DC 52 Wave 1 losses (what’s next on the block?)

Six series are cancelled (Men of War, Mister Terrific, O.M.A.C., Hawk and Dove, Blackhawks and Static Shock) and more are on the way to take their place:

• BATMAN INCORPORATED – Writer: Grant Morrison. Artist: Chris Burnham. The acclaimed ongoing writer of ACTION COMICS, Grant Morrison, presents a fresh take on BATMAN INCORPORATED, in which the Batman brand is franchised globally in preparation for a major international threat.

• EARTH 2 – Writer: James Robinson. Artist: Nicola Scott. The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society combats threats that will set them on a collision course with other worlds.

• WORLDS’ FINEST – Writer: Paul Levitz. Artists: George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Stranded on our world from a parallel reality, Huntress and Power Girl struggle to find their way back to Earth 2. Perez and Maguire will be the artists on alternating story arcs.

• DIAL H – Writer: China Miéville. Artist: Mateus Santoluoco. The first ongoing series from acclaimed novelist China Miéville, this is a bold new take on a cult classic concept about the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers to become a hero.

• G.I. COMBAT – Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ariel Olivetti. Featuring the return of a classic DC Comics series, THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT, along with rotating back-up stories and creative teams – including THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, with writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and THE HAUNTED TANK, with writer John Arcudi and artist Scott Kolins.

• THE RAVAGERS – Writer: Howard Mackie. Artist: Ian Churchill. Spinning off from TEEN TITANS and SUPERBOY, this series finds four superpowered teens on the run and fighting against the organization that wants to turn them into supervillains.

I am quite sad to see OMAC go as it was an unexpected hit for me, but the rest I have no strong feelings towards.

Newsarama is postulating what other comics are at risk for cancellation, and why readers should check them out.

Here are their picks based on sales behavior and my own two cents on each. For a more detailed and informed opinion, I recommend visiting the link above and talking to your local comic shop owner about what you may be missing out on.

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS (an anthology series with an ever changing creative tea, and characters makes this one a tough comic to sell)

FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. (a cult hit, the world would be a poorer place if this gets the axe. It needs to cross over to a more successful series rather than OMAC. a quirky and unique series, Frankenstein got some stick for being a poor man’s Hellboy, but it’s actually a lot riskier and weirder in many ways)

LEGION LOST (new writer Tom DeFalco could turn this around. I am a big Legion fan, but currently there are three Legion comics on the shelves which is a big impact on the wallet. Maybe the closure of the Origins series and trade paperback release will boost this book’s popularity?)

RESURRECTION MAN (the great creative team of Abnett and Lanning does not always a hit comic make)

I, VAMPIRE (the Batman appearance should have given more attention to a comic that was getting plenty of good lip service as it was. Yet it continues to lag in sales. The upcoming crossover with Justice League Dark may help, or it may hurt both titles.)

THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN (which has gotten scathing reviews from fans and is getting a new creative team)

GRIFTER (The Wildstorm hero that should/could be the coolest of the cool is suffering from editorial interference and the rapidly approaching addition of Rob Liefeld on plotting chores. I met with Edmonson and was intrigued by his ideas for this series but the book is so hampered by editorial tweaks that much gets lost in the execution.)

BLUE BEETLE (reviving the series with the new hero rather than the popular Ted Kord could have been the mis-step here. However, the character has a live action series coming up in DC Nation, so I doubt that this will get cancelled, maybe just overhauled)

VOODOO (who?)

CAPTAIN ATOM (I have heard lots of good things about this comic, yet even I have not picked it up yet)

So, what are your thoughts? What DC Comics are on the brink of cancellation that deserve a break and what  titles should be get cut?

Batman The Brave and the Bold- Four Star Spectacular

Episode 3.13
The final series of Batman The Brave and the Bold has been nothing short of astounding. The brakes are clearly off as the cartoon leads a mad foray into the realm of the absurd and uncanny. Featuring episodes with musical numbers, an international club of Jokers and even a team-up with Space Ghost, it is clear that nothing is too out of the ordinary. This week’s episode was an anthology-style adventure split between Adam Strange, the Flash, ‘Mazing Man and the Creature Commandos. Titled ‘Four Star Spectacular,’ this installment was a reference to the DC Comics mag from the late 70’s that featured an ever-changing line-up of heroes each time all in an over-sized book that was often difficult to fit in your back pocket.

