEK VARIANTS

GREEN ARROW #8 by David Mack, JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #18 by Aaron Lopresti & Kevin Maguire, WONDER WOMAN #606 by Don Kramer and Alex Garner

Cartoon Network's 'Young Justice' to Begin Regular Rotation on January 7

Opinions were split around these parts after the November 26 debut of Young Justice. Some folks were into the show's premise, which sees the Justice League sending their assembled sidekicks on covert ops, while others could only muster praise for the series' animation. Those initial impressions are about to be put to the test in full, however, as YJ finally begins regular rotation beginning Friday, January 7 at 7 p.m. on Cartoon Network.

Five Comics Creators On Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

So, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell legislation has been repealed in the US, members of the armed forces will no longer be dismissed because someone discovers they are gay. But in all the political punditry, tweet wars and column inches, has anyone thought to find out what the comic creators think? Bleeding Cool did just that! By, um, cut-and-pasting from various other websites.

'Blackest Night' Comes to Mattel's DC Universe Classics Wave 17

The new line will include White Lantern Hal Jordan (with Black Lantern variant), Orange Lantern Lex Luthor, Sinestro Corps Scarecrow (which should go well with the SC Batman), Star Sapphire Corps Wonder Woman, Blue Lantern Flash and Indigo Tribe Atom (with staff). This particular DCUC line's build-a-character will be modern Anti-Monitor, although not in his Sinestro Corps phase.

Odd Superheroine Out: Katana by Noah Berlatsky

So, both narratively and visually, Katana deliberately denied the fanboys the flirty cheesecake they wanted. How did they respond?

Unreleased Character Designs from 'Batman: Arkham Asylum' [Art]

Courtesy of artist Carlos D'Anda, the beautiful illustrations reveal the developers' desire to find a happy marriage between the classic and fairly simple appearances of Batman and his rogues' gallery and the more intricate and perhaps overly detailed 3D designs for which gaming technology finally allows.

SUPERBOY's Jeff Lemire: A New But Steady DC Super-Writer

His run just 2 issues old, Jeff Lemire is already a tenured veteran in DC's Superman office. We talk with the SUPERBOY writer.

VIDEO: The Superman Christmas Carol, “Jor-El, Jor-El”

Written and sung by Michelle Osorio. See, definitely Christmas time when this sort of stuff starts happening. Anyone fancy giving us a rousing rendition of “Good King Wakanda?”

The 5 Most Insane Christmas Comics Of All Time

Despite the fact that a good chunk of my floorspace is taken up with long boxes and bookshelves, I consider myself more of a "reader" than a "collector," except for two things I hoard shamelessly: Christmas comics and Abraham Lincoln appearances. If I see Santa Claus or our 16th President in a comic book, I buy it -- no questions asked.

There's No Wrong Way to Enjoy the Art of Sean Phillips [Gallery]

If you've enjoyed Sean Phillips' soft and gritty style in Incognito or Marvel Zombies, there's no reason at all that you shouldn't have already stumbled across his ever-expanding feed of sketches and watercolored side work.

Best Art Ever (This Week) - 12.18.10

The proliferation of social media is an incredible boon for lovers of comic book art, design and illustration. Sites like Flickr, Tumblr, DeviantArt and other countless blogs and feeds bombard us with a ceaseless supply of artwork by professionals and fans that is variously excellent, clever, funny, innovative, and numerous degrees of awesome.

