June 19, 2005

• What's going to happen when the entire DC Universe jumps ahead one year? Cool post.
• Here's a guide to the Infinite Crisis. You could also spend hours wandering through related links on Wikipedia and the Comics 101 post made here awhile back for more DC Universe backstory goodness.
• So what's the upcoming uber-crisis? And will Superman be dying again?
• No, it is a lame "grim and gritty" event much like the Identity Crisis and Countdown to Infinite Crisis which both had minor characters killed, other characters written out of character and revelations that our heroes have made some morally "questionable" choices. It has nothing to do with Crisis on Infinite Earths. As I said on a comic book messageboard: I think this DC jumping ahead a year will mainly be an excuse for Superman to say, "Wow I can't believe he's dead" the month after the issue of Infinite Crisis comes out where "he" dies and for Flash to say, "There are some things I've done in the past year I regret," only to have next month's issue of Infinite Crisis show the Flash doing something wrong.
• I think they're following Marvel's lead. Marvel's been "dirtying up" most of its major titles by dicking around with its heroes, even keeping a running checklist of who's dead, who's imprisoned, who's comatose, etc. And financially speaking, it looks like it's working for them. I haven't read Countdown yet, but what I've read of Identity (I lack the last two issues) I thought was well done. I know a lot of people are pissed about what happened to Sue Dibny and how the heroes are being handled here, but so far I think it's pretty well written. DC is saying that it is a "sequel" to Crisis on Infinite Earths, though you don't need to know that story to read this one, and you can almost hear the quote marks around that word when they discuss it. Don't know how that's supposed to work, and nobody really seems to have more than (occasionally very well-reasoned) speculation about what's going to happen. Clearly it's marketing to boost interest in their titles, as was the Death of Superman and Infinite Earths, but both of those stories were very well done, I thought, and well worth the price of admission. Only time will tell if we'll be able to say the same thing about this.
• I'm sorry, but I don't believe a word of it. There was no time before the big bang, so nothing could precede it. So there.
• This is all Alan Moore's fault.
• I must say, good sir middleclasstool, this is a FUCKING FANTASTIC POST! Oh god, I have a lot of geeking-out to do. Will someone please water my plants while I'm away?
• good grief
• Question from a non-comics fan, still a nerd: is there any continuity between the DC Universe and television? Because then it could all be just a dream... mwahahah.
• I've just started collecting again. I quit after the Marvel Fall of the Mutants and swore I'd never come back. And this time instead of being a Marvelphile I've included DC and some small press. I just hope it goes better this time.
• Excellent, exhaustive pop culture scholarship. Great link. *Hands banana with cape to middleclasstool*
• Thanks for the link, mct! I've been reading the various bits off and on all day. Ah, I love a lazy Sunday!
• Grand post.
• They just need to get the Beyonder in there to straighten this mess out with a 2,600 super-person BATTLE ROYAL!
• I believe they prefer to be called "persons of exceptional ability" these days.
• PEAs? That's teh ghey.
• The Beyonder?! Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
• grover96, that "God is Red" link looks interesting. I may have to go check that out. And TenaciousPettle gave me his copies of Walking Dead -- pretty good stuff.
• Stop MCT! Stop him before he spends again! The horror...the horror...
• Is anyone following the whole "Infinite Crisis" storyline? I really need to talk about this.
• Like RIGHT NOW.
• With SPOILERS.
• Ah fuck it you heartless bastards.
• Superman is gay. That's the spoiler. And he perforated Batman's colon.
• Anyone?
• Have you checked the Wiki?
• The wiki? Why, I've been reading the story for myself! ;) Just seeing if there was a fellow DC dork around to discuss the current undoing of what was done before.
• I wish I could, but I can't afford another addiction hobby. But I am interested in talking about it. What do you wanna talk about? Have to admit though, all this re-writing of the origins is confusing.
• What's confusing about, say, Power Girl, real name Kara, a.k.a. Karen Starr, formerly Kara Zor-L, a.k.a. Earth-Two Supergirl in a previous continuity, a.k.a. Chesty LaRue a.k.a. Juggs McGillicutty, a.k.a. Continuity Headache #616? Seriously, are you still reading this? What's wrong with you?!? Are you using the FireFox text zoom thing? That's supercool, isn't it? I had a really good casarole for dinner tonight; a little pasta, broccoli, cream of mushroom suace, topped with stovetop stuffing and then cheddar cheese. Pop it in the over for 15 minutes at 450, and you're good to go! My chest hurts. Click here for more headspinning retcon action! Well, not there, pervo!
