The end of the beginning

Birds of Prey 127

While I haven't had the enthusiasm for the Birds of Prey series, even at the end of Gail Simone's run, I'm still sad to see the story end. All female supes, led by the brilliant and beautiful Oracle, it was sassy and sweet about friendship and evil and good and teamwork. From Huntress to Zinda, to Black Canary..the women were hot as per usual in comics, but at least used training and their brains too. And adding new female characters - Infinity, Judomaster, Manhunter- gave those DC girls much more exposure across the DCU.

I can't buy into the Calculator as a grand villian, despite the last issue of robot-tech-gone wild.
But Oracle saying goodbye to Charlie-Misfit - was touching. We'll see how that Oracle:The Cure miniseries is.

It almost made spit though to see the Chris Brown (abuser) milk ad in this issue of strong females. The irony! I know it was pre-Rihanna beating, but I didn't care about him before, and now don't want to see his mug at all.

Pray for Birds

Birds of Prey #127 final of the series

Redhead Fangirl Birds of Prey posts

I've been a loyal reader and purchaser of Birds of Prey for several years now. Followed BoP from Gail Simone, until she left the title, and McKeever's short run, then to Tony Bedard on writing. Of course any title with Oracle as the lead interests me, but BoP was special for the female superhero teams. Giving attention to Black Canary for example propelled her into the JLA big leagues...with Huntress, Zinda, Manhunter..to the new Misfit...Barda...the list of female characters I became familiar with because of Birds of Prey is quite long.

There is talk of relaunches for Birds, Robin and Nightwing- who knows with the bad publishing tales every day from the fruit bat economy we have. I can hope so. A girl needs to have her "girls night" title-- I like the men of DC, but it was always great to see a female team have great sales and reviews. I'll hope for a relaunch or Oracle playing a large role in another title at least.

The Killing Joke reunion

Oracle goes to get rid of the police in Birds of Prey 122, only to have the Joker land on her door. We'll see where this showdown leads.

Getting back on track after being a bridesmaid this weekend, and doing all the fun things from the rehearsal dinner and the all day wedding festivities.

Mystery, Birds, Brooklyn

Honestly, I've only read a few of last weeks stash pickup.

Birds of Prey #122
Joker and Oracle. The long shadow of the Killing Joke and Batgirls paralysis, and her transformation as Oracle, is brought to Barbara's door. Both redhead Misfit and of course redhead Oracle play their roles!


House of Mystery 6
Redhead pirate Ann Preston. The feared pirate Ann falls for a musician, then is betrayed...Illustrated by Tony Akins of Jack of Fables. The start of a new story arc for HoM.

Back to Brooklyn 1- Jimmy Palmiotti and Garth Ennis in a police/mafia storyline. The artist is a newcomer, and has an unusual style to it.

story GARTH ENNIS & JIMMY PALMIOTTI, art & cover MIHAILIO VUKELIC
Bob Saetta made the biggest mistake of his life by pissing off his brother, one of the biggest and most brutal crime bosses in New York City. This is the story of two brothers at war, wrapped in a special package of extreme language and hardcore violence.

The weather is in the seventies and sunny here, and my mom is visiting, so we are off to enjoy it!

Big Pink

Hi kids! I don't know what has been keeping me from my comics, but I haven't read any for a few days. Well, one thing that is keeping me is the 600+ page Duma Key by Stephen King I'm reading (Big Pink is the house). I feel closer to King now that I saw him in person at the NY Comicon last year. He seems just like his characters- down to earth, a little raunchy, salty and more frail than you'd expect.

I did finish Season 3 of Doctor Who. From the girl who never saw one episode, I now am a big fan. Gordon posted this Season 4 teaser, with the return of the redhead companion, with Martha Jones and Rose too.

Goodbye to Sean McKeever on Birds of Prey Post Gail I've been losing steam with our BoP women. Superman dressed down the Oracle in a recent issue. I don't read Teen Titans, but would love to see a series McKeever will write that will reach the Spider-Man loves Mary Jane goodness.

Election coverage, a long work week, and playing Carnival Games on the Wii took up time too.

A lot of television use

I meant to post this pic of me with some of my pull list. I have 8 unread comics from the last few weeks to read.

Despite the writers strike, I've been busy watching shows like Project Runway, and while I don't like reality shows, now I've been watching The Biggest Loser. Just watched the first Sarah Conner Chronicles- great to see River from Firefly. And new Daily Shows and Colberts have been keeping Tivo busier than I thought.

And, watching Dexter season 1 on DVD and Doctor Who Season 3. With Torchwood starting this Saturday, and Lost on the 31st, more TV.