CA's Holiday Card Series: The Night Before Christmas (By Nedroid)

BLOGS

The Absorbascon
Bystanders: Who They Are and How They Came to Be
Heroclix Map: the Crime Lab

The Aquaman Shrine
Brightest Day #16 - Feb. 2011
Justice League of America #200 - March 1982
Aquaman: Deepwater Disaster
JLA Gallery: Chuck Wojtkiewicz
Retro-Action Aquaman - 2010
Retro-Action Black Manta - 2010
DC First Day Stamps - 2006

Armagideon Time
Nobody Else’s Favorites: Laurel Gand

Being Carter Hall
Live Action Hawkgirl?
Hawkgirl Sketch By Diego Bernard

Blinded Me With Comics
Insert Preview Here: DC Showcase, 80s Style

BOO$TERRIFIC
Booster Gold Is a Character

Comics-and-More
10 Best Superhero Comics of 2010

Comics Make Me Happy!
Custom Green Lantern iPad by Jim Lee

Comics Oughta Be Fun!
Please don't sue us, DC

Corner Symbols of Coolness
Superman

Diana Prince: Wonder Woman
2003 Emerald City Comicon Wonder Woman Commission by Matt Haley

Diversions of the Groovy Kind
Sugar & Spike in "Who Saw What?" and "The Mixed-Up Mix-Up!" by Sheldon Mayer
"Christmas in an Outlaw Town" from onah Hex #34 (December 1979)

Every Day Is Like Wednesday
DC's March previews reviewed

Firestorm Fan
Feuersturm gegen Schwarzer Bison

Gay for Lois Lane
"The Musical Murder of Superman!" from Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #65 (1966)

Girls Gone Geek
Twelve Days of BatWondy!
On the Second Day of Batwondy …
On the Third Day of BatWondy …
On the Fourth Day of BatWondy …
On the Fifth Day of BatWondy …
On the Sixth Day of BatWondy …
On the Seventh Day of BatWondy …
On the Eighth Day of BatWondy …
On the Ninth Day of BatWondy …
On the Tenth Day of BatWondy …

The Idol-Head of Diabolu
2010 Despero versus the Justice League Personal Sketch Card by Don Hillsman II
Despero Head Sketch by Carlos Pacheco

1997 Wizard's JLA Special: Monitor Duty
2010 Justice League & Super-Hero Custom Ceramic Dresser Knobs by 2cute2miss

The Indigo Tribe
The Green Lantern Special #1
Green Lantern: Ganthet’s Tale

Jon's Random Acts of Geekery
The Art of Neal Adams, Vol. 2!
Cool Stuff: Bat-Stuff!
Cool Stuff: More Bat-Stuff!

Justice League Detroit
2010 Zatanna "Passé" Commission by Matt Haley

Kevin Nowlan
"Despair" bust designs

Nothing But Batman
The Girlfriends, Silver Age Edition: Batwoman

Once Upon A Geek
I Miss Discount Comic Boxes

Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine
The Golden Age Blue Beetle in Fox's Big 3 Comics #4 (1941) (Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine)
Blackhawk #55 (1952)

Power of the Atom
2009 Golden Age Atom HeroesCon Sketch by Rod Whigham

Pretty, Fizzy Paradise
Why I Find Damian Wayne Funny:

Reilly2040's Blog
Green Lantern #60
The Return of Bruce Wayne

Silver Age Comics
Supergirl's Skirt
GI Combat #125

Siskoid's Blog of Geekery
Reign of the Supermen #58: Composite Superman/Batman Rocket Ship
Reign of the Supermen #64: Superman, Warrior of Mars

Slay, Monstrobot of the Deep!!
Great Moments In Hal Jordan Beatdowns
Rappin' With Robin
At Least It Wasn't Sharon Stone?

Speed Force
Flash First Impressions: Why I don’t like Joan Garrick

Subject : THE SUICIDE SQUAD (Task Force X)
Suicide Squad fan made costumes!

Supergirl Comic Box Commentary
Review: Supergirl #59
Review: Superman #706
Bullet Review: Titans #30

The Thought Experiment
Daily Batman: Batman and Robin love a gay party

2005 Power Girl Art Book Piece by Brandon Peterson

Click To Enlarge


Even with those pendulous funbags, my eye tends toward those background tones, the boss Atlantean symbol, and Kara's fist barreling towars me!

