At A Loss...

Okay, so, I was thinking. I'm probably neglecting my duties as a feminist comics blogger. There are two relatively new series out right now, written by women (well, co-written in one case), with female protagonists, specifically intended to draw in female readers. And I haven't really (aside from a rant about language) given my impression on either of them.

For the record, I like White Tiger a lot. The language issues bother me, but in general I think Ms. Pierce and Mr. Liebe have an interesting story and character here. I'm not immediately captured, but I'm interested enough to more likely than not purchase the next issue.

As to the other comic, well, to be honest I hadn't read it. I'm not particularly fond of vampire glam-horror in general or Ms. Hamilton's work in particular, so I had the distinct feeling that the Anita Blake series wouldn't work for me. But the other day at the comic shop, I was starting to feel a little guilty about that. I've liked comic adaptations without being terribly fond of the work they're based off of before. Sometimes the synthesis of good art and judicious pruning by the adaptor can really work. (See: The Babysitters Club, for example)

So I cracked open an issue...

Um...Well...It's not a very good series, is it...

Seriously, I'm at a loss for words. It's just...incredibly...not good.

Perhaps I'll let expressions speak louder than words:



Thank you, Anita.

(Picture swiped from this guy. Thanks.)

Year's End: Favorite Moment in Comics (2006)

So it's almost 2007, so I decided to post my absolute favorite moment from any comic published in 2006.

Now there were lots and lots to choose from. But I have to say, my absolute favorite came from Infinite Crisis #7. The comic had it's flaws, but this will never stop being awesome to me:



Because scary powers and fancy armor aside, Superboy Prime is a tool, and Guy Gardner damn well called him on it!

Yay, Guy!

Dumb Question...

How old is Natasha Irons supposed to be? I mean, I know she's a teenager, but I haven't been able to pinpoint a good, approximate age for her.

Any Steel readers know the answer?

meme-time!

Chris Sims has a nifty meme up. Naturally, since I didn't have a topic for today's post I decided to follow suit.

So here are a few things you (probably) don't know about me:

1. I am deathly afraid of earthworms.

That's right. Earthworms. Go ahead and snicker. I'll wait. I know it's an utterly irrational fear, but I will cross the street to avoid one of the little monsters. They're just...revolting.

2. I learned about the birds and the bees from Star Trek.

Well, sort of. My parents were always of the opinion that if I were old enough to ask, I was old enough to know. And since I used to watch Star Trek with my dad at the age of five, it was only a matter of time before I started asking what exactly Captain Kirk was doing with the alien lady.

3. I can dislocate my shoulders at will

It's great. I can pull my arm completely around my head. Great fun at Halloween.

4. I was supposed to be born on April 1st.

But instead popped out around February 7th. I'd give anything to be able to see the look on my dad's face when my mom woke him out of a sound sleep during a mild snow bout, telling him it's time.

April Fools THAT.

5. I've had needles in my eye!

This past summer, my right eye apparenty flaked the hell out and I lost a lot of central vision. This resulted in the need for monthly eye injections. Which aren't as bad as they sound really.

But I like talking about it, because there's nothing like a needle in the eye to make you seem badass.

I've discovered though, eye drops taste HORRID.

But yeah. I am badass. Ph33r m3.

That was fun!

Toy-Store Rambling

Ragnell showed me this and it reminded me of both the most annoying thing and the most awesome thing about working in a toy store.

Oddly, the most annoying thing about the toy store to me isn't customers, it's the organization. The toys are divided into sections, naturally. Action/Adventure, Sports, Bikes, Dolls, Baby, Games and Preschool. Two sections have short hand of "Boys" and "Girls". The Boys department being of course Action and Sports. The girls being dolls and toy kitchens.

I know in some sense it's a ridiculous thing to be irritated by. Action figures ARE primarily boys' toys. Dolls ARE primarily girls. But...it just annoys me that in this day and age we still openly say that. Especially since we do get customers interested in buying sports equipment for girls or toy kitchens/play food for boys. And there's no poorer business sense than telling a ten year old boy that the tamagotchi he wants is in the girls' section.

I guess the outright gender association, while not unreasonable, just irks me. I split my time evenly between action figures and barbie dolls as a kid. (I admit, I usually stole GI Joe's guns and gave them to Barbie. But that's a digression). And I remember being uncomfortable when clerks thought I was lost and tried to lead me back to the dolls.

I also get annoyed by parents who go "Oh! He/She'll love this! Do you have it in pink?"

On the other hand though, I'm reminded of the coolest thing I ever saw at the store. There was a young father, maybe 28-ish. Very attractive. And his cute little daughter. She had to be about four or five.

