I think I'm starting to make a dent in clearing up all the comic books sitting on my bedroom floor. Hopefully I can continue this reading momentum.
DC/Marvel Superman/Spider-Man and Marvel/DC Spider-Man/Superman by various writers
"'You do it because great people -- kind people -- they taught you it's the right thing to do.'"
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of their first crossover, DC and Marvel put together another crossover event featuring their iconic characters. In DC/Marvel Superman/Spider-Man issue, the two title characters team-up against the duo of Brainiac and Doc Ock as the evil pair broadcast a kryptonite-laden data code into the minds of the people of Metropolis in "Truth, Justice, and Great Responsibility" by Mark Waid. The issue also includes seven other fun crossover stories. Some of my favorites include: Lois Lane and Mary Jane Watson seek out the reason for a Sentinel attack while Superman and Spider-Man keep the giant robot at bay in "The World's Finest." A humorous case of mistaken identity in "Jimmy Con Carnage" leads to a fatal meeting between Jimmy Olsen and Carnage as the photographer attempts to snap a picture of Spider-Man. In "The Bridge," a chance encounter between Johnathan Kent and Ben Parker saves the lives of two kids caught in a storm while Superman and Spider-Man sing the praises of the two men who raised them.
In the following one-shot Marvel/DC Spider-Man/Superman, Spider-Man and Superman find themselves trapped in a plot to take control of The Man of Steel by their combined rogue's gallery led by their arch-nemeses, The Green Goblin and Lex Luthor in "Our Kryptonite" by Brad Meltzer. Similar to the DC/Marvel issue, this one also featured a few crossover stories. In "Sweethearts," Gwen Stacy and Lana Lang compare their lives - including the men they're in love with. Mysterio, utilizing a Red Lantern, causes the world to be consumed in rage in "Identity War," leaving only a select few, including Superman, to talk down The Hulk and cease the Red Lantern's curse. Ghost Spider and Supergirl, both disappointed they're not meeting each others' titular counterpart, reluctantly team-up to stop a supervillain only to find each other worth of their admiration in "Remarkable."
When I first heard about the two crossover books, I wasn't aware there had been a previous one done 50 years ago - I simply pre-ordered them because I really liked the Batman and Deadpool crossover books the two companies released last year. Since I don't talk about artwork enough, I want to make sure I mention just how good all the covers were for those two books (yeah, so, so many fucking variants). Though I typically buy the standard Cover A for most books, I was really happy I opted to buy both comics featuring Ghost Spider and Supergirl on their variant cover especially since I really enjoyed their fun crossover story ("Sorry, I was hoping to meet the other Super-person/Spider-person," hahaha!). Overall, both books provided a good mix of fun, inspiring, and humorous stories. I also appreciated that both companies tapped into the creativity of established writers and artists (I recognized quite a few names just from the current books I'm reading). I think that's my biggest take away from these books: that despite having access to the same characters, all the writers made the stories their own with different plots for the same characters.
The Ultimates #14 - 18 by Deniz Camp and Ultimate Universe: 2 Years In by Deniz Camp and Alex Paknadel
"'Our future is gone -- forever -- but we are not the first generation to see their stars go out. This is not our sky. These are not our stars. But we will fight for them all the same. And for each other.'"
The revolution continues! The Ultimates continue their revolt against The Maker and his Council by striking their facilities and resources, and building their team of superheroes. More importantly, by teaching the masses the truth of their universe, they'll inspire the everyday people to join their ranks and rise up against their oppressors.
And, in a special issue, The Guardians of the Galaxy of the 61st century, having had their team scattered and destroyed by The Maker's changes, jump through space and time in order to reclaim their utopia. As hope dwindles, they'll make a startling discovery about their past, present, and future.