Not to mention, The Giants in the Superbowl. Very torn here, because I like Tom Brady and the Patriots (shoreturtle roots Brady because he went to UMichigan) -- but I've been a mild Giants fan if I have to pick a team. The NEW JERSEY Giants-- I hate when they show midtown Manhattan as if that is right next to the Meadowlands, in Jersey! I like both Manning brothers too.

Plus, we got the Wii zapper so it's been Ghost Squad and Link's Crossbow Training. So that Family Room has been in use a lot; guess the cold weather has kept us in a lot.

Although I worked yesterday, had today off for MLK day and we went to see No Country for Old Men. Blood and guns and dusty Texas landscape.

Work has been very busy planning programs and writing annual reports and many patrons. I really deserve a damn promotion.

Chi G

Blog this, Pal! Gordon is just as he appears to be on his blog- literate and funny. We talked a good two hours- interruptions to meet some of the many running bloggers that were there for the marathon. G and I have different reading tastes with some crossover. At least he seems to care about a good story most of all. I couldn't admit to him I've never seen a single Doctor Who (new or old). Does that make me a nerd outlaw? I have also never seen a whole episode of MASH, but I think I saw the MASH movie.

Some recent comic reading--
Confessions of a Blabbermouth
Written by Mike Carey and Louise Carey; Art and Cover by Aaron Alexovich

Another fun and sassy GN from the DC Minx line. I have enjoyed the three Minx titles I've read (also The Plain Janes and Clubbing). A library assistant here has two teen girls, and she raves about how they have loved my suggestions for these books. She said their Clubbing copy is all beat up due to use. I just suggested they try Runaways, and the word is they love that too. Go librarian fangirl!
This one is yet another British girl named Tasha with big opinions- that she channels into her 'Blabbermouth' blog. The main story involves her mom dating a new guy, and dealing his daughter who starts as the new girl at Tasha's school. Fun black and white art and Mike Carey shared writing with his 15 year old daughter Louise.

Birds of Prey 110
Written by Tony Bedard; Art by Nicola Scott and Doug Hazlewood;
An adequate and mildly amusing one shot starring Huntress and Oracle. The BOP tryout stories were amusing. Waiting for a new team and stories to gel, and still mad at Bedard regarding the Knockout.

Justice League 13
Written by Dwayne McDuffie; Art by Joe Benitez and Victor Llamas;
McDuffie takes over the Meltzer story, and the Injustice League fights the JLA. I would like less Vixen. I don't like Black Canary's face, but at least Benitez isn't too pornified in his art of the women. I do like the Doctor Light smackdown for 'what you did to Sue Dibny'.

DMZ Decade Later

Brian Wood doesn't tie war up in a nice shiny bow. This standalone story about a tagger in the city who just tried to stay out of the war-- and how war comes to him.

One more night of work. Hoping to continue to unpack boxes, maybe visit my new backyard for once, and catch up on tivo'd shows and reading.

knocked out

Birds of Prey 109
Some late thoughts on BOP 109 and the fate of Knockout, popular among fans of the Secret Six, redhead fans, lesbian fans and me . I knew I would miss Gail's wit and touch, but Tony Bedard writing on this is just flat,pointless and unimaginative. The big scene where Babs discusses Ollie's past with Dinah makes Babs seem shrill, and wrong on her facts, which Oracle is not. (DC continuity error). I was a big fan of the Secret Six, and it seems that all the goodwill and work Gail did was squandered with one single issue of BOP without her writing. Kill off another strong female, DC? Damn it Didio and DC crew. I'm getting to feel about you the way I feel about the Marvelzombies and their marketing manipulations and distain for fan input.

It is EVERYONE complaining about one more pointless death that is little more than a footnote in the body count for the build-up to The Next Big Crossover.

Tony Bedard, writer: he fails totally to get past the obvious tricks of the trades.

CBR Tony Bedard forum

ComicBloc re: Connor Hawke

Birds and Bats

Slowly getting back to reading my comics. I think Dave at YACB blogged about the lackluster year for comics- there have been series I've continued to enjoy, but nothing knock my socks off in 2007.

Finally read the last Gail Simone Birds of Prey 108 (Swan Song). I have to say it was very touching with the cape friends coming as backup, Oracle's fight with the Spy Smasher - even in a wheelchair she summons Batgirl!- and the final scene with Misfit left me choked up. I'll miss Gail's writing and wit on BoP. I'll read her new Wonder Woman, but she's not the touchstone character for me that she is for others. I did have the WW underoos though.

I read much less of the Showcase Batgirl than I thought on the plane or beach- but the 3 stories I did were just a hoot! Just reached one where Supergirl and Batgirl team up to take away Superman and Batman's powers...just funny. Yes, the cover is stupid, and a lot of the dialogue is the pulp-y "dare-doll" stuff, but I like it.