Anyway. They were looking at bikes. And it was impossibly cute in the way that most families looking at bikes are as long as I don't have to get anything down for them from the ladder. :-) (ladder + bikes hanging from racks a foot above my head + distinct lack of coordination = not so fun time) The little girl tried a couple of different bikes. Barbie, Bratz, others. Then she found the one she liked.

It was a 12-inch boys Superman bike. All navy blue and red, with the "S". Very obviously a boy's bike. But she tried it and she really liked it. She was zooming across the room soon enough. I remember seeing the father look thoughtfully at the bike and waiting for the inevitable: "Do you have a version for girls?"

But he didn't. He just smiled. Took the kid and the bicycle. And bought it. No word about it being for boys. No trying to steer the kid toward the pink and purple monstrosities. He just bought the bike that his little girl wanted.

That made my day. Seriously. I can't explain why. It was just really cool to see. :-)

Nostalgia Kick!

My parents are the awesomest gift-givers ever! Among other presents, they gave me the first boxed set of She-Ra: Princess of Power!

I don't think I need to tell you how awesome this is.

Anyway, I've been reading the series bible, and reminded all over again how this show and He-Man essentially molded my view on feminism.

This quote gave me a warm fuzzy feeling inside:

"SHE-RA, PRINCESS OF POWER will reinforce the fact that one person can make a difference. Man or woman, boy or girl, you have the potential to make the world a better place."

I'm not usually on much of a nostalgia kick. I tend to like modern things as well as, if not more than what came before. (For example, I find the modern age of comics, for all its faults, to be far more to my taste than the Silver. Or even the Golden Age) But when I think about it now, I can't really think of any cartoon show right now that is really so willing to embrace that sort of message. Even if it's just in that cheesy 80's way.

I mean, we have cartoons that are fun. And definitely cartoons that are educational. But I can't think of any that really seem to embrace that sense of power and independence for its own sake. And I can't help but think that's a shame.

Also another quote that made me smile:

"Women should play a major role in all stories, not only Shera and her super-powered friends and enemies, but women of all kinds. Don't neglect our male characters. They are important too, just don't surrender to the macho-syndrome of many cartoons in which the females are wispy Princesses always in need of rescue. Strive always for a true equality of characters, thinking of our people as just that, people, regardless of sex differences."

I think I love you, series-bible writer! From your lips to EVERYONE's ears!

Happy Holidays!

Why Christmas Wishes need precise wording...

Happy Holiday of Choice, Everyone!

All I Want For Christmas...

Is a nice, quiet evening where I can catch up on replying to all the comments on my blog! I'm so horribly behind right now and I feel tremendously guilty about that. Thankfully, with the dreaded holiday season almost over, it seems like soon I'll be able to actually catch up!

I AM at least about halfway done with the post tagging!

Since it's almost Christmas, and I'm a comic book geek, I decided to think of a hypothetical comic story that would be a real Christmas gift to me. And I've got one.

My ideal Christmas-gift story is a Birds of Prey story in which Kimiyo Hoshi teams up with the Birds of Prey to deal with the evil Doctor Light once and for all and finally reclaim the name for good.

I'm not a particular fan of Hoshi. I've liked her in the appearances I've seen, but I have no real attachment to her. However, I think that at this point, the evil Doctor Light is tremendously overrated.

I actually LIKED Identity Crisis, overall. And I thought the twist in (evil)Doctor Light's identity was a neat twist. "He's only a bumbler because of outside intervention! Now he's got his mind back! Ooo! What will he do, now?"

Yeah, speaking of disappointment there. The only thing (evil)Doctor Light really ended up doing, in my opinion, is ride the coattails of that one, admittedly vile, act. I mean, honestly, according to JLA, "Doctor Light" is a name that would make people nervous. This is used as justification for not recruiting Kimiyo Hoshi. But...why?

What has (evil)Doctor Light done that's worthy of fear? He raped Sue Dibny, yes. That was horrible, yes. No question about it. I find it absolutely rage-inspiring. But worthy of fear?

Sorry. Considering how often rape seems to occur in comic books, I don't find it a strong enough reason for all this trepidation. Besides, Light was only in the position to target Sue Dibny because of what he knew about the JLA. The JLA is more careful now. For one thing, they've got a different headquarters and more secure defenses all around. And given how the newer Justice Leaguers were shocked at the necessity of mindwiping villains, one can deduce that the threat of mind-control or body-switching as a means to figure out secret identities has been lessened or even neutralized.

And really, what has (evil)Doctor Light done lately? He annoyed Oliver Queen and took Kimiyo Hoshi's powers, okay. But then what? What's he done with the powers?