It's the lead-up to the finale the new Ultimate Universe has been building to as "The Ultimates" close out the first two years of this new universe built in The Maker's image. First off, yeah, I know the entire series has been released already. I just fell far behind in the series, and, right now, I just don't feel like binging my way through the rest of the series, so I'll stop here for now right before the big finale arc. Besides, I've got a bunch of other superhero stories to read as you'll see if you continue this list (huh, maybe "superhero fatigue" is real?). Despite the title of the series being taken from the superhero team, the issues are focuses on The Ultimates operating as smaller teams of two or three characters rather than the group bringing the full-force of their team against a single target likely due to the Hit and Run tactics required in guerilla warfare. I especially enjoyed the issue focused on Wren, just a normal girl who, inspired by The Ultimates, decided to stand up against the atrocities she witnessed under The Maker's rule. The entire issue gave a "First They Came"-vibe The growth of the revolution, including bringing regular people into their fold, definitely has me excited for the war against The Maker and the conclusion of the universe.
From its earliest iterations, Marvel's Ultimate universes have been meant to reflect our own society back to us. The previous Ultimate universe I recall reading showed us a world of superheroes in a post-9/11 world, where superhumans were used as tools of the government to protect US interests, at home and abroad. This universe, corrupted by The Maker's influence, shows us a world where the "correct" timeline has been twisted and corrupted, a world of stolen destinies, where truth is written by those in power while the masses live under the authoritarian rule of a secret cabal. It's unsettling at times, especially the scenes of "faceless men" (i.e. masked men) snatching people off the street for simply not fitting in with their idea of a perfect society. It's a world that should upset the reader, but also show that no "superhero" is coming to save them. Instead, The Ultimates rely upon the everyday person to also stand-up to their oppressors. Of course, comics books also make things easy. So far, they've only had to fight "bad guys," those who are directly linked to The Maker and his Council. But what happens when they have to confront ordinary citizens who have been tricked to believe The Council is right and The Ultimates are terrorists destroying their way of life? I'm definitely looking forward to reading the last few issues of the series to see how it all ends.
Absolute Batman #20 - 22 by Scott Snyder
"'See, Grimm and I, we thought it'd be funny. After all, what's the natural prey of an owl, Bruce? That's right ... a bat! That's the why of your life. Batman isn't a project. He's a joke.'"
The origin of The Batman is revealed! The Batman breaks into Blackgate Prison in search of answers where The Straw Man reveals Jack Grimm V and his associates were responsible for Thomas Wayne's death and for pushing the young Bruce Wayne to don the cowl - as a joke. Gotham City's newly-formed Robins confront the fleeing vigilante and a fight occurs with Batman barely escaping capture. Despite being broken by Bane, Bruce's Crime Alley friends come together once again, agreeing to save Bruce from himself and the path he is walking. While again evading the police and The Robins, Harley reveals her past to Bruce in an attempt to stop him from digging deeper into his own history and focus on the current mission, but ultimately fails.
The next story arc of Absolute Batman begins with Bruce's decent into madness and fear as he searches for answers to his past. I know, didn't I just talk about this book last month? Well, jokes on you, as being behind in my reading meant only finishing up to the last story arc last month and leaving the other issues for the next month - which is now. So many stand-out moments in just three issues - The Origin reveal, Batman vs The Robins, Bruce's first meeting with The Joker, Harley's past reveal - makes me excited to complete the rest of the story arc. After dealing with the powerhouse that was Bane, The Straw Man, this universe's Scarecrow, provides a whole new type of terror. Thanks to the dread and psychological torment brought about by this new villain, Bruce begins to question his own identity. It's a new type or horror, and I can't wait to see its conclusion.
Identity plays a big part in the first three issues of this new story arc. After the reveal that every decision he made was influenced and orchestrated as part of a joke by The Joker, Bruce plummets down the rabbit hole in search of the truth to his past. It's a psychological attack on The Batman, sidelining him while The Joker and his associates continue their assault on the city, which we can assume is happening "off-screen"while Bruce is distracted. Harley does try, unsuccessfully, to bring him back to the present by telling him her own story. Knowing what he knows now, will Bruce allow it to shape his present or will he continue to stay the course he set when he donned the cowl?
