Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is

For a blog that prides itself on providing the world with ridiculously unnecessary comic book reviews, I've actually done very little "reviewing" in the last few posts. This was a big reason why I had to take a little break from HK. I needed time away to brush up on some new material and ruminate a little. The other reason is that I need to focus more on work. I wish so much that I could just read comics all day, and sometimes, to my detriment, that's all I do. But after spending some time catching up on stuff, I realized that right now this blog is the only thing I look forward to when I come home at night. So here's to finding a balance between business and pleasure, because apparently I've got nothing better to do on a Friday night.

Goodbye Money, Hello Comics


I decided to go on a spending spree on eBay. I've been watching some "buy-it-now" items for months (Torgo's Comics has some sweet prices for trades), and one day I just couldn't take it anymore, and I dropped a relatively large amount of money. But here's what I got:

Issues:


-Blackest Night 4
- Blackest Night: Superman 3
- Green Lantern 47
- Doom Patrol 2 and 3
-Azrael 1
- Batman 692
- Batgirl 3
- Superman: Secret Origin 1 and 2
- World's Finest 1


Trades:
-Fantastic Four: World's Greatest by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch
-Superman: Last Son by Geoff Johns, Richard Donner, and Adam Kubert
-Greeen Lantern: Sinestro Corps Volume 2
-Green Lantern : Revenge of the Green Lanterns
-Green Lantern Corps: Sins of the Star Sapphire

So yeah, I finally got to cross some stuff off my wish list. A majority of the stuff I bought was just okay. If you'll indulge me a bit as I give some generic "assume you've read it and know what I'm talking about" opinions:

World's "Okayest"

World's Finest #1 is the comic book equivalent of a Summer Blockbuster. Well let me think about that, because that analogy might be implying that some cool action scenes take place. It's more like the comic book equivalent of "The Flinstones meet the Jetsons." I mean that in a good way. Because when it comes to team up books like this it doesn't matter that the premise for the characters meeting is ultra flimsy and illogical, you just want to see the characters together. In this issue, Christopher Kent, a.k.a. Nightwing, goes and finds Tim Wayne, a.k.a. Red Robin, because Nightwing needs help rescuing his girlfriend. Nightwing's girlfriend, Flamebird, who is a superpowered Kryptonian, was kidnapped by the Penguin to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. I think I wrote this comic when I was 12, but anyway....




I liked this issue for what it was. Totally mindless superheroics. It's nice to see some interaction between the Superman and Batman families now that the dust is settling from the Batman Reborn relaunch. I'm looking forward to next issue's team up of Damian and the Guardian mostly because there's really no reason for the two to ever be together. I'm just wondering what possible factor could bring these two characters within each other's general vicinity. If the villain in the next issue got his powers from a vat of chemicals I might have to rethink buying any more issues.


Speaking of the Batman family, Batgirl #3 was actually really good. Again, it didn't blow my mind, but it was the definition of solid storytelling. Stephanie kept fighting against all odds, Barbara Gordon finally decided to act like a hero (although I did like bitter Babs for awhile), and Batgirl got her new costume. Despite the fact that the first story arc continues next month, you could read the first 3 issues of this series and pretty much be filled in on the hows and whys of the character. The Red Robin title could take a few hints from this book, and learn how to tell a good story while getting to the point.

The Dead are Rising, and No one Cares!

Blackest Night: Superman #3 was good, but ultimately pointless. It's cool to see Supes, Krypto, Ma Kent, and Superboy team up on different fronts, but in the scheme of Blackest Night, I don't know how integral this storyline will be. But I knew that going in, and I really enjoyed James Robinson's characterizations and Eddy Barrows' art. I always thought Eddy Barrows was good on Teen Titans, but a lot of his covers had similar compositions. He definitely stepped up big time for this mini. I still think Superman's aura on the emotional spectrum (he's like this perfect balance of will, hope, love, and compassion) is an interesting sidenote that will play into the main Blackest Night series in the near future. If he could find another character who has all the opposite characteristics (fear, rage, avarice) than they may be a formidable team. Gee, who does Superman know whose got all those qualities? Maybe his xenophobic, hateful, jealous best buddy Lex Luthor?