All the guy seems to do is make rape threats. Sorry, in the DCU, that doesn't cut it. A single vile act is not enough to put you on level with the big league villains. Besides, do you think Lex Luthor or the Joker NEED to stoop to rape threats to be scary? Hell, no.

It IS possible to use rape-subtext and threat to be a sufficiently scary villain, I think. Even in the DCU. However, it requires a bit more focus and organization than what has been managed with Doctor Light. Rapist villains are more efficiently used as single-target villains. So obsessed with one particular victim that we DO end up genuinely fearing for that victim (and any close to her/him) because this guy would do ANYTHING required to break her/him.

For that sort of villain to be truly scary in a world where Lex Luthor is creating an army of cannon fodder heroes out of duped children, the focus needs to be on the victim. Rape is a more personal horror than murder, it requires a more personal technique to utilize it. Doctor Light basically leering into the crowd going "Maybe I'll rape YOU! No! YOU! Or maybe HER!" simply doesn't cut it.

A good contrast might be with Johnny Sorrow from the JSA. Even without any sort of confirmation of rape involved. Sorrow is a single-target villain. His primary goal might be to bring destruction down upon the world, he's still a villain that would divert his attention from SUMMONING AN ELDER GOD to beating on his captive victim, because he's being laughed at. This makes Sorrow a scary villain on a personal level. His obsession with this one target ends up more important than his primary objective. So what else is he capable of?

If Sue Dibny were still alive, things might be different. A personal focus on Sue might have been able to keep Doctor Light from being a pathetic one-note villain leering into the crowd. However, with Sue dead, Light's basically just a mustache twirling Snidely Whiplash. A meaningless cartoon!

It's a shame because as an idiot-turned-competent villain, he could have been compelling. His opponents are so used to dealing with him as an idiot that they would not really know what he's capable of now. It's kind of the reverse of Guy Gardner. While we know by now what Hal, John and Kyle are really capable of, Guy's a bit of a blank slate. The last time he had the ring, he was a brain-damaged thug incapable of complex thought. Now, he's got all his facilities back and a weapon that allows him to use them. And we don't really know what he can/will do!

It's a missed opportunity resulting in an ultimately worthless villain. We know what (evil) Doctor Light will do. He'll be largely ineffectual and make rape threats! That's it. Whoopie.

So I'd say, scrap him. Take him out. He's worthless. There's no story. No real drama there. Because of the misogynistic elements of the character, I'd vote the Birds of Prey do it. They can team up with Kimiyo, so she can get some of her own back. Big Barda and Kimiyo should have enough power between them to take him out, and Manhunter can damn well make sure the guy won't be victimizing any more women. And as a result, the "Doctor Light" name will go to the character that actually has some good stories left in her.

It'd be a Merry Christmas gift for me, at least!

Misaligned...

Apparently, I may have the opportunity to FINALLY watch the David Hasselhoff Nick Fury movie. This pleases me more than you possibly know. I'm looking forward to putting it in my mental file of "so stupid, it's good." There's no way it couldn't be.

It does get me thinking though. I love David Hasselhoff, but naturally he's a completely horrible fit for Nick Fury, as anyone with a brain cell can tell. Oddly though, this makes the movie even more appealing to me.

Anyone can make a list of actors that really suit the characters from the comic books, but I think it takes real skill to pull a Keanu Reeves as John Constantine out of your ass. So naturally, this means I want to try to make the most appalling casting choices ever, to create MY ultimate Justice League ever!

Superman: Jack Black. Screw Green Lantern. Go straight to the top. I do actually like Mr. Black as an actor, he's got a very appealing charm. But I can't honestly think of anyone LESS suited for Superman. So there you go.

Batman: Hmm. Handsome, charming millionaire by day, creepy bat-fetisher by night. I'm half tempted to suggest George Clooney, but well, Joel Schumacher beat me to it. :-) I suppose I'd go with my second choice. Dwight Schultz from the A-Team. Failing that, I'd choose the guy who played Horshack on Welcome Back Kotter.

Wonder Woman: I was going to cheat and say Paris Hilton, but honestly she's not really an actor. I saw parts of House of Wax. I think perhaps I'd go with Heather Graham in her Austin Powers "Felicity Shagwell" role. Because it amuses me.

Flash (Wally West version): Patrick Stewart. I don't really need to explain this one, do I?

Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner version): Hmm. I'd go with Bruce Willis. Because I can.

Now I'd stick them on a moonbase with a few other horrible horrible casting jobs and watch the fun begin.