I Hate Fairyland Vol. 9 Back on my Bull Ship by Skottie Young
"'Why are we doing this again?'
'I was gonna ask you the same thing.'
'We always do this crazy ship because you tell me to.'
'One: not true. And two: This one was all you. I even said, 'They're not giving us a clue, a key, or even money.' And you were all like, 'But killing!'"
After saving the fantastical world Gert has earned another chance to to return home, if she can find her magic key ... which did not work out so well the first time. Join Gert and Larry as they once again set out on a violent quest across Fairyland. Returning to her old chaotic roots, Gert will stumble through a pub crawl, witness the quest of a grimdark unicorn in search of its missing horn, murder her way through a literal food war, confront a nemesis seeking revenge, and set sail with Popeye, the Sailor Man (welcome to the public domain) - all in her quest to once again return home.
If you're thinking it's been awhile since I talked about "I Hate Fairyland", well, you're right. In my own quest to clean up my backlog of To Read books, I kept putting his book off in favor of floppy issues I'd eventually board-and-bag and box, and other books I planned to read once and trade-in for more books (got about fifty bucks in store credit at last trade-in, if you're curious). Plus, I sort-of lost it in the stack. Despite my lapse, the "I Hate Fairyland" series has lost none of its charm - being the exact same kind of book I loved from its first issue (which I actually now do own, in a CGC 9.8, no less). Like I say every time I read these books, I love the over-the-top cartoon violence told in vibrant colors. One of the things I love about Young's writing is his irreverence, poking fun at established characters, and this volume is filled with his sense of humor: the Dungeon Pub Crawl feels like a nod to the increasingly popular "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series, the grim unicorn and mushroom-samurai being joke-versions of the characters "Hellboy" and "Usagi Yojimbo" respectively, the war between appetizers and desserts likely being a real argument Young either had or overheard, and, of course, the Popeye joke featuring the character himself. Young's writing is great at poking fun without being insulting, keeping everyone laughing.
Absolute Green Arrow #1 - 3 by Pornsak Pichetshote
"Are these our options now? Ignore the monsters we work for ... or throw watch parties for their executions?"
The wealthy and powerful thought they could protect themselves by killing a good man, but the death of Oliver Queen simply inspired someone far more deadly to take his place. When Queen's former business partners and associates are assassinated by a killer with green arrows, they'll hire his former lover Dinah "The Black Canary" Lance, a former cop turned MMA fighter turned down-on-her-luck bodyguard to not only protect themselves but find the assassin's identity. As the bodies pile up, as leads run low, as the mysteries get stranger, Lance will learn that perhaps she never knew Queen as well as she thought.
DC's newest Absolute series, Absolute Green Arrow picks up after the events of the Absolute Evil one-shot which ended with Oliver Queen's corpse tossed onto a table as an example of what happens when someone crosses The Justice League. With the standard Green Arrow hero dead, a new, deadlier vigilante dons his cowl. From the size of the Arrow family in DC's continuity, it's a great mystery to discover who it is that decided to take on Oliver Queen's alter ego in this new universe. The star of this series is Dinah "The Black Canary" Lance, a private security contractor, hunting for the killer preying on the elites who abuse their power and status while secretly investigating the mysterious death of her friend and former lover. It's a story drenched in blood as this new Green Arrow stabs and slashes their way through scores of bodies to the target.