I kind of hated Blackest night #4. I avoided spoilers for this book but still somehow found out that Damage eats it, which stinks, because that's probably the one part of the story that would have gotten a reaction from me. I don't know about you other lazy fanboys, but I am getting tired of seeing the dead rise... we get it. They used to be dead, but now they're not, and it's all quite shocking and dramatic. Thankfully Nekron finally shows up at the end of this issue, because now the story can go somewhere new. I want to put this out there right now: Barry Allen, as written by Geoff Johns in this issue, seemed totally out of character. And I don't even know much about Barry Allen, besides the stuff from Flash: Rebirth and all that Mark Waid's written on the character. I just don't see Barry with that much attitude, even if there is a world full of zombies trying to rip his heart out. If this is a picture of the Flash to come, I'm a bit frightened. The more Barry runs around, the more I'm finding out how strong my connection to the former Flash Wally West is. I'm finding that Blackest Night #4 has been a very divisive issue among fans. I think it just depends a lot on what you were originally expecting from the story. I just thought that more would be happening with the whole "War of Light" aspects. Maybe I'm too impatient.

Green Lantern #47 was just a lot of fun. Although the Indigo Lanterns still seem really out of place to me in a superhero comic, it was good to see all the different colored corps start coming together. All the important stuff that really affects the Blackest Night storyline is happening in this book. But my one point of contention? Sinestro taking orders from Hal Jordan. Obviously the corps have to work together, but what a let down. Atrocitus might have to be my new tyrant of choice. He's just plain evil. Ok, that's a joke, I still love Sinestro and I hope he stabs Hal Jordan in the back as soon as he gets the chance.


Misc.


Superman: Secret Origin has been really entertaining so far. We all know Superman's origin, so in a lot of ways this story is just meant to serve Geoff John's more recent storylines in the Super books. But it's always interesting to see how writers try to tweak the little things of Superman's origin over the years. Ma Kent fashioning "heat vision proof" coke bottle lenses from pieces of the kryptonian rocket ship was a little ridiculous in my mind. And yes, the books read like the first 3 seasons of Smallville so far, but at least the art and writing are good. I do think Gary Frank's rendition of young Superman tries much too hard to put that Christopher Reeve tribute in a teenage body. It looks like someone took the face of a man and grafted it onto the body of a 12 year old girl.





Doom Patrol has one thing I like: Elasti-Woman. Everybody knows I love Giganta, and Elasti-Woman is the good version of Giganta. But Giganta has red hair ,so she still wins anyday. As for a review of the comic, I hate Keith Giffen's writing. He's obviously too cynical of a person not to put himself into every character he writes, because they all have the same voice. Look up some Keith Giffen interviews online and you'll know what I'm talking about. They're all snippy jerks . Truly the only difference between Robotman and the dude in the bandages (shows you how much I liked it, I don't even know that guy's name) is that they look different.

HOWEVER, I really do like the Metal Men backup story. Yes, it's written in part by the aforementioned Giffen, but it's more of a humor book than anything else. I would tell you to go out and buy an issue, but that would be a recommendation to pay $4 for a ten page story. If a Metal Men trade comes out that features these backups, you might want to buy that.



Kellsies Update-Wait, what?!

I realized the other day that the Kellsies are are only about a month away. That's crazy to me! 2009 cannot be a month away from finishing. Since my blog has changed quite a bit in the past year, I thought about doing some new things. But I like the Kellsies the way they are, so I think there will only be a few minor things done differently. Unfortunately I haven't read many new comics this year, making for a small pool of contestants. But out of those comics I already have some definite winners in mind. Best Supporting character was a no brainer. Cover of the year is pretty much a lock. Best Villain of the year is going to be a tough choice, though.



New Stuff

Well that's it for now. I feel kind of rusty since I've been away, so consider this a practice post. I'll be back to post about some of those trades I bought too. I've got this new theory about comic book writers that I'm dying to expound upon for a bit. Long Live the Legion.