More Selections from Brandon Peterson's 2005 Artbook!

• Wonder Woman
• Zatanna

The Daily Planet Weekend Review Section 12/24/10

The Buy Pile by Hannibal Tabu

• Thu, December 16th, 2010
• Thu, December 23rd, 2010

AICN Comic Reviews Shipping Week: 12/2/10 & 12/15/10

Comic Vine Reviews For The Week of 12/22/10

IGN Comic Book Reviews for 12/15/10

Reviews by Sally P
It Was a Rather Nice Week: Thursday, December 16, 2010
Reveiws! for Thursday, December 23, 2010

Reviews by Diabolu Frank
Wednesday Is Any Day For All I Care #91

Todd Klein's And Then I Read:

• MADAME XANADU 24 – 28
• ACTION COMICS 894
• THE SPIRIT 4 & 5
• LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 3 & 4

Newsarama's Best Shots Comic Reviews:

• Wonder Woman #605, Batman Incorporated #2, Zatanna #8,
• Green Lantern #60, Birds of Prey #7
• Supergirl #59, Batman and Robin #18
• CHEW, INCORRUPTIBLE, More

Direct Currents: Thursday, December 23, 2010

RIP: Adrienne Roy

Adrienne Roy, a popular colorist of the ’80s and beyond, has passed away, an email from her ex husband Tony Tollin informs us. She was only 57.

"Steel #1" and the State of the Superhero Comic

In anticipation of next month's "Steel" one-shot, ROBOT 6's Sean T. Collins considers the character he calls "one of the most undervalued characters and designs in DC’s pantheon."

DC Comics Solicitations for March, 2011

DC Comics has released solicitation information and images for new comics and products shipping in March 2011, including the opening salvo of "War of the Green Lanterns," the latest from "Brightest Day" and more.

The Man Who Helped Start Both Marvel & DC

For one, Levitz pointed out that the very first comics published by Marvel and DC were edited by the same man (and he thus compared the two’s subsequent symbiotic histories to being like Cain and Abel going out into the world.)

Lopresti, Van Hook & Maguire Explore DC's "Weird Worlds"

Aaron Lopresti, Kevin Van Hook and Kevin Maguire spoke with us about their upcoming miniseries exploring the various facets of the DCU, from the depths of Earth's sewers to the far reaches of space.

Marriage, Kryptonian Style

Something tells me that every blog in the world will be linking to this shortly. A marriage ceremony with two Superfans, Beth Reed and JC Vallacqua, recreating the look of a Kryptonian Wedding, as seen in the Superman comic book.

Anti-Islamists Against Batman

...And in the two-part Batman Inc story written by David Hine, appearing in Detective Comics Annual and next week’s Batman Annual, we met the new French Batman, Night Runner, who happens to be an Algerian Muslim immigrant...

Comics Should Be Good's Top 50 Comic Book Writers

Here is the master list of the writers voted by you by your ballots (over one thousand ballots cast!) as your favorite writers of all-time! Here is the Top 50 Comic Book Artists Master List!

The Year in Stank by Tucker Stone

Not the bad ones--the filler tie-ins, the banal mini-series, the things about vampires in Ancient Rome. No, the comics I'm talking about are the mind-blowingly wrong ones...

ROBERT KIRKMAN & TONY MOORE at VICE

"John Byrne is the top candidate on that list of people you meet who turn out to be a-holes and that ends up being disheartening..."

The Line It Is Drawn #20 – Comic Book Characters/TV Dramas

So every week, I ask a question here. You reply to it on our Twitter page (just write @csbg with your reply) and our SIX blog sketch artists will each pick one of your suggestions and I will post them here every week. So every week you will have a new question and you will see the top six choices from the previous week.

Comic Book Legends Revealed #291

This week, learn how two comic book fans helped foil a million-dollar art forgery scam! Discover the macabre coincidence regarding the cancellation of Buck Jones' comic book feature! Plus, did Asterix and Superman ever team up?