• According to various rumors and anecdotes, artist Wally Wood intended to draw her chest larger in each issue until the editors noticed.... Oy. *sinks head into hands*
• So this new Crisis is essentially just undoing the previous Crisis? Because things weren't confusing enough in DC chronology? I'll tell you what though, I'm down for anything if they bring back the Legion of Super-Pets.
• Ooh! Here's an even better page!
• Power Girl is now my favorite superhero evar. And tool, I'd be glad to discuss these with you if you'd just loan me your copies for a while. I hope they're not sticky.
• Your copies are ready for delivery, sir! And yes, Power Girl's cleavage is pretty much a character unto itself. As big of a fan of b00bage as I am, it really gets in the way, especially the way they go out of their way to showcase it.
• MCT: I have no idea what you're saying right now. The words sound like English, but the way you're putting them together...it JUST DON'T MAKE NO SENSE! Now, if she'd just use them to defeat a supervillain--not psychologically, but physically, liker really hammer Luthor with 'em or smother the Riddler or something...hehehehe... Use your power, Kara! USE IT! Comics make me soooo 14 years old.
• Like Alnedra, I can't afford to buy every single DC comic ever to keep up with what's going on, but I would be interested in talking about (or rather, listening to others talk about) what's going on. I remember reading the JLA in the mid-90s and the fun debates in the letters column about Power Girl's boobies and costume. Remember when she "discovered" that her rage was really a side effect of too much diet Coke? Laaaaaame.
• Dial B For Blog also has a handy synopsis of the events leading to the current Crisis; and, for the true believers who may be short a shekel, scans_daily is a fantastic way to get your four-color funnies fix! Wood Shavings!
• meridithea: Here's a great place to go for comics discussion, history, and learning. Always something neat to learn/remember there. I lose more productivity at that site than I do here. Well, almost.
• Well, as it turns out, there are several issues you need to buy to follow the storyline, but thankfully they've contained the necessary plot points to a few short miniseries: The OMAC Project, The Rann-Thanagar War, The Return of Donna Troy, Villains United, and "Crisis of Conscience" from JLA 115-119. There are a buttload of other tie-in issues across every major hero title they've got, but little of it is necessary to follow what's going on. DC also reproduced a lengthy "recap" issue about halfway through the countdown to make sure everyone was up to speed on the important stuff. Even so, that's still like thirty comics you have to buy just to get up to speed for the actual IC miniseries. There are *cough*torrents*cough* of cbr and cbz archives you can download, if you look around. Also, trade paperbacks are available for all the minis this month. I'd be happy to post spoilers, if people would like me to bring them up to speed.
• Also, I am very fond of the phrase "up to speed," as evidenced by my previous comment.
• Right. Bring me up to speed. So this Superman chap. Is he like, some sort of super-man? Or what? Seriously, I'm glad to see old grey-temples is back and getting ready to mix things up.
• Damn there's a metric fuck-ton of Nerd in here! Jesus how are you people still breathing?! Luke! PULL UP! You're going in too fast!!
• Hmmm... I may buy the trades. Thanksgiving present, you know :) Also, go ahead and bring me up to speed, matey!!! Arrrrgh! Sorry. Suddenly taken over by a pirate, don't you know?
• Dr. Infinite or: How I Stopped Worrying and Love the Crisis.
• Did anyone get All Star Superman yesterday? If so, what did you think? If not, what's your problem, buddy?
• I liked it so much I bought both covers! It is tied for number one this week for me, along with Books of DOOOOOOOOM. ps. yes, it must always be pronounced DOOOOOOOOOOOM.
• I'd be interested in what is in monkeys' pull lists. For example this week I bought: FLASH #228 JSA CLASSIFIED #5 SEVEN SOLDIERS FRANKENSTEIN #1 SEVEN SOLDIERS ZATANNA #4 GODLAND #5 WALKING DEAD #24 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #526 CAPTAIN AMERICA #12 ULTIMATE X-MEN #65 YOUNG AVENGERS #9
• Tomorrow I'll be picking up: BATMAN #647 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #12 WONDER WOMAN #223 FEAR AGENT #2 STRANGE GIRL #5 AMAZING FANTASY #15 GENERATION M #1 INCREDIBLE HULK #89 NEW AVENGERS #13 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #25 WOLVERINE #36