BRB

Hey guys,

Just wanted to let you know I'll be on "vacation" for the next 2 weeks. I'll be at work!!! Leave comments, links, pics, or whatever, and I will get back to you. dashboardc123@hotmail.com

Your Friend in Dorkiness,

Kello

Batman #692- A book I'll be enjoying while I'm away.

Need Your Ideas and Suggestions

I'm finding myself wanting more and more to be able to respond to comic books. I don't mean I wish that Kid Flash was real or that Wonder Woman would marry me. No, I'm not insane and or delusional. What I mean by "respond" is just being able to interpret comics and share what I've found in them. Like Scott McCloud or something. I don't know if it's stress or denial, but the older I get, the more I wish I could work in comics.

I think it's the fact that new comic books are virtually unavailable here in this part of Kansas. I should say that this is only in comparison to the place I lived before, which had 4 comic shops, a number of bookstores, and about 3 libraries I could go to for comics/ trades. Here there is an antique store with really old overpriced issues of 60's comics, a "Hastings" chain store (it's like an F.Y.E.), and a local grocery store that sells Dark Reign tie-ins and Spider-Man. I don't feel like I was sent here with some mission to bring comics to the masses ("Go forth and tell them of Steve Rogers!"), but I think I'm feeling the need to find people with a common interest.

I've been talking with some people about the idea starting a comic book club for local middle/ high school students. I think this will solve a few issues for me: 1.) I might find something to do with my free time that doesn't involve eating a whole pizza and then sleeping for 12 hours 2.) I might get to meet some other comic fans and 3.) I get to teach about a subject I actually know about.

I went to my high school's "Anime club" in 9th grade to try and meet some like-minded individuals and all that happened was all the "nerds" that normally hung out just got together and sat around with their "clique." I went to one meeting, and that was it. I wouldn't want my group to be like this. Especially now that comics are much more mainstream.
I was thinking about starting it up through the library or the local recreation center (since my roommate works there). I have some ideas, but I was wondering if my loyal readers and fellow adults (yes, I just called us all that) could help me with some ideas for what you would include in such a program.

So far this is what I have as a proposal:

Comic book club

Goal: to provide a meeting place for fans of graphic novels, comic books, and superheroes. Ages 13 and up (or maybe 6th grade and up) Parental permission and involvement is a must for subject matter.

Meetings: 2- 4 times a month/ once a week for an hour.

Main Question: If you were a middle schooler who likes comics, what would you like?

Activities (what a meeting would look like)
1st 15 minutes- catch up, what we’ve been reading. Food, drinks.
2nd 15 minutes- any news about stuff? Share stories/ study an element of story telling (maybe become better readers?)
3rd 15 minutes- art corner, reading, blog, video, whatever
4th 15 minutes- checkout books/ trade for the week

Special Activities
- 24 hour comic day (work on 22 pages of art and story in one day to get a sense of the process- I think this day already passed this year, but oh well)
- Movies
- Costume party
- “comic con”- kids could buy/ sell/ or trade
- Round Table- vlog review/ multimedia/ shared blog reviews
- “Field trip” to a true comic convention in Denver or something.
- Contact creators for some art or commissions
- E-mail interview creators
- Create our own comic anthology
- “Book Club”- we all take home a copy of the same thing and read it for a response
- Art: coloring sheets, “how to” draw sequences
- Found cheap comics at a thrift store for .50 a piece. Could have a box of old comics for kids to take if they want them. Check the content of these first.

I’m not going to hold to a strict schedule, but I don’t want it to be a place to loiter. I’m also trying to weed out all the unsavory adult comics out there. It would be nice to have some adult support. $ for extra copies of stuff would be cool, but I understand (maybe member dues?).

Wish List

I go through periods when I really want to diversify my reading list, and right now I'm feeling the need to check out things I've previously brushed aside. So I've come up with a list of stuff I'm thinking about checking out:

• Batman: Battle for the Cowl
• The Solomon Grundy mini-series
• Supergirl by Sterling Gates/ Jamal Igle
• Marvels: Eye of the Camera
• The current Doom Patrol/ Metal Men series
• Wolverine: Not Dead Yet trade by Warren Ellis and Lenil Yu
• The Ion mini-series from 2006/ 2007
• Mark Millar's run on Fantastic Four
• Old issues of Firestorm

Not exactly thinking outside the box, but if you guys know of some other non-Marvel or DC stuff to pick up, let me know. I'm actually wondering if the new Black Beard series is any good.