BLOGS

The Absorbascon
Lack of Education: A Rant.

The Aquaman Shrine
"Mera" by Rob Kelly
Free Comic Book Day 2011
Aquaman & Topo by Evan "Doc" Shaner
Indiana State Basketball Program - 2010
Post Cereal Trading Card - 1981
Historias Fantasticas #170 - 1967
Aquaman by Ramona Fradon & Marie Severin, Pt. 2

Armagideon Time
Burn, baby, burn

Being Carter Hall
Read: Brightest Day #13

Comics Make Me Happy!
1989 Mayfair Games DC Heroes Fire Character Card front

Diana Prince: Wonder Woman
2006 Wonder Woman by Dan Panosian

Diversions of the Groovy Kind
"The Mercenary!" from Weird War Tales #61 (December 1977)

Every Day Is Like Wednesday
Some girls just don't appreciate traditional holiday icons. Like Lex Luthor. And that lady from G-Force.
Given that this panel is from a Kevin Smith-scripted comic...

Firestorm Fan
David Finch Brightest Day Cover for January

Green Lantern Butt's FOREVER!
Green Lantern #60
Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #5

The Idol-Head of Despero
1993 Skybox DC Cosmic Teams Card #30
1993 Skybox DC Cosmic Teams Card #124: Despero
1995 Skybox DC Power Chrome Legends '95 #53: Despero

Justice League Detroit
1989 Aquaman "Where Were You?" Commission by Adam Hughes

Kingdom Kane
"The Oddest Man On Earth!" from The Atom No. 2, August-September 1962

Once Upon A Geek
Superhero Underwear: If you buy these, please don’t tell me

Power of the Atom
Justice League of America #177-178 (April-May, 1980)
June 19, 2009 "I Found Ray Palmer" photo featuring VictoriaCosplay

Silver Age Comics
Was There A Plan "C" for Clark?
More Homages

Siskoid's Blog of Geekery
Reign of the Supermen #50: Golden Age Superman
Reign of the Supermen #51: Superman Inc.
Reign of the Supermen #53: Superman as Captain Marvel
Reign of the Supermen #55: The Three Substitute Supermen
Reign of the Supermen #56: Composite-Superman

Subject : THE SUICIDE SQUAD (Task Force X)
Why didn't the Squad ever run into The Swamp Thing?

Supergirl Comic Box Commentary
Well That Was Fast! Nick Spencer Off Supergirl
Shrine: Superwoman Action Figure
Review: R.E.B.E.L.S. #23

Blackhawk #246 (May-June, 1976)

“Chopper, alone among the Blackhawks, never met Boris before… for it was he who took Boris’s place in the Blackhawk line-up… Yet even so he was told many times of the fateful battle against a so-called ‘mad’ scientist…” Boris had been caught in an explosion caused by an electrical overload in Professor Distov’s island lab, and despite Chuck’s protestations, was left for dead by Blackhawk. The force was so devastating, the very island was rendered “an ash-strewn wasteland.” However, Boris managed to survive, with strange new powers and a thirst for revenge, soon to redub himself “Anti-Man!”

As we entered the issue, most of the Blackhawk Squadron was chained by the wrists in a dungeon, captured by a man formerly among of their number. Years prior, the team had a short term “brooding Bolshevik” member named Boris, who in flashbacks we learned had become a close friend to Chuck during their early days. The pair engaged in tough love patter while gunning down Nazis, or as Stan put it, the all-American “Chuck always seemed to be over-compensating for his natural distrust, trying too hard to give Boris the benefit of the doubt.” Stan recalled a time when Boris “accidentally” tripped Chuck near a landmine, for instance, which prompted him to keep an eye on the Soviet.

