reader participation

So I don’t even know why I do this to myself.

filed under Categories blogging about blogging is a sin, publishing, reader participation, superman 4 Comments

I suppose I should probably get around to discussing your responses to my inquiry about how folks feel regarding DC’s New 52 initiative. …Especially since, thanks to Jim, we’re up to 52 comments! Coincidence? …Nah.

I’m probably going to go through over the next day or so and respond more thoroughly to specific comments, but the first thing that I noticed was that a few people are not entirely thrilled with Action Comics thus far, citing plot or art concerns. And, I can understand that….

A PROGRESSIVE RUIN ACTION ALERT! Okay, I just deleted several rambling paragraphs about changes to the Superman franchise and how this new status quo may be interfering with Morrison’s storytelling, or at least reader interaction with same, and blah blah blah you can read what I already wrote about some of my disconnect with this New 52 Superman here. In essence, I think Morrison may have been better served picking up from where the previous Superman creative teams left off, and just telling crazy new stories with the franchise’s toys (like he did with his New X-Men run) without having to deal with these editorially-mandated alterations. Of course, “Superman’s New Costumes!” gets more real world media attention than “Mad Scottish Writer Takes Over Superman, Vows Revenge” so that probably wasn’t going to happen.

Anyway, a lot of what I wrote felt awfully dismissive of people’s reactions to the actual plotting and pacing of the stories, which I totally wasn’t intending to do, so out all that went. I do think there’d be less of a disconnect if it were stories about the Superman we knew and not the post-Flashpoint version, but that wouldn’t necessarily address any storytelling concerns folks might have. I mean, I like Morrison’s Action quite a bit, and it’s selling very well for us, but I can see where people might not be so into it. “‘Your mileage may vary,’ he clichéd.”

I do admit that I’m not sure I like how Jimmy Olsen is being drawn in Action. I prefer the “Representational Archie Andrews” version of the character.

Urgh. My struggling over even that bit of incoherent weblogging took up all my ProgRuin time tonight, and then some, so I’ll get to your specific comments and such tomorrow. Especially those terrible, terrible things being said about Swamp Thing.

…Yes, today’s post was bit of a carwreck. Please enjoy its flaming glory, and I’ll see you tomorrow.

Yes, I said “the ‘real’ Superman”…deal with it.

filed under Categories publishing, reader participation 56 Comments

So we’re three issues deep on the New 52 DC titles (and onto the fourth issue for the first-weekers), and we’ve now seen how sales are shaking out for the various series. Justice League, Action Comics, Batman and Detective seem to be the big winners, at least at our shop. Animal Man and Swamp Thing were the surprise hits…and not just at our shop, so you can’t blame the Sterling Factor for the Swampy sales. (“Hey, did you get the new Swamp Thing?” “Nah, wasn’t interested.” “You should really buy it.” “I said I wasn’t….” “I’m putting it in your bag…you’re BUYING IT.”)

But now that we’re a little over three months in…how are you, as readers, liking the titles? Did some start strong for you, then sort of peter out? Or did some grab you right away and then just sort of meander their way out of your hearts and pull lists? Or did some just plain hit the spot right out of the gate, and continue to satisfy month in and month out?

In my case, I thought Justice League started weakly, but improved a bit with subsequent installments. Granted, I don’t know that we needed a “watch the team slowly assemble over several months” storyline, but it’s been enjoyable, and Wonder Woman’s introduction in #3 was a hoot.

Fury of Firestorm didn’t do anything for me at first, which may have more to do with my reaction as a longtime fan to the drastic rearranging of the character’s premise than any particular “flaw” in the book. As more issues have come out, I’m come to appreciate and enjoy the series, though my fanboy jury is still out in regards to the All-New, All-Different Cliff Carmichael.

The other book I didn’t much care for at first is Superman, which, as I noted at the time, was more exposition-dump than story, and more interesting than, you know, entertaining. And that interest stemmed from curiosity about how the New 52-version of Superman differed from the Supes we knew before…I mean, aside from the terrible costume. Again, as more issues have come out, things have improved slightly and the direction of the story is a little more clear. However, I still can’t shake the feeling that we’re not reading stories about the real Superman, but rather some Elseworlds/parallel universe version, which, I suppose, we are, in a way. (And perhaps it seems even more removed to those folks who think the mid-’80s reboot Superman is an imposter.)

Swamp Thing I am still enjoying, naturally, though I do wish a bit that they’d swamp or get off the pot already and get Alec Holland back into Swamp Thing-form. Yes, I know, they’re leading up to it…I’m just being impatient.

That was probably the worst thing I had to say about the New 52 books I’m following…the ones I didn’t care for I dropped right away (Mister Terrific – just didn’t like the writing or art; Justice League International – nothing about it really grabbed me). So, overall, aside from those two, the New 52 titles I started with in September I’ve either continued to enjoy or have moved from “eh” to “okay, I’m enjoying it now” – in the latter case either the books actually have improved or my taste is declining, and there are solid arguments for both possibilities.