LOL

I followed this link to a list of comic's best looking male characters. Hahaha, it's about time the girls got their say. But seeing the heroes that the author ("Claire" at a comic book blog) picked out made me realize how creepy some male heroes actually are. A lot of them are sleazy womanizers. Red Arrow? That guy has dated a lot of heroines...and done a lot of heroin. Sorry, we should all let that go.

Reed Richards, Barry Allen, and Superman may be cheesy at times, but at least they value their wives and families. Now that's a hero in my eyes.

I think I've made my feelings known about people who get their jollies from comic characters. But sometimes it's fun to "rate" characters. After all, we often write and talk about these works of fiction as if they're people we know. You guys all know my comic crushes: Jade (living or undead), Barbara Gordon, Giganta, and for some odd reason Lois Lane.

What's in a panel?

I was reading the Superman: Brainiac trade (In which Superman acts surprisingly stupid. He just punches everything...wasn't horrible, just not as awesome as it should have been) today and there was a panel that showed an image of Superman doing something that I thought could be interpreted as rather unsavory (I'd post it, but you might think less of me). Let's just say he uses his teeth and mouth a lot in the story.

This got me thinking that we should have a contest to find the best out-of-context panel. If you find something cool, please e-mail it to me at dashboardc123@hotmail.com or post it on your site. The person who sends the best image will win a patented HK prize pack, which includes among other things a special drawing of a hero of your choice. My heart was broken after no one entered my last contest, but I gotta get back on that horse again. And mom, this contest is not open to family members of employees of Hello Kello Inc...sorry! But I'll draw you anything you want anyway.

Well, now I feel awkward. I'm looking forward to anything you guys out there have to say!

What the Hex!?

Hello Kello #12- Crazy/ Small comes to its shocking conclusion! After the events of last issue, the Legion of Losers is trying desperately to stop the virus that's destroying Hex from the inside. Can the intervention of the less popular Asian Atom save the day? And what will Ryan Choi say when Kello offers him membership in the LOL? By Gail Simone and Kello.

(I have a soft spot for the Ryan Choi Atom. I really thought he had a lot of potential to be a great character, but then DC did the whole "bring back the Silver Age version of the character and discard any new ideas" thing they love to do. Sorry I misspelled your name Robert. I was working on this forever and was rushing towards the end. That's also why Hex has no color on his tongue.)

Monthly Reads, For Better or Worse

I just realized something. For the first time in a while, I have a set stack of books that I follow every month. Over the summer I really didn't pick up any comics (besides those trades from the library), and the only thing I bought was Flash: Rebirth. When I moved to KS I had even fewer options, and I only bought books out of some type of curiosity. But now enough time has passed that my reading list reflects some kind of consistency. In keeping with this pattern, earlier today I picked up the current issues of Adventure Comics, Red Robin, and Green Lantern Corps.

More of the same? Sure!

I think Adventure Comics is great for the same reasons every month. For one, the book makes Superboy interesting. Each issue he seems believable, intelligent, and even a little bit likable. In my lifetime, Superboy has never been any of these to me. The second thing that makes Adventure Comics worthwhile is the inclusion of Krypto as an actual supporting cast member. Becoming more than just a stereotypical pet, Krypto is actually creatively used in this issue to move the storyline forward.

When your dog can beat up your whole rogues gallery, they're pretty lame.

And of course, the real reason this series keeps me interested is the fact that Geoff Johns finds new and exciting ways to make fun of Superboy. In this issue Red Robin points out how Superboy needs to get an actual costume. As I've stated before in regards to Superboy, "a t-shirt's not a costume." And while this may seem hypocritical because my Kello comic character only wears "plain clothes", I will make the defense that he at least wears a hooded sweatshirt over his t-shirt. Yeah, okay I'm just lazy and don't want to draw anything else...