Continuing the Batgirl theme here, Jim Lee's Batgirl in Batman and Robin 6 is really adorable. She's Barbara Gordon at 15, and while her 1/2 inch sliver of a mask won't hide anyone's identity, it's a cute part of the story. Black Canary has a part too, and the fishnets and bustier are a bit too revealing, it is BC. Jimmie Olson and Vicki Vale (that's 3 redheads in the book!) had a few pages too- although Vicki's part was entirely to take off her hospital gown. Does anyone get distracted by Frank Miller's capitalization? Ex.: "It's been the kind of night DREAMS are made of." or "on my way to the DOCKS.."

I will post Cali pics later - they are at home.

Moore Lost Girls, other girls

My celebration of Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie's wedding was to get Lost Girls on ILL, because there ain't no way we'd buy it at our public library. I'm glad another patron asked for it, and I get to look it at for week until it goes back, because I'm sure my tech services branch had a coronary if they flipped through it. So far, I've read a few pages, but the pastel based children's type illustrations are not my cup of tea-- more on it later.

Birds of Prey 105. More fangirl squees over the combination of the new BOP and the Secret Six. Hawkgirl, and Harley Quinn (Philly Girl!) driving up saying 'Hey, half-naked fellas and top-heavy lady!'. Just makes me grin.

I stopped reading All Star Batman and Robin 5, and wouldn't have bought the Wonder Woman heiny issue. Now that hear the content (WW just wants to bang Superman!) , so glad I passed. Issue 6 does have that adorable Batgirl cover though...

I did buy World War Hulk 106, and was glad to see it's focus on She-Hulk. Not sure I'll follow the whole series.

Tag 3 deepens the story for Ed, the Tag survivor who is traveling around to piece the Tag history together. It's detective novel, or reporter thriller, but it works. Drawn by Chee, written by Mike Leib, Ed's a below-average type who gets the girl- of course it all turns on him. A minor complaint, but a la Identity Crisis and other , the girl goes batty and screws up the boys life.

Y 56!! Inevitable reunion, but a bit anticlimatic. 355 gives a scarf to Yorick, signaling the (temp) end of their road. Only 4 more issues of my favorite series ever.

lead Bird flying the coop

Hey it's my freckled arm with Gail Simone on the official DC slideshow!
All the NYCC DC Comicon slideshows

One of the biggest announcements coming out the DC Nation column is Gail Simone leaving Birds of Prey, with Sean McKeever coming on. I have really loved McKeever on Spider-Man loves Mary Jane, and like his dialogue and emotional engagement. So while it's a shock and a finger-cross that things continue to go well in BoP, I like her replacement. Rumor has it her "dream job with dream artists" is on Wonder Woman-- maybe I'll actually read WW if she is writing.

The big article is the Gail Simone interview at Newsarama:
It put the lie to the idea that male readers wouldn't read a book with a female cast, and it stayed one of DC's steadiest selling and most critically acclaimed books


Well, issue #104 is probably the biggest response to a single issue we've ever done, and it actually gets a bit crazier. And the climax of this story is going to put monster smiles on the faces of every Birds of Prey reader, I believe. It's the Six vs. the Birds. It's Tora Olafsdotter returning. It's Hawkgirl, and a still-to-be-revealed final member of the Six, and finally, it's Oracle having a friendly chat with Spy Smasher that's going to be quite memorable.

Sean McKeever, says Gail Simone 'spreads very kind lies about me'

"She can steal the magick of anybody"

Four titles starring female characters from DC! I know I am drawn to these books, but there are more female-led comic books in the last few years. These, along with She-Hulk and Spider-Man loves MJ on the Marvel side are on my pull list.


Justice Society of America 3 April 07
Geoff Johns, Dale Eaglesham

Stargirl helps Maxine create a costumed identity. While she's very cute, she could get a side job as an elf at the Macy's Santa display. The women of the JSA are playing a significant role these days, from Power Girl to Stargirl to Maxine. Yes, sometimes their depictions are comicMaxim, the fear at an ambush and the growth of the female characters still makes JSA a good read. I also like the positive moments, in the dark and moody gloom of many of the other titles I read.
Not to say there isn't the very serious storyline of murdering descendents of former JSA members by Captain Nazi and crew.