The team had come to these straits after Hendrickson’s daughter had been dropped into the sea near Blackhawk Island, as a warning against their involvement in the Santa Culpa Rebellion. As her father watched over Elsa’s peacefully sleeping form, he thought, “After all she’s been through, I wouldn’t be surprised if she tossed and turned for weeks! But thanks to her hard childhood, I suppose no situation is going to faze her for long!” While Hendrickson remained with his adult offspring, Andre flew to Switzerland to investigate the disappearance of Olaf at a ski lodge. Initially skeptical, the Frenchman cursed himself a fool when he uncovered the Swede’s trashed hotel room, and his plane hidden in a hanger secret to all but the Blackhawks. “Unlike us, Andre remains unaware that it was Boris who took Olaf captive… and that Olaf had been reunited with the Blackhawks… in a dark and dismal Latin American dungeon.”

As Olaf regained consciousness, he was brought up to speed on the Squad’s capture by Stan. Blackhawk then ordered, “Enough, Stan! If Olaf can’t figure the rest out, he’ll just have to wait!” Blackhawk had managed to stall the vindictive Boris by goading him into plotting a fate worse than death for his former comrades, and that time was precious. “You appear to have regained your strength… Do you think you can break your chains?” Old and rusted, the mooring eventually gave way to Olaf’s muscle. “Yiminy! If this building ban not as old as it ban, I would’ve broken myself, not the chains!”

While Olaf set about freeing his compatriots, Boris sent for Professor Ortega, to hold a private meeting. “You are the only educated man in this backward country! Thus you must explain these strange powers I possess. Today, for example, I again felt the urge to go to Mount Sebastion!” Ortega had done some computing, and determined that location was exactly half a world away from Distov’s Island. It seemed that all those years ago, Distov had been experimenting with anti-matter energy that’s true source was powerful enough to emanate on the other side of the Earth, though it rested in Mt. Sebastion. “For some reason, the energy clung to you in the lab-- protecting you from the explosion-- and transforming you! And now the mountain acts as a recharging battery for your power-- !” Anti-Man was pleased with this explanation, but killed Professor Ortega all the same to keep it a secret.



Back in the dungeon, a plan had come to fruition. Water jugs in the cell were poured out under a locked door, and electrical wires pulled from a light were used to electrocute the guards outside. Olaf knocked down the wooden cell door, and Blackhawk continued barking orders. “Olaf, get back in here and free Stan, before our financial wizard has a coronary! Chuck, you stay here too! Once Stan is free, you three try to rally the government forces! There’s still a chance to defeat the rebels! Chopper, you’re coming with me!” Blackhawk had deduced that they were near a sub-basement of the presidential palace, “A perfect place for that turn-coat… to meet secretly with Anti-Man!” Boris had been leading the rebellion from the safety of the government’s very heart, but as the worm turned, el presidente cleaned out his office and escaped.

Government forces waged conflict above ground, but their resolve was wavering in the absence of leadership. The Great White Hope was provided to them at the arrival of Olaf, Stan and Chuck to the scene, guns blazing. “Fighting like the well-oiled team they are-- the three Blackhawks drive forward-- breaking the rebel line!”

Anti-Man heard the fighting, and reckoned that since his rebels should have taken the palace with ease, something must have gone seriously wrong. Boris entered a hidden passageway under the palace with the intention of taking the government forces from behind. However, Blackhawk barred his path. “I don’t know how you got free, but you should have run like the coward you are-- for now you will surely die!!” Anti-Man began firing energy blasts, mostly at the also present Chopper, who evaded them with his expert tumbling and kung fu skills. “Stay still, you little fool! I hunt only Blackhawks-- not a non-entity like you!”

“One problem, friend! I am a Blackhawk-- even if you aren’t-- traitor!! Leader-man-- he’s all yours!” Blackhawk began pounding Anti-Man, having used Chopper’s distraction to even the odds with Boris by keeping him to dazed to use his powers. After knocking Boris out, Anti-Man was bound up. However, the former Blackhawk wasn’t willing to go in quietly, and instead caused the anti-matter in Mt. Sebastion to overload explosively. “Anti-Man almost finished us all with that explosive suicide!” The only thing saving them was the fact that Boris had already drained so much power from the mountain’s load.

