Category Archives: Comics
I Called the Big Bad of Batman Eternal!
I did it! I called it! Ha! Score one for the Henchman! I got something right for once!
Normally I’d wait until my Hench-Sized Reviews on Saturday to talk about the latest issue of Batman Eternal, but I just had to stake my claim here and now to totally calling the super big evil bad guy of the year-long series! I never get this sort of thing right! My theories about Lost were way off! But this one I got! I didn’t really have any clues, I didn’t really know it was coming. I just put my thinking cap on and gave it my best guess!
First of all, it’s not Cluemaster, as was alluded to in the final page of Batman Eternal #50.
He spent money on those glasses!
The new issue this week – Batman Eternal #51 – is all about Cluemaster taunting a defeated and bloodied Batman. Cluemaster monologues like a total pro, going on such a rant that it legitimizes Syndrome’s entire ‘monologuing’ gag from The Incredibles in the first place. The guy just won’t shut up, so proud to finally tell Batman (and the readers) all about his ‘clever’ plan to be evil and awesome. I’ll admit that the issue, written by James Tynion IV, is alright. It’s better than Batman Eternal has been for most of its run. But there is a whole heck of a lot of monologuing.
Then, at the very end of Batman Eternal #51, we’re introduced to the real villain of the series…
Join me after the jump to find out who! SPOILERS, obviously.
The 6 Best Comic Book Attorneys
I’m in the mood for some courtroom drama! As I mentioned earlier this week, I’m deep in the heart of an intense murder trial, covering it as part of my day job as a mild-mannered newspaper reporter. The last time I had a trial and a List of Six collide, I wrote about 6 Superheroes Put on Trial. This time, I’ve decided to take a look at superhero attorneys!
Objection!
Unless you’re Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark, every superhero needs a day job. Both Clark Kent and myself are mild-mannered reporters. Spider-Man is a freelance photographer. D-Man is a hobo. The list goes on and on. Several comic book heroes (and even some villains) are lawyers! They fight for justice in the courtroom during the day, then fight for justice on the streets at night. Sounds like a pretty solid comic book premise to me.
Join me after the jump for the six best comic book lawyers!
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 3/21/15
It was Ladies Week in comics this week, with at least five of my favorite female-friendly comics hitting the stands! I have been a huge proponent of the push for more female representation in comics, and I’ve pretty much loved everything I’ve read so far. Heck, I’m even making my own comic starring two female protagonists. So I couldn’t be more excited for a week that includes new issues of Princess Leia, Lumberjanes, Batgirl, Silk and the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl!
But only one of those issues can win Comic Book of the Week, and that honor goes to the latest issue of Batgirl, which features a pretty stellar climax to their first story arc.
Boom-Punching 101
Not that Silk and Squirrel Girl weren’t awesome too! As was the second issue of Princess Leia, which I reviewed over at Word of the Nerd this week, so check that out too!
Sadly, I didn’t get around to the Lumberjanes review. That comic is mid-story arc, so I’m waiting for a good jumping on point to get back into regular reviews. And I can’t wait for that to happen!
Comic Reviews: Batgirl #40, Batman Eternal #50, Divinity #2, Silk #2 and Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #3.
Review: Teen Titans #8
It’s a classic warning to be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it. I am afraid that has befallen me with Teen Titans #8. No, Red Robin still doesn’t change out of his costume, but the Teen Titans are actually the stars of the book for once. And they’re engaged in some pretty cool extracurricular activities. Writer Will Pfeifer has set the Teen Titans up to be minor NYC celebrities, and he actually has some fun with this concept. The problem is in the execution. I don’t really know what it is, but there’s just something off about Pfeifer’s attempts to have some fun in this issue. Maybe my bias had completely taken over my sense of good and bad, but it just doesn’t feel like he thought this issue through very well.
Teen Titans #8
Still, I applaud the effort, and I especially like what he does with Red Robin in this issue. So general kudos.
Comic Rating: 5/10 – Alright.
In Teen Titans #8, Pfeifer splits the Titans up to engage in some wacky high jinks. Beast Boy hosts Saturday Night Live (or Comedy Tonight, as it’s called). Raven hangs out with her new rock band friends. Wonder Girl has a weird encounter with a fan. And Red Robin focuses on crime solving, like he’s supposed to do. Manchester Black is still around, still Pfeifer’s pet characters, but the Teen Titans actually get the spotlight for once. I just don’t think Pfeifer put all that much thought into each of these scenarios. It’s clear what he wants to accomplish, he wants the Titans to go viral on social media, but he kind of forces it.
At least he’s trying something different. I rather love the idea of the Teen Titans becoming mini-celebrities and being embraced by youth culture. These characters are perfect for an exploration of social media and its impact on not only our world, but the world of superheroes. I hope Pfeifer is reading the new Batgirl, because that uses social media in ways I wish I fully understood (but I’m about half a generation removed from a full understanding). I can see what Pfeifer is trying to do, and I kind of like what he’s trying to do, but I just don’t think he sticks the landings very well. There’s some square peg/round hole stuff going on here.
Maybe I’m just nitpicking. This is what I wished for, after all. Join me after the jump to see what I mean.
We Need Your Help with Gamer Girl & Vixen!
I can’t express you how exciting it has been to make Gamer Girl & Vixen and share it with all of you. This has been one of the coolest thing I’ve ever done, and we’re barely getting started! Right now though, I need your help with a little market research so we can better understand exactly what we’re getting into here.
I’m going to need some volunteers to answer a couple questions. Who’s in?
You’re our only hopes!
Our Kickstarter is drawing ever closer this spring, but all of the research in the world isn’t going to prepare us to fully understand how to succeed. There is no perfect guide on how to run a successful Kickstarter. So I’m hoping to get your help to knock around some ideas. You henchies will hopefully be a big part of our audience, so I thought I’d turn to see you find out what you would be interested in getting from Gamer Girl & Vixen. Your input can help drive this book.
Anybody who would like to help me, please send an e-mail to GamerGirlandVixen@gmail.com, and we can get to work! I just have a few questions, and hopefully we can get a discussion going. We would really appreciate your help.
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