Just for the record, here are the New 52 titles I’m reading: Action, Animal Man, Aquaman, Batgirl, Batwoman, DC Universe Presents, Demon Knights, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E., Fury of Firestorm, Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: New Guardians, Justice League, Justice League Dark, O.M.A.C., Red Lanterns, Superman, and Swamp Thing. …Gee, looks like a lot when I write ’em out like that. Also, for someone who sure complains about multiple titles for the same franchise, I sure do read a lot of Green Lantern series.

Anyway, please let me know in the comments…how are you feeling about the new DC books you’re reading thus far? Have they improved? Have you dropped any? Have any surprised you? Isn’t O.M.A.C. the greatest? GIVE ME INPUT.

Now if I can actually play as Galactus, you’ve got a sale.

filed under Categories reader participation, sir-links-a-lot 6 Comments

So I asked for caption submissions for that Swamp Thing/Starfire/Robin pic, and several of you delivered some good lines. I have picked this one as the winner, emailed to me in that time-honored format of the gag motivational poster:


That’s from reader Michael (whose fine first name had no influence upon my decision), and you can visit his website, with many more funnybook-related motivational posters like the above, at Michael Paciocco’s Mind.

Thank you, Michael, and thank you to everyone else who contributed!

In other news:

  • Tim O’Neil writes smart about the passing of Dwayne McDuffie and the great value of his work.

  • Siskoid has his tribute to Doctor Who‘s Nicholas Courtney, in the form of unauthorized Dr. Who CCG game cards.

  • So that Chris Sims guy has a story in Image Comics’ Skullkickers #6 and would like you to buy it. I have read it, and it is the kind of subtle, thoughtful and heartstring-tugging work you’ve come to expect from anything with the name “Chris Sims” slapped on it. Very recommended.

  • Speaking of Sims, he and Matt interview Kevin Church in the latest War Rocket Ajax episode. BONUS: episode title comes from something mentioned during the show that I found on a message board five years ago. Good memories, those guys.

  • I’m not big on this type of fighting game, but after seeing some footage of the Galactus battles in Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, I’m intrigued. Here’s an article with some details on his appearance in the game, and an embedded video showing the big guy in action (short ad at beginning of video, Galactus shows up at the 45 second mark).

  • And now, for no good reason other than that my pal Corey pointed out to me that it was up on the YouTube, here is one of my all-time favorite SNL sketches:


    It’s not so much that it’s laugh-out-loud funny as it is just damned peculiar.

I picture Baron Winters and Captain Carrot always bickering with each other, like Green Arrow and Hawkman used to do.

filed under Categories reader participation, swamp thing 21 Comments

Here’s a colorful cast of crazy characters from the May 1983 DC Comics retailer order form…click on the pic below for a larger image:


Now that’s a Justice League line-up I’d like to see.


I was trying to come up with some funny dialogue or a humorous caption for the above picture, but my fever-addled brain is having none of it, so you folks go ahead and give it a shot. My favorite gets…oh, I don’t know, a big fat plug for their webpage or whatever on my site, for all the good that’ll do you. Just keep it…somewhat clean, is all I ask. (Both the submission and the website you’d like me to plug.)

BONUS: house ad from Superboy #189 (August 1972):

Eat it, Google Maps!

filed under Categories maps, reader participation 3 Comments

The timing on this worked out fairly well, as I’m under the weather and this is content provided by YOU, the reader. As I was hoping, some of you folks took this map and did something creative and amusing with it, which, as someone in need of some cheering, I very much appreciate.

Swamp pal and damned dirty ape expert Rich Handley put his stinking paws to work on this fine map:


Sleestak consulted the Library of Skulls in the Lost City, and came away with this timely map ripped from headlines of the 1950s…or is it today:


And this last one is from the little stuffed bull to end all little stuffed bulls…the Fantastic Bully, who clobbered me with this:

It seemed wrong to post this particular image without any alt text, for some reason.

Thanks, guys…you done good, you mugs.

ADDENDUM: I missed this one that was sent to me by Dave from Dave Ex Machina…sorry, Dave!

I’m probably the only person amused by this…

filed under Categories maps, reader participation 9 Comments

…but I love doing things with this stupid map from Sensation Comics #50.

…Like this:


The maps may not be to exact scale. Or have anything resembling actual geographical locations:


Would I pay good money to read a comic with Swamp Thing chasing Arcane on a motorcycle? Yes…yes I would.

This could almost be an editorial cartoon of sorts, if I’d put any actual thought into it:


Yeah, yeah, I know, I’m totally wrong. Here, have at it yourself:

The stuff that comes out of Arisia’s mouth, honestly.

filed under Categories green lantern, reader participation

Looks like Arisia has more to say, my friends, so let’s take a look:

Adam kicks it off with a tribute to the Greatest Batman Comic of Them All:

Bully the Little Stuffed Bull whips out some more typography magic:


I’m not 100% sure I know what Gordon‘s talking about here, other than it’s Doctor Who-related:


G23 makes me uncomfortable by having Arisia say this:


Joe’s entry (context) is fantastic:


Here’s another woo-related entry, from Lofro:


Pal Nat gives us a trilogy of tomfoolery:


Rich wraps it up with a pair of puckish pics:


Thanks for contributing, pals!