On a side note, I finally gave up and didn't even bother with the Legion of Super Heroes back-up. I'm surprised it took me this long. I just can't get into those characters. They might as well be published by Image Comics, for all I care about them.

I Read Red Robin and it's Robbin my Time

Red Robin #5 was a strange read. The story has the pacing of a vat of molasses, and all the action of an orchestra concert. I realized after reading the last issue that the first 4 issues were supposedly an "arc", but the arc ends on a cliffhanger. Of course it's a comic and they want readers to have a reason to come back, but for a supposed ending to a storyline, DC chose a really weird stopping point. I think this book could benefit from some heartfelt editing. Condensing some scenes, pages, and even characters could really turn this into a great read. I just look back at all the issues I have and think "nothings really happened yet."

But this storyline has introduced Lucius Fox's daughter Tam into RR's life, and it seems like she could be a likable romantic interest for lonely, old Tim Drake. She already knows his secret identity after finding his nearly dead body in a hotel room, so that takes care of that whole story thread right there. I just wonder why they had to have a female character's name that's so close to the male character's name. Tam and Tim, it sounds like a nursery rhyme in the making. Tam and Tim went up the hill, to fight a pile of Ninjas...

And on an interesting note, Red Robin#5 is probably the only comic I've ever seen with the word "pupil" on the cover.

Save the Best For Last

Per my ritual, I read my copy of Green Lantern Corps #41 last. The story takes place within the context of all the Blackest Night stuff, and it has me thinking more about what's going to happen in the future than what's going on in this issue. Knowing that Guy Gardner is a few issues off from becoming a rage filled Red Lantern, I'm thinking this issue is going to point to the reason why. My guess? Either Kilowog or Mogo will be destroyed during the Blackest Night. I'm also thinking that the Soranik Natu and Kyle Rayner love affair will end poorly, given that she's Sinestro's daughter and he doesn't really love her. It has this whole Romeo and Juliet thing going. After all, Sinestro thinks Kyle is an "alley rat." But maybe that's why Soranik likes him, just to make her dad mad... hmm, women.

Although she would kill me, I would probably still date the Black Lantern Jade.

Going for Broke

In keeping with the Sinestro theme, I recently purchased the Sinestro Corps volume 1 trade on eBay for a measly $7. Yes, I'm going to blog about eBay again, okay? As of now, I'm bidding on 7 different items. I won't say what they are because I don't want to jinx my chances (and waste my time listing them all). But 7 is a lot. I think the worst thing that could happen would be for me to start winning everything I bid on, because then the total would really start adding up. Thankfully, someone always swoops in during the last 5 minutes of the auction and bids like $40 for a trade that's only worth $15 and I wind up deciding I didn't want it in the first place.

Looking Forward

I'm always scanning the world of comics for something new and interesting from Marvel and DC. The problem is, Marvel is going to continue it's trend of tying EVERY book together, all while charging $4 a piece for them. The recently announced solicitations for the "Siege" event have already revealed that Steve Rogers is going to be Captain America, and that Norman Osborn is going to try and take over Asgard. Is anybody else getting sick of all these giant Marvel events? I'm thinking of even giving up on Cap now that these Avenger-centric books are coming out. But I can't quit Cap, because it would be too hard. Marvel is just a joke, in my opinion. Between the Hulk books becoming this high-concept sci-fi hodge podge, the Avengers being split into like 4 different teams, and the X-books recycling the "Magneto gets his powers back- again!" story, I just can't get on board. And please don't get me started on Spider-Man, because I don't even know what happened to him...

As far as DC goes, I'm a little more optimistic. Although I'm not feeling Blackest Night as much as I first did, I'm getting the feeling the storyline will eventually end. I am really interested to see where the Wonder Woman: Blackest Night mini-series will take the character. The previews for the 3 issue series are pretty cryptic, and even the covers are blurred out. Will they actually have the guts to kill WW? If they do, it would probably be for an issue.

Well, that's it for now. Hopefully I can get another new cover up by the end of the weekend. If anyone wants to bash Marvel with me, please leave a comment!