After the explosion, the rebel forces backed down. “With their corrupt president gone, they’ll be free to have a new election… and maybe, even a worthwhile government! In any event, our job here is finished! The rest is up to the people of Santa Culpa! Come on, Blackhawks, it’s time for us to fly!” As their sleek jets streaked away, Chuck thought, “No matter what Boris became, he was still once my friend! And that’s something you can never forget… NEVER!”

"Death's Deadly Pawn" by Steve Skeates, Ric Estrada & George Evans. Not a great story, but a cute way to resolve the fate of an early Blackhawk of the 1940s. However, for the record, Chopper (by the name Chop-Chop) made his first appearance in Military Comics #3, when Boris was still a part of the Blackhawk Squadron. If anyone, Chuck replaced Boris (and Zeg) as a permanent member once the roster solidified.

Who's Dat: Abel Carmody

Real Name: Abel Carmody
Occupation: Industrialist, former U.S. Calvary soldier
Legal Status: United States citizen with no criminal record.
Place of Birth: U.S.A.
Marital Status: Married
Known Relatives: Unnamed wife, Kishana Lewis (descendant)
Base of Operations: Carmody’s Folly, Black Spirit Lake, the Badlands
Group Affiliation: None, formerly 6th Calvary “C” Troop
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Intelligence: 19th century medium.
Strength Level: Normal human strength.
Superhuman Powers: None
First Appearance & Origin: JLA: Scary Monsters #1 (May, 2003)

History:
In 1877, Abel Carmody was a “Buffalo Soldier” serving under Sergeant-Major Lincoln Freeman in the 6th Calvary “C” Troop. Disgusted by the orders of Colonel Daniel Rutledge to massacre a peaceful encampment of Plains Indians, Carmody and Freeman hid an elderly medicine man and his granddaughter, “same as my Pappy did runaways in slavery time.” The old man informed the black soldiers that their commander and fellow white soldiers who rode into a nearby valley to murder “surviving hostiles” were already dead. “There will be cold, and there will be snow… and horror will come for those who ride with him, to crack their bones and feast on the marrow of their souls. And then it will come for us! You must beat it back. You must keep the horror within the confines of this valley… or the world will end.”

Shortly thereafter, in the middle of summer, the snow fell, and the monsters came. “We fired our guns ‘til the barrels blazed too hot to hold. We never saw what wuz killin’ us. The snow wuz too heavy. They moved too fast. The only thing we learned for sure… wuz that iron made them hurt.” With only two men from the company left alive after the initial assault and one left standing, the medicine man explained further, “The portal that admits the horror to our world opens only for a time. When it closes, it must return to its own place. But each time, the door opens wider, and for longer. The horror means to claim our world for its own. It must be stopped.” The shaman was too old to survive a fight of the magnitude necessary to drive out the demons, and the Calvary had killed his son and intended successor. His granddaughter had the “blood for such a battle, but not the knowledge.” Sending Carmody and his granddaughter out of the mountains, the shaman explained, “I cannot destroy the dark trail, only block it for a time. The power I summon must be renewed, else the seals will be broken someday, forever! That, child, must be your task.” Freeman and the shaman stayed to face the horror, and perished in an explosion of flames.

Abel Carmody went on to become one of the great industrialists of the 19th century, and has been claimed to be the only African-American to whom that honor can be applied. “Born a slave, he died a millionaire… From the moment he made his fortune, he started building "Carmody’s Folly," a massive fortress completed around the times of Carmody and his wife's deaths.

