Who's who in the Comics Bulletin Universe - Update 2008
Who is... Michael A. Diaz?
Michael Diaz lives in Michigan, but don't hold that against him.
There he works as a Sys. Admin. while fostering dreams of one day becoming a "real" writer.
Most importantly, Michael is seriously addicted to comics, something that his wonderful wife tolerates with the patience of a saint.
He also writes this weekly column that people occasionally read.
"[O]ne of the most positive
and entertaining columns going."
- Gail Simone (Birds of Prey, Villains United)
WLG #137: More Christmas Shopping To Do!
Hello and Happy Holidays!
It’s been a busy and stressful week for me already, as I am sure as it has been for you. Though I started my shopping much earlier this year (in fact, earlier than I ever have in my life) I still find myself mere days before Christmas and still with plenty of shopping to do. How does this happen? OK, I procrastinate, so yeah, I see how it happens, but you’d think that at some point in time I would finally wise up and actually get things done ahead of time.
But not this year, which really, is about the same as every other year that I’ve bought gifts. Maybe I’ll be prepared next year.
Probably not.
BIRDS OF PREY #89 $2.50 (Gail Simone / Joe Bennett)With the Calculator being the antithesis of Oracle what is transpiring between these two is like a very real and lethal chess match between two expert players. Both seem to be getting closer and closer to their objective with perhaps the Calculator the one that will be first announcing “check!”
On a slightly personal note I want to say that when Benes left this book I was worried that the new artist wasn’t going to gel quite as well with Simone and the title. My worries were completely unfounded. Bennett’s work here is fantastic and he’s jumped right into the book and added his own style and flare to the book. He’s an excellent addition to the creative team.
Seriously people, this is one of the best team books out there right now. No, scratch that, it’s one of the best books PERIOD out there.
GREEN LANTERN CORPS: RECHARGE #3 $2.99 (Dave Gibbons / Patrick Gleason)It’s been a little while since the last issue of this mini-series, but that hasn’t really diminished my desire to see what happens next. When last we last left the book two new GLs were sucked into a black hole. What they found, and that they survived, is quite the puzzler. Also, the fact that the two come from disparate factions lends to some interesting tension.
Listen, I’m not going to repeat myself again, so I’m just going to say that any book that brings back my beloved Green Lantern Corps is going to have my rapt attention.
INFINITE CRISIS #3 $3.99 (Geoff Johns / Phil Jimenez)I realize that it’s early yet and that there are still four more issues to go after this one, but already I’m of the mind that DC knows how to put together a bit crossover event.
Not that DC is perfect. They’ve had their mistakes in the past as well. For every Crisis... event there are also events like “Bloodlines”, “Legends”, “Armageddon 2000,” and “Zero Hour.” I mean, come on, does anyone fully understand the concept behind “hyper-time?” Maybe, but they’d probably have a heck of a time explaining it to others. Besides, continuity can be enough of a hurdle as it is, so why add several more layers of complexity.
But I digress...
This is supposed to be a POSITIVE column, and for the most part it is, but it’s hard for me to say how much I like Infinite Crisis without mentioning the fact that this is how a massive, company-wide crossover SHOULD be done. As I read this book I can see how DC has been building up to this moment. I’m not talking months of preparation, but years.
Every major crossover is heralded as something epic, but rarely is that really the case. Infinite Crisis is the real deal.
DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES #5 $2.99 (Andrew Dabb / Steve Kurth)This is just the sixth-grader in me geeking out and reliving the first time I experienced the world of Krynn.
Joy!
GIRLS #8 $2.99 (Joshua Luna / Jonathan Luna)If I could properly explain this book to you and not make it sound like I’ve been eating handfuls of psychotropic drugs I might be able to convey to you why you should read this book. All in all I’d probably just mess it up, but here’s the rundown (spoiler warning and all that): this guy, that appears to be hung up on this girl, makes a complete fool of himself at the local small-town bar. On the ride home he encounters a beautiful, naked woman on the side of the road. Without saying much they go back to his place where he tries to help her, but instead she attacks him in the nicest possible way. However, something fishy is up as soon after he finds this girl in his bathroom surrounded by several people-sized eggs that she has lain. Soon these eggs hatch and full-grown woman that look just like the friendly stranger that was picked up the night before begin a rampage. At first it seems that these “women” are attacking everyone, but in reality they’re targeting the women. People scatter, and in the chaos a man and his son are singled out as they were the ones that were chasing the original girl. Upon inspection of a nearby field a large vessel (perhaps a spaceship) resembling a giant sperm is discovered, though once it begins lashing its tale closer inspection is prevented. People begin to panic, loading into a caravan heading out of town, which is stopped when one of the vehicles seems to collide with absolutely nothing. A giant force field has surrounding the small town, preventing anyone from leaving. The newly hatched “girls” from earlier return and again begin attacking the townswomen. There are fights and explosions throughout all of these and still no clear answer as to why these “girls” are attacking women nor where they came from or what their purpose is. From there the mystery just continues to deepen.