By "fun", I mean "fanboy screaming".

This is probably why it's a good thing I'm not working in Hollywood...

I Wonder...

I have to admit, I'm not a huge Peter David fan. I've enjoyed his Supergirl and Young Justice, but I think both started strong and then petered out toward the end. The endings (Tim's speech and the Kara-Linda story) were strong but the story-arcs just before that really seemed to suffer, in my opinion. I had a similar reaction to Sir Apropos, of Nothing, now that I think about it.

Anyway, I've never really been interested in Fallen Angel, because of this. I can tell that Mr. David's a good writer, but stylistically, I'm largely apathetic. I have to admit though this post from Fortress of Fortitude has made me interested.

I'm very happy because I have quite a few friends who are huge Linda fans and will undoubtedly be happy to see her tied into the series however it's necessary. I don't know that I'll read it myself (depends on how much I'm spending that week), but it seems like a good thing.

Though, I have to admit, I'm curious about how the copyright things work in this case. It seems to me that, considering Fallen Angel isn't (as far as I know) a DC property, there would be some legal issues with using the Matrix or Linda Danvers characters. Though, since comic companies aren't stupid, I'm sure that the company will have squared everything away properly.

I admit, I had the same thoughts when that Tintin manga-Wonder Woman thing started circling the blogosphere. There was some rumor about another company taking her up on the idea, which seems odd to me. I'd heard that there was some weird legal loophole DC had with Marston's estate regarding the character, but I thought that finally got cleared up.

Sorry for rambling on. I just find this all pretty interesting.

My .2 cents about the Heroes flip-flop

I was thinking about this whole Heroes "Is Zach gay?" for a bit. I like Zach a lot, whether he's a gay or straight character. I'll admit, my first interpretation of him was that he was just a standard geek sort with a crush on Claire. Then I read the interview with one of the producers which stated he was gay.

My first reaction was "Really, well...huh." The more I thought about it, the more I liked it though. It's so rare to see a gay character on television that's not really defined by his sexuality. People are more than their sexual partners, after all. Besides, genuine platonic male-female friendships tend to be incredibly rare on television and I was looking forward to the idea that Zach and Claire were definitely not going to hook up, at least unless she found a secondary mutation that turned her into a guy.

That said, I'm not at all surprised that the character was rewritten as straight. I'm ignoring all the background gossip and explanations offered, really, as I have my own theory for why Zach's concept changed.

Peter Petrelli.

Ever since Peter came to rescue Claire and had that impossibly cute "It gets better" scene in the high school, it seems like a lot of people have started picking up on a chemistry between the two characters. It's to the point that it even comes up in interviews. Personally, I don't see the couple at all (the chemistry feels platonic to me) but I can see where others would start to pick up on it. Heck, it wasn't THAT long ago that Milo Ventimiglia was still playing high school students himself.

So far, there's no sign that the creators are going to make it a romantic pairing. Every interview question I've seen answers with a sharp "Not going to happen". Still, the idea is very popular. The problem is though that previous roles aside, Peter Petrelli is definitely not a teenager. Claire, and more importantly, her actress IS. I think, even if a romantic pairing is on the horizon in the future, they would certainly shy away from it until the character is at least out of high school. (Not to mention, Peter is set up as one of the moral cornerstones of the show. Someone who believes in being good and helping other people for its own sake. It would look very strange for a character like that to turn around and date a young girl still in high school.)

What's the alternative though? People are always going to push for romantic hints and sappy idiotic teenage emotions are pretty much inevitable. And Heroes's pace and structure doesn't really allow for brand new characters to be introduced at the drop of the hat. And Peter is possibly the youngest male of the main cast, so there isn't really any help there.

But there is another option. Zach (who I doubt is gone for good...yet anyway) is witty, appealing, faithful and a very good friend. She can trust him and she interacts well with him. And really, for all the little hints about his sexuality, nothing's been confirmed. The hints can be read different ways, after all. And suddenly Claire has a possible relationship with someone her own age.

I'm sure the behind the scenes stuff is the real reason for the change over, but I wouldn't be surprised if this did end up factoring in on the decision. I'm hoping it is, actually, because that would mean there's a higher possibility of introducing a new, confirmed gay character in time.

How about the new character that apparently Christopher Eccleston is going to play? That'd be really neat!

Wahoo! Upgrade!

So I upgraded the blog to the NEW blogger! So far I don't see a whole lot of difference, but I've never been much for complicated coding, so I'm probably safe. :-)

I'm so NOT looking forward to back-tagging all my posts though. :-)

There really isn't a point here...

This post from Blurred Productions just made my day.