In print, Four Star Spectacular was partly composed of reprint material but the animated homage was all new wall-to-wall action.

The first part starred Adam Strange, that star-faring Earthman who spends half of his life on the planet Rann, home of his beloved Alanna. Using the Zeta Beam, Strange is transported to Rann where he leads the life of an adventurer and hero to an alien culture. When the radiation wears off, he returns to his life on Earth. In ‘Worlds War,’ the bizarre Zeta Beam radiation that enables Adam Strange becomes a problem as it strikes random objects, transporting them to some foreign planet as he anxiously tries to reach Rann to celebrate his anniversary with Alanna. Finally hitching a ride on a Zeta Beam, Strange learns that the interplanetary pirate Kanjar Ro is attempting to use the beam to transport a bomb to Rann.

Picking up an ally in the unusual form of a puppy, Strange battles Ro across several alien worlds as they are transported via wild Zeta Beams, fists flying. In the end, the four legged friend defeats not only Kanjar Ro but serves as the ideal present for the shapely space vixen.

A celebration of the sci-fi comics of the 1950’s and 60’s, this installment was lots of fun. Oddly, it featured Batman only in a fleeting glimpse as the two planet-hopping combatants traversed the various realms of the cosmos. I quite like Adam Strange and this installment reminded me why he is so great. A few years ago, a magnificent modern take on the character surfaced by Andy Diggle and Pascal Ferry, but you can also enjoy the classics in a black and white Showcase Presents collection.

Adam Strange: Planet Heist

Showcase Presents: Adam Strange

I am a big fan of the scarlet speedster, so I was especially happy to see that the second part of the four star spectacular centered on Barry Allen, the Silver Age (and current) Flash. In ‘Double Jeopardy’ we see the dark knight facing the cur known as Captain Boomerang. Even enamored by the Batman’s batarangs, Captain Boomerang is a murderous foe and driven to kill Batman with his own signature weapon. Before the killing blow can land, the human whirlwind arrives, two minutes late.

Feeling the need to explain the lack of an instantaneous reaction, the Flash weaves a tale of his battle with the Mirror Master, the Scots version (created by Grant Morrison). I weep for comics fans who cannot appreciate the genius of the Flash as he has the most bizarre rogue’s gallery this side of Batman or Spider-Man. The Mirror Master has developed a new ‘gimmick’ that allows him to create solid mirror image doppelgangers which he sets against his ruby foe. In the midst of his battle, Abra Kadabra arrives from the far future, gleeful that he will soon bear witness to his arch enemy’s death. Showing Allen a newspaper from the future depicting the Flash’s death, it all seems to be set in stone.

The ‘inevitable death’ trick has been used in comics for ages, no matter what the discouraged modern fan thinks. In each case it is shown that death is inevitable and each time our hero evades the reaper’s grasp. This is no exception and a great homage to the writing stylings of Bob Haney, that mad architect of the B & B comic book series.

The Flash Archives, Vol. 1

The Flash by Geoff Johns Omnibus, Vol. 1

The third part of the four part omnibus stars a hero that I must admit ignorance of. I recall seeing ads for the ‘Mazing Man comic book but as it arrived at the pinnacle of grim 80’s comics, I had no interest in a wacky comedy series. Shame on me, really, as the animated version is lots of fun.

An addle-brained miniature superhero, ‘Mazing Man takes up cat sitting and nearly destroys the entire dwelling of his clients through the course of a single night. It’s straight-ahead vaudeville done with pitch perfect humor. I must learn more about this character.

My favorite moment could be when our hero wonders to himself what his idol Batman would do upon losing a cat and imagines the caped crusader freaking out like a loon.

