Both DC and Marvel made it much easier to hear about their movie announcements than their Comic Book announcements, but I was still able to look around and read about some of the big things happening or coming soon from "the big two". Here's what jumped out to me this year:
AT DC:
In Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors, written by Peter Tomasi, Guy Gardner begins a secret mission for the Red Lantern Atrocitus, which will pit him against Hal Jordan and likely have them butting heads again for good! I think this is a good move for the character, provided he is still sympathetic in some way.
Superman has been taken over by J Michael Straczynski in a story arc called “grounded”. Superman is taking the time to walk across America and be reminded of the lives and struggles of the common man that he has dedicated himself to protecting. I think this is the perfect story to tell right now. Superman can only punch so many things, and we’ve had a lot of big action in his titles lately. For a character like this to remain fresh, we have to be reminded of who he is as a person, and this story has great potential to do that.
Straczynski is also taking on writing chores for Wonder Woman, with what I predict will be terrible results. The story involves monkeying with reality and changing Wonder Woman’s origin and costume. This sounds like the same kind of gimmick event storytelling made famous in the 90’s. It got old quick then and it’s no more welcome now. Much like with Batman, I’ll be waiting for the smoke to clear and things to return to normal and then hope to see that someone still remembers how to tell a good Wonder Woman story without resorting to cheap tricks. Gail Simone, we miss you already.
AT MARVEL:
Ultimate Comics Thor- This October, Marvel will begin a four-issue limited series by Jonathan Hickman and Carlos Pacheco that explores the origins of the Ultimate Marvel Universe Thor. I’ve always found this version of the character interesting because of the way we aren’t sure if he’s insane or not. It seems that it has now been established that he is the real deal, not an insane man with enhancement gadgets. So an origin story is not as appealing to me as it might have been a couple of years ago. But if the Ultimate Universe takes a turn for the better real soon(I was not a fan of Ultimatum), I may pick it up in a trade paperback.
In August, Namor: The First Mutant by Stuart Moore and Ariel Olivetti will debut as a new ongoing series that will explore more of Atlantean culture and the new kinds of vampires that have recently been introduced to the Marvel universe. Partially influenced by H.P. Lovecraft, the story will deal with Namor uncovering lost secrets of the ocean that may prove too much for humanity to deal with.
Tron: The Betrayal by a variety of writers and artists will arrive in October as a two issue limited series that serves as a prequel to the upcoming movie. The story picks up soon after the first movie ends and serves as a bridge between the two movies. The cover looks great, but the idea of multiple creators contributing gives me a lot of reason to pause, as those kinds of books tend to lack consistent quality or at least a consistent voice and style.
2 comments:
I don't read comics but I'm curious what's going on with Batman?
Grant Morrison has been writing it for a few years and his style is kind of like an acid trip. Lots of weirdness with very little explanation. In "Final Crisis", he had random obscure characters show up who haven't been scene in decades (Knights riding around on giant dalmations and even a bugs bunny like superhero named "Captain Carrot"). Not as part of some cosmic temporal anomoly or anything. They just show up because he wanted them to.
He sets up mysteries with insufficient payoffs (or none) and his stories just don't make sense.
I think he's being treated as a deep thinking and profound writer because his style fits with post-modern relativist philosophy. In a nutshell, nonsense disguised as "high concept".
In Final Crisis, Darkseid zapped Batman. Everyone thought he died. He really just traveled through time. Dick Grayson has taken his place as Batman, but currently a story is bringing Bruce Wayne back. Rumor has it that he may not even become Batman when he returns.
So I'm waiting for all of this crap to end and Morrison to be off the book with Bruce Wayne back in the cowl.
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