Just the idea of "Sex Advice from Comic Book Store Clerks" makes me giggle a little. Not that I buy into the stereotypes of course. Though they do make it even funnier. It's just that I think organizing sex tips based on the profession of the advisors seems like a really stupid idea.

I mean, okay, I get it if the profession in question is something like a masseuse or physical therapist, as I'd imagine a few techniques learned there could be applied to other uses. A dancer or athlete, I suppose I could understand too, as I'm sure they'd know something about keeping limber if nothing else.

Even a psychologist, I'd understand, as I'm sure the advice could center around something about keeping emotional intimacy or something like that.

But public defenders? Comic store clerks? I'm sure there are individuals in those professions that have fantastic advice to give to us clueless masses...but I hardly think it's related to their professions in this case.

Though it does remind me oddly enough of Jason Lee in Mallrats.

Dude, screw advice tips, I'd so waste a couple of hours reading essays on superhero sex lives. Green Lantern powers ALONE...

Heheh. Silver Age Hal Jordan and a woman in yellow lingerie.

Okay, it's official that I need more sleep.

Random Thoughts on Romance

I've been thinking lately. I'd really like to see more romance in superhero comics. It could just be that I'm reading the wrong issues, but I'm really feeling the lack of, well, the super-couples I'm used to seeing.

Lois and Clark are very satisfying (especially when Busiek is writing) but aside from them, I'm having trouble thinking of any major couple that still really feels like a couple.

Hal Jordan's going on his first date post-Parallax soon, in an issue centering around Star Sapphire. That's a plus, but Carol still is unfortunately out of the running and unless the new girlfriend is Cowgirl (which would surprise me given the direction that their relationship has gone so far), I'd really doubt she'll be inclined to last.

The Richards are broken for now. Something that makes me undoubtedly sad. Namor is neat, but Reed and Sue are the Marvel couple I still find myself rooting for at the end of the day. Jean Grey is still dead (last I heard anyway). Storm and Black Panther would be awesome, but I'm still not fond of the characterization therein.

JSA is promising, with Rick and Jessie as sickening newlyweds. Though I'm rather sad that we don't get to see more of the courtship on panel. I'm pulling for Maxine to have an unrequited teenage crush on anyone really, though that is also not the same.

Robin and the Flash both seem to be promising, but the tone is more adolescent flirtation. I'm not seeing viable romance yet.

I suppose I'm not really complaining too much. I've been enjoying my comic book stacks, and there are certain characters that I'd prefer not seeing in romantic entanglements...(Guy Gardner for example, unless it's Ice, darnit. Though amusing encounters with androids...gynoids?...are A-OK with me). But I guess the holidays have gotten me a little sentimental. :-) I'd like to see a little more of it soon.

Change in the Air?

This intrigues me quite a bit, though I have to admit I've never been much of an Archie fan.

I wonder how well the design change will do. It's very pretty (and I like that it's not terribly manga-esque. I do like manga art in general, but it's certainly not the only style out there, and I'm glad to see this going in a different direction). I wonder about the fan response though.

I'm not an Archie fan myself, but it seems like they've been depicted in their original style for so long that the change is rather jarring. I wonder if it'll be any better recieved than changing Superman's costume.

Then again, I'm sure there are people who read Archie for the same reason I read DC: the stories and characters. So it'll probably do all right.

I admit. Now I'm really curious about what the guys look like...

A Shameful Truth:

Okay. I have a confession to make.

I don't like Spider-Man. (It IS supposed to be hyphenated, right?)

I can't really explain why. I usually like under-dog characters and everymen. But something about Spider-Man rubs me the wrong way and I can't put my finger on why.

I know he's popular though, so I have a request. Any Spider-Man fans I have here reading my blog, please tell me why you like him! I'm hoping a new perspective will change my mind! :-)

Supernova and Me

Okay, this is pretty neat. It's a post compiling all the clues on Supernova's identity and some possibilities for his actual identity.

It's a really neat post! Very nice work!

I just wish that I cared by this point who Supernova is. Honestly, if the scene with Ralph had happened a little closer to Booster Gold's death, the last time it seemed like Supernova really had a significant role, I'd probably care more. Right now, I really don't.

I'm not sure what point Supernova serves for the story anymore. He started off as a kind of torch bearer for Superman and Company during the missing year. But now we have Luthor's baby superheroes sort of serving that role. At least publically. Supernova just seems pointless.

I think there's a missed opportunity here. If Supernova was supposed to be the torchbearer for the missing heroes, he got hooked up with the wrong central character. Booster Gold's plot fizzled with his death. The character he should have been linked with, the one actively involved with all this genuine heroing stuff (if more as a spectator) is Steel.