Created by: Chris Claremont & Josh Hood

1984 Zatanna Postcard by George Pérez

I probably saw Zatanna for the first time just like this, drawn by George Pérez in the costume he designed for a Justice League of America cover or somesuch. I didn't know then how hard DC was trying to turn her into their own Scarlet Witch at the time, but I do know it never took. I bought her two part guest appearance in early issues of Blue Devil, and like most readers before and since, was more impressed by her girl-next-door approachable quality than the Marvel character's traumatized drama queen style. Unfortunately, DC's never stopped trying to saddle poor Zee with neurosis. They killed off her father before her eyes, subjected her to a magical quasi-rape, sent her off for a time with her assailant, massively reduced her powers, dumped her at Vertigo... it just never seemed to stop.

As a result, I try to follow Zee's appearances, but not compulsively, attempting to pick the gems from the junk. I don't care near as much about what she can do as how she handles what comes, but it would be nice if someone could figure out the right balance for once. Folks tell me good things about Paul Dini's handling in her new solo series, and I'm pleased to see DC is finally responding to Zee surprisingly large fan base. With Scarlet Witch irreparably damaged, there's a place for too sorceress in comics Zatanna could fill. Further, she has the pedigree of a legacy character, but is actually much more famous than her father. Zatanna is a contender for independent icon status, and I'd love to see her go all the way.

Direct Currents: Sunday, December 19, 2010

Writer Hester Brings Action Following JMS on WONDER WOMAN

Vaneta Rogers talks with writer Phil Hester about following J. Michael Straczynski on DC's WONDER WOMAN.

KEITH GIFFEN on the OUTSIDERS Looking In

Keith Giffen talks about his new regular penciling work on DC's THE OUTSIDER and juggling his other work.

Talking Shazam with Mark Waid

"About a year ago, I had an e-mail interview with Mark Waid over Captain Marvel (Shazam) as part of some research I was doing for a possible book about the character. Though my book isn’t off the table, I’ve pushed it to the back burner in favor of other work. Here’s the Waid interview if you’re interested..."

Spencer's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Merges a Storm of Old & New

The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents are back in full swing, and writer Nick Spencer tells you why you should join the organization.

Fan Campaign for a LOIS LANE Series Gains Industry Notice

Have you seen #LoisLaneSeries in your twitter feed the last couple of days? Well, DC Comics has, and we look at whether they might do something about it.

'Superman Lives' Costume Creation Video is Equally Horrifying and Illuminating

We've been pretty hard on Tim Burton's failed early '90s Superman revamp, Superman Lives, but it's only because it seems to be the stupefying gift that keeps on giving...

Why Are There So Few Black Supervillains?

You don't have to be a comic book fan to know that exceedingly few of the medium's villains are black. All it takes is walking past a comic book store to figure it out.

25 Comics Cancelled Too Soon

In the old days, even the dumbest comics got a chance to thrive - hell, Dazzler lasted thirty-eight issues! Unfortunately, in the post-everything America, stuff gets cancelled right and left. Here's 25 comics that should have lived longer.

Aquaman Bible Stories [COMIC]

In the story of Noah's Ark, I like to picture it from the animals' point of view. Not so much in how they ate or how they all fit on one boat, but how they managed to rally their sex drives while they watched the rest of their kind drown. The fact that we have so many species today proves that most animals have an insane genocide fetish. And something about that seems like it's a job for Aquaman. Man Comics presents: Aquaman Bible Stories.

Tea Party Politicians Form the 'Tea Titans' in 'MAD Magazine' [Exclusive]

Longtime readers of America's most enduring humor magazine, MAD, are no doubt waiting with baited breath for the 2010 edition of the "MAD 20" - the magazine's annual list of the dumbest people, events and other items of interest from throughout the year. That issue finally goes on sale December 22, and includes a very cool and comics-centric feature that we're very pleased to be the first to show you: the Tea Titans.