And that’s enough of that. Regular service on this website should resume tomorrow.

Arisia groks the local tongue.

filed under Categories green lantern, reader participation

So in the Millennium trade paperback (by Steve Englehart, Joe Staton and Ian Gibson), there’s a scene where alien Green Lantern Arisia comments on her own acclimation to life on Earth…well, specifically to one particular region of Earth:


Well, that seemed rife with possibilities, and while the original panel is Funny Because It’s True (I mean, I’m an American, and I love my grub and drink), I suspected there were other folks Arisia could sound like.

So here you go…some pals of mine and I have cooked up a few alternatives:

From Andrew:


From Bully the Little Stuffed Bull:


From Dave:


From Pal Dorian:


From Ken:


From Shane:


From yours truly:


Oh, look, where did this come from?

Your fave comics, 2004 edition.

filed under Categories reader participation

(Oh Milo, you scamp!)

Special thanks to everyone for participating in this little survey of mine. Like I’d said previously, this wasn’t a popularity contest or anything, so there are no winners as such. However, I did want to say a few words about some of the titles that did seem to pop up with some frequency:



JSA – I’m about to say something that is apparently self-contradictory, but bear with me: JSA is one of my favorite comic books, and it’s exactly the kind of comic book we don’t need more of.

Now I’m a long-time comics fan…specifically, I’m a long-time DC Comics fan, so I’m fully mired in the company’s convoluted fictional history. A comic like JSA is in effect a celebration of that history, playing with the pieces that are still left after continuity-changing events such as Crisis on Infinite Earths and Zero Hour. However, this heavy dependence on continuity means that it’s aimed primarily at people like me…people who have read more comic books than is probably healthy, and not at anyone new to reading comics. Again, that’s fine within moderation…companies like Marvel and DC need to publish books like this that cater to their fans and keeps them happy, so long as the majority of their other comics are more accessible to newer readers. (Whether the other comics are accessible is another argument entirely.)



Y The Last Man – alas, I don’t buy this title, as it started at a time when I was desperately avoiding picking up any new series for fear of getting hooked on yet another comic book. However, I do flip through each issue as it arrives at the store (a good sign that I should probably be buying it…I was like this with Astro City before I finally broke down and added it to my purchases). It’s an addicting title, hooking readers with the mystery of just why the Last Man on Earth did in fact survive whatever it was that killed all the other men. Given that the series does have a definite direction and a catchy “hook,” and the promise that this series will have a definite ending sooner rather than later, and that it’s supported by a trade paperback program — all these factors have contributed to this series’ success. (Other DC/Vertigo titles also benefit from these factors, such as Fables and 100 Bullets.)



Ex Machina – this is the first non-Warren Ellis breakout title from Wildstorm in a while, and it came as a real surprise to me that it sold as well as it did at our store. It came as even more of a surprise that I ended up buying it as well, spurred on by the interesting premise (a former “superhero” trying to live down that past while trying to function as the mayor of New York City) and a knock-out of a last page in the first issue.

The series continues to pick up readers as each issue is released…issues 2 through the current issue are all still available from Diamond for reorder, though I wish DC would go back to press on the first issue. The trade paperback isn’t due for a while, and I’d certainly be able to recommend this comic to more customers if I could get them started with the beginning of the story.



Ultimate Spider-Man – for over a decade, the only Batman comics I read (aside from the occasional Elseworlds special and a handful of issues of Legends of the Dark Knight) were the comics based on the various animated series. In general, these comics were consistently well-done, attractively drawn, competently written, and for the most part, self-contained, without heavy reliance on Batman’s extensive history or without being tied into yet another interminable crossover. I think this, in a way, explains the appeal of Ultimate Spider-Man. I think a lot of people do like Spider-Man, but don’t want to read the regular titles due to the perceived high entry cost (knowledge of past history, crossovers, etc.). In fact, if I’m remembering correctly, in the nearly 70 issues of this series, there’s only been one storyline that explicitly crossed over with another comic (Ultimate X-Men). I do have some quibbles with the series, mostly in the apparent padding out of storylines for eventual paperback reprinting, but those paperbacks also add to this title’s success, so who am I to complain?

Other titles that turned up in my survey with some frequency include Planetary (probably Warren Ellis’ most superhero fan-friendly series), WE3 (I didn’t think people would suggest mini-series, but it’s hard to argue with this particular comic), Gotham Central (a Batman title that approaches the franchise from an unusual angle, via Gotham City’s police force), Astonishing X-Men (sort of Marvel’s JSA, playing with X-Men history and clearly aimed at X-fans), Conan (just when I thought that Conan the Barbarian’s time in comics was done, Dark Horse goes and makes it a hit title), and I have to salute the bravery of people who cited Identity Crisis.

Again, I’d like to thank you all for contributing to my informal survey…if any of you still want to add to the list, please feel free…I’ll keep checking in and seeing what you have to say.