Like I said, I’m probably not doing this series justice at all but if you actually take the time to read it there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll get sucked into the story. I know I have and every new issue is just another piece of a much bigger puzzle.
I love it.
PUNISHER VS BULLSEYE #2 (OF 5) $2.99 (Daniel Way / Steve Dillon)YES!
I know that only one issue has come out so far but I am really enjoying this book. Point of fact is that this creative team impresses me. I don’t know all that much about Daniel Way, other than the hilarious interview he gave some time ago about the never-released Antman mini-series, but with this book and Supreme Power: Nighthawk he’s showing himself to be a very good writer. In fact, while reading the first issue of this mini-series I had to double check the credits as it read very much like the Ennis/Dillon issues of The Punisher, and I mean that as a compliment.
And of course Dillon’s art is absolutely perfect for the Punisher, so I couldn’t be happier.
RUNAWAYS #11 $2.99 (Brian K. Vaughan / Adrian Alphona)What else can I say about this book that will properly convey my utter geek love without coming across as some serious butt kissing? As I am sure you know by now I absolutely adore this book and run to my local shop salivating with every issue.
So what’s this current arc about? Well, it seems that Cloak (from Cloak & Dagger fame) has been framed for assaulting his partner (uh, Dagger). Having nowhere else to turn for help he calls upon the disjointed group of teen “heroes” known as “The Runaways” and asks if they can help to exonerate him.
The point isn’t whether or not Cloak is guilty as I think it is pretty obvious that he isn’t. Rather, with this title the fun is going to come from how this group goes about trying to prove that he is innocent, including the missteps along the way.
And, as usual, I expect the patented Vaughan twist somewhere along the line.
SUPREME POWER: HYPERION #3 (OF 5) (MR) $2.99 (J. Michael Straczynski / Dan Jurgens)Hyperion got his butt handed to him in the last issue and now he’s going to be coming back for his, that’s for sure. The only problem is that he has to get back to his own reality first.
Small problem that one is.
Good stuff!
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK #1 (OF 6) $2.99 (Damon Lindelof / Leinil Francis Yu)How can I not be excited about this book when Marvel released that picture of the Hulk literally ripping our favorite Canuck in half?
Sure, they’ve shown Wolverine take on the Hulk before in the “616” universe but nothing as graphic as has been hinted at for this book.
I’m slapping my $3.00 on the table and expecting one heck of a ride.
X-MEN: DEADLY GENESIS #2 (OF 6) $3.50 (Ed Brubaker / Trevor Hairsine)Ok, I’m an X-geek. I think that this much is obvious. Basically, if Marvel slaps an “X” on one of their titles I’ll probably pick it up. In fact, I think that the only X-title I don’t pick up is Cable & Deadpool, but everything else? Yeah, I think I pick them all up.
That means when there’s an X-Men mini-series I have to pick it up as well. It’s an affliction, an obsession.
So it’s a good thing that one heck of a creative team is working on this book, a title that promises to reveal some hidden secret from the X-Men’s past. What is it? Well, I have no idea, that’s why I’m reading the book, but if I had to guess I would say that it has something to do with the third Summers brother.
Everyone knows that Cyclops and Havok are brothers, but over the years there have been allusions to a third brother. Some have even said that this third brother is someone that has already been encountered. It seemed for a while there in the 90’s that Marvel was gearing up to reveal who that third brother was/is, but that subplot kind of lost steam and I haven’t heard much about that third brother in a while.
Mind you, the above is a complete and total guess on my part. I don’t have ANY kind of inside information so please, just take it for what it is; a random shot in the dark.
If I’m wrong I’m wrong and there’s no harm done, but if I’m right I am so going to throw it into everyone’s face.
At least I’m honest.
If so, please stop by the Looking Good message boards (see link below) and let me know what you think
Until then,
Peace!
-Diaz
Were Diaz's picks on the mark?
Have your say on What Looks Good at the Looking Good message board.