Steel has the real "current superhero" plotline, I think. He's even got the grandest of adversaries in Lex Luthor. The kids Lex is using combine elements of would be heroes and tragic dupes, basking in the public's adoration.

Now the story I'd like to see would have set Supernova up as a contrast to them. It's implied he's not a rookie hero, but it is a new identity. He came out of nowhere. He's stepping up in the hero role. Basically he's doing exactly what these kids want to do, without Luthor's backing. But aside from a bit where Luthor sputters that he's Superman, it hasn't seemed like Supernova's really involved with the Luthor/Steel storyline. And if Supernova had been more involved in Steel's plot, then he would be on panel more, and thus the mystery of who he is would, I think, seem more significant.

I might be speaking too soon of course. There are quite a few weeks left, after all. I do think that it might be too late now, at least for me. If Supernova had become more linked with another plot soon after Booster died, I might care more. Now, I think he'd just feel tacked on. Don't care.

Unless he turns out to be Snapper Carr. Because THAT would make me laugh like mad.

Pardon My Language:

I was thinking about something David Arroyo said regarding White Tiger.

I also hate that spanish curse words can be printed in a marvel comic because they "dont count" as real swear words. Puta and Puto are not said in casual conversation. I could never say cocksucker or motherfucker in a marvel comic unless its MAX.

Now, I've been enjoying White Tiger. It'll never be one of my favorite books, but I think it's reasonably fun and exciting. I like the main character enough to want to give the book some time to really wow me. But this complaint is something I agree whole-heartedly with.

Farther down in the comments, Ms. Pierce defends her use of Spanish curses:

We use those words--and the word bitch--precisely because they count. This is the street. These are criminals. And we hear these words every day in New York City.

This is a truly disappointing response. I respect Ms. Pierce a lot, especially as it's rare to see a creator in polite discourse with a critic. It's very nice that she's willing to respond seriously to these complaints.

However, this answer is not good enough.

This answer makes it look like she's not reading David's complaint at all. Or at least not thinking about it. Because David, who speaks Spanish fluently, doesn't equate "puta" and related words to "bitch", he equates them with "cocksucker".

Not all curses are equal, and the specific difference here is that "bitch" is something we will see said on television and in print in general young-adult oriented material. "Cocksucker" is not.

I don't doubt that Ms. Pierce has heard words like "puta" used on the street very often. I myself heard the word "cocksucker" on a near-daily basis. (My father would drive me to high school via I-75, and freeway traffic first thing in the morning tended to turn my Dad's Bruce Banner into a veritable verbal Hulk.) That does not make the word printable.

I also, pardon me for saying, doubt "bitch" was the worst English profanity Ms. Pierce has heard in her experience. But there is a reason the harder words aren't used in non-MAX type comics. This is a standard that should be applied to foreign languages as well as English.

I understand the temptation to use foreign curse words. To get away with saying things the censors/editors would NEVER allow in English. To pull a fast one on the bureaucrats. It's fun and adds color!

But it's stupid. Especially in the case of Spanish, which is, if you'll recall the second most prominent language in the United States. The same reasons that we feel "cocksucker" to be inappropriate for a comic book page should certainly apply to "puta" considering how much of the audience likely speaks both languages.

From the sound of Ms. Pierce's response, I don't think she is using the words maliciously. It sounds like she's making the common non-native speaker's mistake of underestimating the level of her profanity. Curses are the hardest part of a foreign language to learn, as teachers tend to avoid the subject at all. It's natural to hear a word in context and assume that it is the equivalent of "bitch" versus "cocksucker".

I'm not saying Ms. Pierce should avoid using Spanish curses altogether, however I would suggest that she consult with a few native speakers first (I suggest a few because no one ever completely agrees on a question of "how offensive is this?"). It's not a matter of censorship here, it's a matter of respect.

Feeling a tad Marvelous

Okay, while I admit I don't tend to offer as much fangirl joy over the Marvel solicits as I do over DC's (I'm still primarily a DC girl at heart, after all), one thing in the new solicits makes me very happy.

I'm referring to the Wisdom solicit. Because there will always be that inner part of me that delights in such things as sticking Hitler's brain in someone else's body. (I actually always thought that a comic with roots in the weirder WWII legends could be awesome, have the heroes have to find Hitler's secret base in Antarctica, stop his underworld giant allies and neutralize his hidden fleet of UFOs...but I digress)

Anyway. Pete Wisdom. Versus. Jack the Ripper. Not just one, mind you. But a veritable FLEET of Jack the Ripper.