Despite the high quality of the first three segments, the final part of this episode is by far the best as it involves the Creature Commandos (enjoying a Renaissance of sorts in the pages of Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E.). Targeting an island populated by dinosaurs, the Commandos fight a War that Time Forgot. A squad of experimental mutants, the Creature Commandos are a weird secret weapon in DC Comics’ WWII era. Criminally uncollected in any format, your only chance of reading about these characters is to hunt down the issues at a comic con or steal them online. Honestly, DC and readers alike are missing out on some big money by not collecting these rarities.

I’m sorry, but if a werewolf, vampire, gorgon and Frankenstein’s Monster versus dinosaurs doesn’t stoke your fire, you’re dead inside.

The segment gets more complex when Batman enters the fray against the body-swapping villain known as the Ultra-Humanite. Inhabiting the body of a T Rex, the Ultra-Humanite’s plan is to use mind control technology in a mad dream of world conquest. Using monster teamwork, the Commandos are able to strike a killer blow against the Ultra-Humanite’s plan, forcing him to reject his host body and crawl away like the brain in a jar that he is.

Showcase Presents: The War That Time Forgot

Frankenstein Agent of Shade #1

Immensely inventive, madly entertaining and unpredictable… there is no cartoon like Batman The Brave and the Bold. The world will be a poorer place when it concludes next week.

House of Dracula (1945)

A direct sequel to 1944 House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula again attempts the ensemble approach in combining all of the Universal Monsters (Dracula, the Wolfman, Frankenstein’s Monster) and a couple of character types familiar with the genre (the Hunchback, the Mad Doctor) to create a massive blockbuster film that cannot be forgotten. Perhaps it is because only Lon Chaney Jr. is a returning star as the Wolfman and both Dracula and the Frankenstein Monster are played by actors other than Bela Legosi and Boris Karloff, this movie isn’t regarding as a classic along with the other Universal Horror films such as Dracula, the Mummy, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein. It lacks the gravity and importance of those seminal works, but is such an oddity that it makes for enjoyable viewing, especially for a large group of friends looking for a fun film to enjoy together.

If possible, I recommend viewing House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula back to back as they make up a complete story.

Picking up where the previous film left off,  somehow Dracula has survived his apparent death by sunlight and is traveling incognito as Baron Latos. Dracula seeks Doctor Edelmann whom he believes can cure him of the curse of vampirism. Edelmann is assisted by a pair of bombshells,  Rita and Nina. Nina is waiting patiently for Edelmann to cure her of her hunchback, a condition that is represented in shocking detail as we can see her twisted spin pressing against her nurse’s coat. Intrigued by the challenge, Edelman agrees to help Dracula… and then his practice becomes a hive of activity as Larry Talbot arrives, wringing his hands nervously, anxious to be cured of his lycanthropic condition that has made him the Wolfman.

This is the fourth instance in which Chaney has played Talbot and it’s such a strange part that it’s easy to see why it is so difficult to cast the Woflman. A large beefy man, Chaney’s face seems almost frozen in a perpetual expression of sadness. Even in the first Wolfman film, Chaney milks every scene in which he suffers and stares off madly, ruminating his fate. In this appearance, he is no less tragic as he has been awakened from suspended animation only to become a monster all over again. Depressed beyond measure, he has great need of Edelmann’s help, but before the full moon rises again and turns him into a bloodthirsty animal. A cure or suicide seem to be his only choices.

Nina must have put an ad on Craigslist in hopes of drumming up business only to see it all go horribly wrong.

Undeterred, Edelmann takes the additional patient of Talbot and claims that he can cure the Werewolf as well. So that means he can cure a hunchback, a vampire and a werewolf… how you may ask? With spores. It turns out that the magical ingredient in Doctor Edelmann’s science is a rare spore that he has been growing in the bowels of his estate.

When Edellmann cannot cure Talbot quickly enough, he attempts to drown himself and only succeeds in finding a hidden cave where the Frankenstein Monster lay (what luck!) and is the ideal spot to germinate more of Edelmann’s spores (what a lucky cave!!).