With the targeting of corporate CEO's and those who abuse their wealth and status, readers can't not see the connection Absolute Green Arrow has to real-world events such as the Epstein scandal and the assassination of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. In just the first three issues we witness the killings of a corporate CEO who used his money and status to prey on young girls, a pharmaceutical CEO who used legal loopholes to not only avoid prison but also earn millions of dollars while people suffered. The main character, Dinah Lance, is even forced to work with these people as they're actively blackmailing her. Capturing the public's reaction to the Green Arrow killings are little social media snippets in which some condemn the murders while others not only praise the violence but encourage it. I think what separates the story from the real world is the public assassination of Oliver Queen, a good man who tried to do the right thing. His death made him a martyr and seemingly inspired this universe's Green Arrow to take a more lethal approach than their in-continuity counterpart. Who this killer is and whether their actions are justified will likely be explored in the following issues.
Absolute Superman #18 - 21 by Jason Aaron
"'Sure, he's a damn kid who still don't know how to throw a decent punch. But he's already done about the most impossible thing I could've ever imagined. Damn fool went and made me believe.'"
"After all ... this is the age of the Superman. And we're just living in it."
It's a battle of the Supermen! At the Lazarus' Corporation's last hidden cache, Black Adam is freed from his imprisonment. Once a slave to a pharaoh, he was granted superhuman powers by a collection of Brainiacs looking for a test subject for their recently discovered Father Box. Kal-El, The Justice League's Hawkman, and Steel, a man wielding a hammer with the power of a neutron star, will join forces in a fight against the superman's rage to prevent him from again conquering the planet as he did millennia ago. As their battle brings destruction across the planet, Kal-El still ensures no harm comes to the bystanders. In the end, Kal-El will stand alone against Black Adam, two men who arrived "wearing the dust of their home." Will Superman be able to pacify the conqueror's rage and inspire him to reform as he had inspired so many others to do?
Taken from DC's mainline universe's "Reign of the Super-man" event, in Absolute Superman we witness a planet-spanning battle between this universe's super-men Kal-El, Steel, Hawkman, and Black Adam. It's an epic battle between titans as the three super-men attempt to contain Black Adam. I love these callbacks to Superman's history and how they're twisted in this universe thanks to Darkseid's hand. Instead of the supermen attempting to fill a vacuum left by Superman's death and ending with Superman's rebirth, the three seek instead to usurp Kal-El's will and goals, and instead ends with Kal-El exiling himself. I also like the arc as it further establishes just how long this universe's Justice League has been quelling and suppressing any attempt to change the status quo they've established.
The best part of this story's arc isn't the epic battle, but learning how, despite his changed background, Superman still inspires those around him to be better people. Despite his godly abilities, the main universe Superman sees himself more as a symbol of hope, and I like that the Absolute Universe version is able to do the same. I really liked seeing Hawkman, despite years of serving as The Justice League's enforcer, siding with Kal-El after just meeting him once, and that, after he does what he believes had to be done to stop Black Adam, goes "on a bender" because he failed to live up to Kal-El's standard. Also, seeing Lois Lane attempting to reform Talia Al Ghul rather than continue to seek revenge for her father's death is another example of Kal-El's influence. Though this universe was created to give the villains the advantage and take away what Darkseid saw to be the heroes' greatest strengths, I love that the heroes still manage to overcome and be the heroes they're meant to be. I'm definitely curious to see, in Kal-El's absence, if the people will continue to strive to be better as he tried to inspire them to be.
Barbaric Vol. 1 Murderable Offenses and Vol. 2 Axe to Grind by Michael Moreci
"And now, I roam, cursed, of all things, to be good. Whatever the fuck that means. All I truly know is that I am nothing ... I'm no one."
"'No, Axe, it isn't. Because what's right for one person might be wrong for another. And when you solve every problem with killing, people don't tend to learn. But you wouldn't get that, because you're a fucking axe."'
"'Gods, I thought the problem I had with orcs is all the people you kill and eat ... but really it's the awful fucking sound of your voices.'"
Owen the Barbarian lived simply: drink, fuck, fight. After an encounter with a trio of witches, his life changed. Cursed to only do good and guided by a magical, sentient axe, he must now lend a hand - or fist, or blade - to those in need. When evil forces take over a monastery, he'll team-up with a tragic necromancer to save the town.