Travel Posters for Your Favorite Superhero Cities [Art]

I'm a big fan of vintage travel posters. Some lovely prints of classic pieces depicting Africa and the Orient Express hang on my walls, but they might have to give way to a series of elegant travel posters based on some of genre fiction's most famous locales. Created by Justin Van Genderen, the collection includes minimalist yet somehow lavish and iconic representations of Batman's hometown of Gotham City, Superman's beloved Metropolis, two versions of Marvel's New York featuring the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man, and, most impressively, a lovely look at Neo-Tokyo from Akira...

Twitpic: Snowfall Superman

Our world famous #Superman Statue standing strong at the first sign of winter.

Comic Book Legends Revealed #290

In one of our oddest legends yet, learn the amazing Silver Age origins of a Devo song! Who was responsible for the Blok's death in the Legion of Super-Heroes? All this and Frank Frazetta's Thun'da! What more can you want?

BLOGS

The Absorbascon
Aquaman Rules

Again With the Comics
Too Much Information About Jimmy Olsen's Helmet!

The Aquaman Shrine
75 Years of DC Comics - 2010
Justice League Unlimited: "Wake The Dead"
Saturday Morning Line-Up - 10/20/67
JLA: Secret Origins - 2002
JLX #1 - April 1996
Brave and the Bold: "Darkseid Descending!"
Aquaman by Ramona Fradon & Marie Severin

Armagideon Time
A trickle down process

Being Carter Hall
Hawkman Postcard
The Brave & The Bold Postcard

The Comic Treadmill
Ultraviolent? That's the defining characteristic of the next DC event?

Diana Prince: Wonder Woman
2010 Wonder Woman XXX: A Hardcore Parody Trailer

Diversions of the Groovy Kind
"H Is for Holocaust!" from Adventure Comics #442 (August 1975)

Every Day Is Like Wednesday
Action Comics Weekly #607: The one where Hal Jordan solves the conflict in the Middle East
Please enjoy this image of Hal Jordan getting slapped:

Firestorm Fan
Firestorm and Killer Frost on Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Girls Gone Geek
Sin vs. Damian: Who Would Win?

Green Lantern Butt's FOREVER!
Things That I would Like to Have Happen.

The Idol-Head of Diabolu
2010 The Martian Manhunter Archives Volume 8 Introduction by Martin Lowell & Tom Hartley
Superman Annual #3 (1991)
2010 "Minimalist JLA" by Chris Samnee

Jon's Random Acts of Geekery
Cool Stuff BONUS! 1966 "Black" Batman Cards, Part 1!
Cool Stuff BONUS! 1966 "Black" Batman Cards, Part 2!
Cool Stuff: Bar-Bar-Bar, Bar-Bar-Barella and Batman Stuff!

Justice League Detroit
2010 "Minimalist Batman" by Declan Shalvey

Kevin Nowlan
Superman Red Son commission

Once Upon A Geek
New Captain Marvel T-Shirt – SHAZAM!

Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine
Doll Man #27, 1950

Reilly2040's Blog
Green Lantern #59
Green Lantern Corps #54

Rob Kelly Illustration
Monster PSA: Yvonne Craig

Silver Age Comics
1957: Batman Predicts the Quiz Show Scandal

Siskoid's Blog of Geekery
Reign of the Supermen #46: Kaleb
Amazons Strike Back
Reign of the Supermen #48: Bearded Superman

Slay, Monstrobot of the Deep!!
Comics I Wish I Had--Lois Lane #38
SENATOR BATMAN!!!

Subject : THE SUICIDE SQUAD (Task Force X)
Amanda Waller for President - "change we can believe in"

Supergirl Comic Box Commentary
DC Dynamics Supergirl Statue
Back Issue Box: Supergirl #51 - Supergirl And Riot Pt 1
Back Issue Box: Supergirl #52 - Supergirl And Riot Part 2

The Thought Experiment
Daily Batman: The name game
69 Days of Wonder Woman, Day 38: Who the world needs me to be
Daily Batman: the little Robin has a holiday package to share