The Helmet of Fate: Black Alice 1
Black Alice (Lori Lechlin) made a recent dramatic appearance in Birds of Prey, I was interested in her own storyline. She's a goth outsider at her high school, trying to resist using her powers against the jocks and people who torment her. She's lonely, her dad is drunk and angry recently, and her mother was brought back at nearly zombie level. This title involves the "be careful what you wish for" moral, where Black Alice is granted her darkest desires by the Helmet of Fate. This character has a strong potential future-- she's like the Hot Topic superheroine of the day. "She can steal the magick of anybody"

Birds of Prey 102
Mismatch

Oracle's backstory with the Spy Smasher Katarina, of two brilliant and driven women who compete at academics and on the track, was a good one. I like the intimate connection to Oracle, who only orchestrates her team against the villians. Here, the line of morality of what Oracle is and how the Spy Smasher considers the consequences to her bad deeds then does them anyway. The team still has rough edges, and I guess Manhunter will be out soon.

Catwoman 64
"I suppose that's why I like Gotham so much. This place on the other hand...It's just too damn sunny." Catwoman goes to Metropolis to steal a snow globe for The Calculator; hidden under steel and concrete at Lexcorp. Her jaded observations of Gotham vs. Metropolis are witty, and coming up against Luthor is an interesting ride. The Halle Berry Catwoman movie was on last night- I've never seen nor do I want to. I'll stick with Pfeiffer's Catwoman here.

SuperKitty

All: please wish good thoughts for my poor kitty, Fredo, now at the animal hospital. He has to stay a few days. He's just the best kitty.

I like seeing the comments to my previous post on where people get their comics. Comment if you haven't yet!

Worst. Cover. Ever part 9
A real eye-lemon from Liefeld at Mark Engblom's site.

Another insider comic blog
called ComicMix.com-- although it currently says "belted with gamma rays".
Comicsmix will offer "the latest talking points in the entertainment universe." He says the site's comics coverage will focus on how the medium is growing beyond the hardcore comics fan and attracting general readers.

Hey! Some actual reviews:
Just picked up 52 weeks 39 and 40, but did catch up to 37. Just did the math and realized by the end of 52, I will have spent $130 this year on this comic. There should be some trade in where I get one bound book for giving my 52 floppies in. Or DC should make a board of all of us who bought every issue. Issue 37 was the Supernova revealed! issue. Booster unravels the story from how the lab had clues everywhere to what was going on with Skeets. His arrogance was exaggerated, and jealousy at Supernova to misdirect. Huh. As we all know with comics, hang on and dead is never dead. Usually.

I also liked the Ollie and Dinah discussion that references her going "East to learn new skills", a tie-in to Shiva and Birds of Prey (and an insider conversation I understood! Yes!). And Animal Man was left behind, left for dead, but dead is never dead...

Birds of Prey 102
The Lois Lane and Barbara Gordon sit down was good, with Lois fishing for info, but leaving wtih "someone powerful seems to rather dislike you." Misfit Batgirl tries to run home base, and ends up just jumping wildly into the pic. Not sure what to think of her, but she does add comic relief. Manhunter is questioned. The team is just beginning, and I don't yet have a feel for all the characters. But Simone can make me root for them, I know it.

New Lost tonight.

70 titles per month from DC

DC Comics month to month sales figures

There are some really interesting tidbits on DC sales to ponder here- see if your DC or Vertigo titles get comments like "harsh drop" or "declining, due to fickleness" It's a different keyhole to peek through as a fan, but most of the numbers synch with our feelings on titles- delays cause lost interest (Wonder Woman), some restarts didn't work (The Flash).

'it can’t gloss over the fact that 52 and Justice League of America appear to be the only major successes in the publisher’s stable right now. Other recent relaunches, such as Wonder Woman and Flash: The Fastest Man Alive, are dropping down the chart at an alarming rate. New high-profile creative teams on Action Comics and Superman are commercial disappointments so far.'

Re: my favorite line Vertigo:
At Vertigo, the monthly direct market sales continue to look bleak. While Fables and Y: The Last Man remain as strong as ever and the spin-off Jack of Fables appears to be successfully establishing itself as a much-needed third flagship, shifting upwards of 20K every month, there’s not much else.

Teasing out some titles I read---
11/2006: 52 Week 30 — 102,576 (- 0.1%)

11/2006: Birds of Prey #100 — 34,607 (+13.9%)

11/2006: The Boys #5 — 26,842 (+ 8.0%)

11/2006: Mystery in Space #3 of 8 — 25,804 (-10.3%)

11/2006: Y: The Last Man #51 — 25,606 (-4.5%)

11/2006: The Creeper #4 of 6 — 18,492 (-12.5%)

11/2006: DMZ #13 — 14,228 (- 2.8%)

Nice to see this about The Exterminators, which I don't read, but friend of my MidJersey Comicon Mike Hawthorne is mentioned..
Holding level as guest artist Mike Hawthorne steps in. Issue #13 begins a four-part storyline, so The Exterminators should be safe until #16 at least.

This is a surprise to me:
11/2006: The All-New Atom #5 — 25,569 (-10.1%)
Another commercial disaster.