Sometimes, comics, you remind me of why I love you...

Saluting Solicits

Yay! Solicits! Time for knee jerk instant reactions!

-Hmm, is Black Adam backsliding? Guess that's what comes of a guy trying to change for a woman...or vice versa really.

-I don't get Black Alice. I wish I liked her but she reminds me of people I knew in high school. I guess that's a testament to the idea/characterization but I think I'll pass.

-I love Big Barda. I also want to see more of this Little Barda from 52. Hope she shows again soon.

-Green Lantern and Supergirl is one very strange pairing. Hope that bodes well for the rest of the series, as I dig random nonsensical teamups

-Hey, Speedy's finally going to turn up again in Green Arrow? Mia's give or take with me most of the time, but I'm glad to see Arrow-lets mentioned in the solicits again. I only tend to find Ollie interesting around the others.

-Erk. I'm actually hoping that's NOT Carol in the Sapphire costume. Carol has more pride than to wear THAT.

-Ooo. Ion's end! I honestly doubt they'll kill Kyle. Or if they do, he'll be back just like he was before. I wonder what they'll do with him after...

-I never get tired of seeing JSA solicits! Ever!

-Hee. Guy Gardner butting heads with other Lanterns. Shock! Honestly, I'd think an issue where Guy DIDN'T butt heads with someone would be more deserving of a solicit mention...

-Um. While I'm not usually one for art critique, can someone tell me what the heck is up with Midnite's crotch on JSA Classified?

-I'm not a big Outsiders fan, but for a team up between Captain Boomerang (JR) and Black Lightning? I'm so there.

March looks like a fun month! I can hardly wait!
-

PFP Blogoversary!

Today is the one-year anniversary for Pretty, Fizzy Paradise!

So um...wish I had an interesting story behind this blog really. I remember being pointed toward Ragnell's blog by a friend of mine, but being too shy to really say anything. Then Diamondrock was all "Let's make blogs!" and I was all "Okay!"

And here we are.

Yeah. I never claimed to be terribly deep. :-)

So what's changed for me since the founding of this blog?

I've switched favorite Green Lanterns. Much as I love Kyle, I apparently love red-headed jackasses more. Oh well. :-)

I've somehow lost my hatred for both Jade and Dick Grayson. This irritates me more than you can possibly understand.

I've written pseudo-literary analysis! And not for school!

I've discovered feminism. Well, I've always been a feminist, I guess. But only in the past year have I really been vocal about it, and where I stand with different issues.

I've gotten involved in a few side projects.

I've actually got an online presence! I've surfed and lurked for almost a decade, here and there and everywhere, but I'd never really managed to get enough courage to pop out and say hi!

I've written a fanfic! And a parody script!

I've been on fandom_wank! With my real name attached! o_O

I've been crusading to increase appreciation of Sanderson Hawkins. (As well as Johnny Sorrow)

And abused poor old Wes Dodds.

I've graduated college! And got myself a job! (Now on to LSATs in February!)

I kept to a goal of at least one post a day! And held it! (I never said they'd be GOOD posts mind you!)

And most importantly, I've had a lot of fun and got the chance to talk to all you guys! It's been a blast!

Here's to next year!

Yeah, I'm a Sheep...

Since everyone else is doing it, I am too!

http://www.comicspace.com/kalinara/

:-)

I don't know if I'll ever upload any real *content*, but it looks like fun!

Disjointed Opinions Regarding 52

I've been thinking about 52. I like 52, really. I think it's a pretty interesting comic and I like seeing the missing year as it unfolds. I particularly like the main characters involved...

But I'm finding myself less enthused about each issue as it comes out, lately. I still read them and enjoy them (or I wouldn't bother spending money on them) but I'm not waiting for the next one with breathless excitement anymore.

Anymore...heh, I am such a geek. :-)

I think the style, while an interesting gambit, might be what's turning me off now. There are so many threads to be woven in that, honestly, I feel like a lot of them are being left to flounder. I can't bring myself to care about a lot of them anymore.

Initially the stories I was most interested in were Ralph Dibny's, Renee and the Question's, and the Adam Strange-Starfire-Animal Man story. I'm still enjoying the Question's story, but I'm finding the other two, honestly, quite boring.

I think it's the timing for one. There are huge gaps in both stories, two or three issues sometimes between story segments, and that really messes with the momentum for me. Also, it seems to me like those two stories are the least connected with everything else going on in the DCU, at least right now. (It probably says something that the last time I was interested in Ralph's story was during the resurrection cult stuff).