On first viewing, I found John Carradine’s Dracula laughable, hardly a poor man’s Legosi at all, but upon further viewings, he is a Dracula of a different cloth altogether. Regal and strangely alien, Carradine’s Dracula (or Baron Latos) has a tortured lost quality that makes it so very new and interesting. Legosi’s Dracula is of course the iteration that is burned into our minds as the iconic version and this cannot help but distract from Carradine’s performance, but he really shines, especially in scenes like this one:

Dracula attempts to seduce Rita

Dracula seems torn between seeking new life as a being free of the need to draw life from others and accepting his true nature as Lord of the Undead. He eventually chooses the latter and turns the tables on Edelmann by transferring some of his blood into the good Doctor’s veins, transforming him into a ghoul. Edelmann then becomes the central monster of the film as he becomes a Hyde-like character driven to violence. Scurrying off into town, he spreads havoc and mayhem with his mad eyes and fiendish grin. The performance is simply amazing and actor Onslow Stevens deserves attention for the role. The crimes are placed on Talbot who is a self-confessed killer and madman known to be resting in Edelmann’s home, recovering from his treatment. Talbot knows that it is actually the Doctor who is the killer, but refuses to turn him in as he wishes to help Edelmann recover.

This proves to be a very very bad idea.

Edelmann suffers extreme bouts of madness and becomes determined to revive Frankenstein’s monster to join him in his dance of death.  The film becomes quite mad as the monster count falls with the loss of two creatures only to rise again as the Mad Doctor and FRankenstein’s Monster arrive to take up the slack.

A hidden gem and a fun movie all around, House of Dracula is the last of the classic Universal Horror films, before movies such as Them and The Day the Earth Stood Still took hold on the viewing public. If you are looking for a movie to fill your gloomy evening, make sure to reserve a place for this one.

Dracula - The Legacy Collection (Dracula / Dracula (1931 Spanish Version) / Dracula's Daughter / Son of Dracula / House of Dracula)

Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein

When asked what attracts a reader to a particular comic book, the answer is often that it is the artwork that pulls them in month after month (and could also push them away). The stark lines, charming facial characteristics or dynamic movement of an artists’ pen can make the most mundane story come alive. Once in a while a comic book artist releases a work that perfectly epitomizes their skill and love for the graphic art format. In 1983, legendary comic artist Bernie Wrightson released such a book with his take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

Finally back in print, the book is heralded as a must have for every comic book reader. The mood and emotive power of Wrightson‘s line work jumps off the page in such a way that it is as much a landmark in the comic book medium today as when it was first released.

Leaping from the success he had seen in Swamp Thing, Frankenstein is a true monument to Wrightson‘s ability and I’m happy to see that it is finally back in print, thanks to Dark Horse Books.

Available from Amazon:
Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein
Swamp Thing: Dark Genesis
Freak Show

Monster-Size Hulk

What great timing, eh?

While DC Comics releases a comic where Superman and Batman fight werewolves, Marvel published a king-size special where the Hulk dukes it out with the Monster of Frankenstein, Werewolf by Night and Dracula himself!

I purchased the special issue in a kind of flurry of excitement and will admit that I did not hope for much when I finally decided to read it. Yet what a surprise this issue turned out to be!

The first tale is the real star where Bruce Banner is tricked into giving the Monster of Frankenstein a blood-transfusion, turning it into a raging super-powered monstrosity. Stellar art and a tight story make this a must-read (while I’m still hazy as to why Bruce helped revive the monster at all). The rumination on what makes a monster is textbook stuff for Hulk fans, but this story added a little something to the formula by presenting a genuine monster to co-star.

The second tale is cursed by poor coloring that make it nearly illegible, but I have to admire the attempt to mimic moonlight in the battle between the Hulk and Werewolf by Night. A character all but forgotten these days, it was a treat to see the Werewolf by Night return to the page if only for a moment.

A brief humorous tale (which I adored) breaks up the rhythm just enough for the finale that I had not planned on reading at all as it was mostly text (so many words and few pictures frustrate my puny mind). But the Hulk vs Dracula short story by Peter David was both fun and exciting. An accomplished writer or prose and comic books, David remains one of the best out there.

So if you are looking for a Hulk comic to dive into after this week’s release of the Incredible Hulk DVD, you should check this one out at your local comic shop!