No He Didn't!

Hello Kello #11- Gail Simone joins the Hello Kello team to tell a story only she could! Hex's brain is itchy, and it keeps telling him weird things. His first order of business? Destroy the Legion of Losers! Can the LOL help Hex before his fury ends them all? Crazy/small begins here!

(I just got done reading Wonder Woman: The Circle, and watching the Wonder Woman animated DVD, so I've got Gail Simone's work on the brain. We're going to be seeing a lot more of the Legion in the pages of HK from now on, as a way to boost readership. P.S. this issue is the crazy, next issue is the small. )

Famous 100's

Yesterday Hello Kello reached 100 posts. Given that many of my posts lately have been too self-referential and/or short, I didn't feel much like celebrating. But rolling over the big 1-0-0 mark did get me thinking about comics, and how much of a milestone 100 issues really is, especially in the current market for comic books. Nowadays a book is lucky to make it to #25 (I'm looking at you, Booster gold!).

So here are some special books in the light of 100:

Flash #100 (1994/1995)- This book always stands out to me, because it encapsulates so many different personal elements. First of all it is my favorite character, my favorite run on the book, and my favorite Flash writer Mark Waid. But it also features the conclusion to the Terminal Velocity story arc, which first identified Linda's role as Wally's beacon home from the Speed Force. And of course, who could forget the cheesy 90's holographic gimmick cover?

Ultimate Spider-Man# 100 (2007)- This was one of the more recent #100's, and while I didn't read the story, I remember it being a huge deal when it came out. Mark Bagley and Bendis had done every issue of the Ultimate Spider-Man series through this one, and the talks had already started of their partnership creating more consecutive issues of one series than the Jack Kirby/ Stan Lee pairing on the original Fantastic Four. Eventually Bendis/ Bagley broke the record, ending their run together after 111 issues together. Man, Mark Bagley probably never wants to see Spider-Man again.

Much like the Flash, there was also a cover gimmick for the Ultimate Spider-Man series. This time, 100 comic creators worked on 100 different covers of the issue to auction off of for charity. People like Mark Bagley, J. Scott Campbell, Frank Cho, Neil Gaiman, Adam and Andy Kubert, George Pérez, Joe Quesada, and John Romita Sr. and Jr. all added covers. Those covers can be seen in the book The Ultimate Spider-Man 100 Project.

When I first started collecting comics again a few years ago I would frequent a shop that had the Ultimate Spider-Man #100 poster forever hanging in its window being dimmed by the sun, so it always sticks in my memory.

Green Lantern #100 (1998)- This book was really huge when it came out, because it featured the first "return" of Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern. He had become Parallax about 50 issues earlier, and everyone had hoped that his return would somehow place him back in the role as GL. But the storyline was that Hal was actually from the past, and he and Kyle team up for a few issues. Hal finds out how crazy he will someday go, but in the end he is returned to his proper time without his memories, at least I think that's how it went, going purely on memory. I remember buying this arc when it first came out, and seriously hoping Hal Jordan would not come back. Hahaha.

I think it's also good to note that the current Green Lantern series is one of the few books being sold today that has a chance to make it to 100 again. But I figure DC will renumber it at some point when the timing is right to make some extra money.

What does the future hold for One Double Zero?

I guess it's a sign of the times when you can look across the solicitations and see the disparity between the numbering of books. It seems like every series is either at 635, or 13. what happened to the days when you could just pick up a book every month without being confused if you got the right issue or not? There are only a handful of books I see lasting to triple digits, if they don't get renumbered first:

- Dark Wolverine/ Wolverine

- New Avengers (but the upcoming "siege" storyline will do away with this, I'm sure)

- Justice League (it's only on #38, but they will make it sell)

- Teen Titans (only because I can't believe it made it #75.)

- Azrael...ok that's a total joke.

If I'm forgetting any extra cool 100 issues please leave a comment. I'm guessing some cool Dark Horse or Image books have had some milestones, but I haven't read them. Man, looking at these old 100's makes me think I should wrapped this post in tin foil and charged everybody extra to read it!