Is There Nothing Sacred or Loeb/Liefeld's Onslaught Reborn

So I was doing my my everyday or so check of Newsarama and I came across this. Why would anyone in their right mind want to take a revist to the Reborn Universe? Really. I mean really really. Does anyone remember the Reborn Universe? With the old dude who kept Captain America's shield in his basement? Thor frozen in a block of ice? Of all the bullshit, sales hiking crap to hit the stands in 2006 this is my contender for the worst. Now they are going to tie it into the Marvel U. and have it affected by House of M? Marvel, you keep this up and you are going to lose me as a consumer.

On a more serious, less complaining note I am starting to wonder how many universes does Marvel need. They thirst for new universes to create like a man who has just walked out of the desert. We have the "616", the Ultimate, The Supreme Power, and now the "Reborn" Universe, does anyone else feel something bad coming out of this? Where DC is trying to streamline and really sort out it's history and reality (with the exception of the two All Star Titles that I'm not a big fan of), Marvel is doing the exact opposite. They're just shoving familiar characters into more and more universes, building whole realities that then spawn different realities. It's getting a bit much and is starting to feel like it's simply a way to glut the market with comics sporting the Marvel logo. Find a universe and stick with it.

I don't need to spend my time trying to remember if what happened to which Spider-man, know what I mean? Ultimate Spider-man is taking on Ultimate Deadpool and dating Kitty Pride, while 616 Spider-man has a new costume is going to get embroiled in Civil War while Reborn Spider-man is about to take on Reborn Onslaught and hey don't forget Spider-man 2099 is running around with the Exiles. See my point? Find one, maybe two universese, and write good stories that take place in them. You guys have been doing it for decades why have you lost suddenly lost the ability to do so in the past three or four years? Because if this keeps up I can dozens of different Spider-mans all in different realities all with different backgrounds building towards...Crisis of Inifinite Spider-mans. Probably not. Instead we'll get bad storytelling with no sense of continuity or history.

In conclusion all I have to say is...

Check out all the tiny noses

My pick for week 3/22

So I thought since tomorrow new comics come out I would come in under the wire and give my feeling on the best comic out there this past week. I'm finding it hard to really give a "best comic of the week award" because I really just love reading comics to the extent that in some way each comic is my favorite. But you guys don't want to read that, you want me to pick a best, a favorite. So here it is...Batman #651.

I am loving seeing Batman make the Batbook circuit and not being a jerk. His talk with the framed Tim Drake in "Robin", his midnight teddy bear drop off in "Catwoman". Here is the Bruce Wayne we know and love. Sure he is dark and obsessed and really in some need of serious therapy (anyone who thinks it's better to enter a woman's apartment to give a newborn a present in costume rather than in person has issues) but he is no longer the OMAC making asshole that I've been dealing with for years now. He cares about his friends and allies, he puts their well being ahead of his own and for the longest time we haven't been seeing this. But now he's back and Batman #651 really hits that home. So let's take a look.

Writing: James Robinson is a fantastic writer who has a sense of history and character. Anyone who has read his Elseworld's "Golden Age" or his amazing run on "Starman"knows this. Robinson turned Jack Knight into one of my favorite characters of all times. He has a sense of a hero's place in this world that accepts change but also isn't above going back to its roots. We have some great bring backs; Gordon back as Comissioner, Bullock back on the force, Robin back in Gotham, great stuff but Robibson has written in a definite feel of change, of these characters have been through hell but are now stronger than ever for it.

The opening pages of #651 with the bat signal and the cheering crowds and getting into all these Gothamite's heads, I was done. I just sat there and was all, "Now this is what a comic should be! This is what Batman should be!" Then he and Robin do this.



They shoot the gun! Such a non-chalant move, such a little thing but it conveys so much, there is such humanity behind it. It lets us know that the Dynamic Duo are back fighting crime because they have the means and when you have the means you do it. I'm not sure I was that big a fan of adding in a supplicant Poison Ivy but every great story has a speed bump. Look at all three Starwars prequels.

Art: I'm a big fan of more stylized art. Amanda Conner, Matt Wagner, even Keith Giffen doing "Trencher". I like a little simplicity in my faces, not every crease and wrinkle and I think Kramer and Champagne do a great job conveying emotion while not getting into every nose hair. The shadows are deep and perfect for a Batbook, the action flows smoothly, the page layout is great, and characters shoot the gun. I'm just going to say it one more time, Batman shoots the gun to Robin who shoots it back. Sorry. Good art is supposed to accentuate the story being told and I think it does.

Covers: O.k. so I hate to say it I have never been one to really pay attention to a cover. Unless it's done by Alex Ross I really don't notice. I'm even embarassed to say that I had never even heard of Simone Bianchi. Nevertheless these covers are fantastic. The detail in the drawings (my feeling on cover details are opposite of my feeling on interior art), the shading and who doesn't love covers that fit together to form bigger pictures? I know I do.

So all in all Batman #651 is my thumbs up for the week

Suiting up with Spider-man Pt. 2

So this past week Amazing Spider-man #530 hit the shelves and with it comes Iron Spider suit 2.0. Take a look at some of its new features.


Peter Parker you are moving up in the world. As I said in the debut of the suit I had no problem with suit changes as a whole. I had a problem because it robs Spidey comics of a level of Spidey. How many times has Peter Parker has flipped out because someone stole his civilian clothes that he left in an alley? Dozens of times perhaps. Well that gag you love so much shall be never more. In fact now he never again has to take off his suit. He can just walk around in it, letting it get all smelly and foul. Gross.

This could also lead to weird mishaps, MJ might go in for a kiss thinking that Peter is costume free and instead of getting lips she gets a mouth full of Iron Spider Nano-Fiber. Let me tell you that stuff tastes like ass.

Also for this change of pace Peter could theoretically just change mid battle. "You don't know which costume I'm wearing do you, sucker? Am I wearing the classic costume? Or the black costume? Or Scarlet Spider? Or nothing at all?" It's like he is Spider-Barbie with a full wardrobe without the need of a wardrobe.

Then we get to the "Waldoes".


First of all why are they called Waldoes. Are they like Where's Waldo and they can hide in a crowd? This also bears to ask the question where do they go when they aren't all busting out Waldo style? Those are some long ass arms to just have sitting around in some pouch or pocket. So far I am unimpressed by them because they seem only to be able to grab things far away and look around corners. Well so can this and this . Yes, it's true you can have the new powers of Spider-man using everyday novelty items and a child's toy. That Stark tech is second to none

In conclusion, all I have to save is give Wolverine back his sound effects. "Snik!" indeed