And, when an enemy from the past reemerges, Owen, Soren, and Axe will set-off on a new quest to put the villain back in the ground. Reunited with a old party member, the group will track through dangerous and deadly terrain to confront the growing evil. Will Owen kill the powerful Orc Lord for good this time? And what other aspects of the barbarian's curse will be revealed?
Volume One, Murderable Offenses was chosen for this month's Graphic Novel Book Club book, and I got really lucky that on my visit to Skull-Face trade-in so books, I just happened to find Volume Two, Axe to Grind on the shelves. These two Barbaric books were fun, bloody rides from beginning to end. I think I may have seen this title on the shelves or as a recommendation before, but I'd never looked into it until now. I'm really happy to have read a swords-and-sorcery fantasy story in the middle of all these superhero stories I'm currently trying to catch-up with just so it gives me something different to read. Not that I'm not enjoying reading about superheroes, I just like the difference a high fantasy story brings with it. Of course, one of the biggest differences is the setting: rather than a modern city-scape, we're put in a medieval feudal town. Further still, since Owen is a barbarian, we aren't shown the upper-echelon of society (i.e. palaces and kings), but what is likely considered the dregs (fighting pits and run-down bars). I really liked the premise of this violent beast of a man being forced to now only use his violent nature to do good deeds. You'd think "doing good" to perhaps mean using his words over his fists, but, really, the only time he talks is to consult with his sentient axe to determine if someone deserves to be cleaved. It's definitely a departure from the typical paladin character who would be this sort of main character. I also loved Owen's reluctance to do these good deeds because "doing good" isn't so simple, showing that he isn't just a brute, but intelligent, as well. The second book is even more straight-forward as the villain is shown to simply be evil, someone Owen has no issue with murdering. Both books were really fun reads and pretty straight-forward, so much so that we didn't really have too much to talk about at the club meeting. It was a fun read, overall, and I definitely want to read the rest of the series.
Absolute Green Lantern Vol. 2 Sojourner by Al Ewing
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"'I can feel it now. And it hurts. but it's mine. It's my pain. It's my life. The bad, the good, everything I am is in this ring ... and nobody takes that away."'
Mojo and it's Black Star enforcers continue to cleanse the quadrant of heretics who go against their teachings. Meanwhile, Jo Mullein and an unconscious Hal Jordan hide out at Jo's ex-wife's home. With what he gathered from the Evergreen scene, billionaire Hector Hammond creates a biological weapon to hunt down Jo and her ring. As the group is pushed into a corner by Hammond's seemingly unstoppable monster, both Jo and Hal unlock their abilities to destroy the creature.
I swear I read this book. Despite its interesting, cosmic horror vibes, Absolute Green Lantern still feels like the weakest series to me. Maybe it's the slower pace of the story. Maybe I'm just not that familiar with the Green Lantern mythos to pick-up the new subversions and cool twists found in the Absolute universe version. Honestly, maybe it's just too smart for me. After how slowly the first six issues played, I decided to wait it out and buy the collected trade paperback instead so that way I could A) see if the writing became more my speed, B) stay current with the overall happenings of this new universe, and C) more easily sell it off if I didn't like it. As I said, I swear I read this book, but, even so, I needed the Wikipedia article to fully understand it. There were definitely some stand-out moments, such as Mojo the living planet hunting down those that don't follow the Black Stars' teachings, Jo (sort-of) learning her powers, and Hal (with more understanding of Abin Sur's teachings) accessing a new power to counter the Black Stars'. For the most part though, it doesn't feel like Jo contributes much in this arc despite being the main character and I definitely do not like that. I can really only picture one or two stand-out scenes in these six collected issues. I like her flawed character backstory we get in issue 8, and how she is working through it, but that can't be all that makes her interesting. With Jo coming more into her own in the final pages, and the promise of a bigger fight, I'll still be picking-up Volume 3 to read more of this series.