The two stories I'm most interested in now are the two that initially bored me to tears. I'm really fascinated by Black Adam's transformation (even though I don't think it'd last if Isis were out of the picture) and I think Isis and Osiris are just too cute. And Steel's story is front and center. There's nothing like Lex Luthor creating his own superhero teams to really make the DCU superheroes all jump up and react.

Though I still want to slap Natasha. Twit.

I don't know, I guess I just hoped I'd feel more involved in the story by issue 30. I mean, take Batwoman for example. There was so much buzz when she came out, but now what? She showed in the Bat-centered comic, but I was honestly hard pressed to care. And I really liked her when she first appeared. I truly believe that with more panel time she'd be one of my favorite characters, but so far, she's a practical non-entity!

I'm only moderately curious about Supernova either. It might just be me, but I don't think he's been given a strong enough foundation to really uphold this "Who is Supernova??" mystery. He hasn't really done anything memorable since Booster Gold's death. Now, if he turns out to be a cool character behind the mask, that might be neat...but honestly, I can't see how whichever character he turns out to be wouldn't be infinitely more interesting without the Supernova disguise.

Unless it's Snapper Carr. Because that would be strangely entertaining.

I don't know. These are just reactions right now, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if around week 45 my opinions are all completely different. :-) I'll have to wait and see.

Random Reactions to JSA #1 (very slight spoilers likely)

I picked up my comics this week! (Though I somehow managed to miss Beyond 6, which makes me sad. I'll need to grab that ASAP). But naturally the one I was most looking forward to was JSA.

So I'll post my random reactions to JSA. (They should lack enough context so as not to be TOO spoilery):

-Maxine Hunkel is made of awesome! I'm so glad to see another character so ready to just have fun with being a hero. Especially in the JSA, which tends, I think, towards dourness. Besides, as someone prone to babbling excitedly at the drop of a hat (any hat, :-)) I feel as though she is kin! :-)

-This ought to reassure a few people who were worried that Stargirl was going to end up a bubbly, brainless cheerleader for the JSA. If anything, it looks like Courtney's going to get to be the more experienced "big sister" for once. That should be awesome.

-Starman's a little more...scattered than I expected. It's not a bad thing, but I don't really know what to make of him. That schtick seems like it could get old fast. I do like his costume though.

-In context, I like the Rick-Jessie scene (from the preview) much better. Especially as Newlyweds are supposed to be obnoxiously clingy and such.

-Some interesting hints about Damage. My curiousity is piqued.

-The group conflict potential seems pretty interesting. But I wonder at Ted's whole insistance that he doesn't know this group. I mean, sure Damage, Starman, and Maxine are likely strangers, but most of the others are still the old JSA line-up, or closely connected enough (Like Jessie or Todd) that he definitely knows them.

--I guess Wildcat just wants to be emo for a while.

-No Sand in the issue, which should make me sad. However a Sandman-who-I-hope-is-Sand is in the preview at least, so I'm happy! I haven't seen my other favorite character in ages!

-Mr. America has a very odd character design, like they were aiming toward Clark Gable but overshot into Gomez Addams. Still, there's a nice old-movie quality about him, which I like a lot.

-Jay and Alan continue to be mom and dad of the group. Which makes me smile.

-And while I didn't have as much of a problem with the character selection process in JLA, I'm glad that the JSA spent a comparitively much shorter time around the characters.

-That and there's only one Red Tornado I really care to read about, and she's got a mean hand with a frying pan.

-So far, the story is good. Readable and easy to follow. Some of the dialogue is clunky, but in general, I think it's doing a good job with setting everything up. I want to see what happens next. (And the ending genuinely surprised me!)

...Can I have the next one yet? Please?

Stewing in my own impatience:

Because I had the late shift at work, I couldn't get ahold of my comics yesterday. Which means no JSA or Manhunter for me! I'm hoping to be able to pick them up tonight, but there's a good chance I'll have to wait until this weekend.

Anyway, I'm all frustrated and envious of all you folks who've read your comics already. So I'm asking for a small consolation. :-)

Without spoilers, please, tell me which comic you liked best this week? I'm always up for recommendations of good things to read!

A Belated Review of Guy Gardner: Collateral Damage

Okay, as a Guy Gardner fan I should probably have reviewed Howard Chaykin's Collateral Damage before now, but honestly, SallyP and Ragnell have pretty much said my piece for me.

It's an okay Howard Chaykin comic. But that really isn't Guy Gardner, and since I'm the sort to read for a character rather than a creator, I'm probably not going to continue with the mini-series.

Chaykin's take on the character fits snugly in the JLI interpretation of the character, which would fit in that time period but ignores the very significant part of the whole JLI Behavior=Brain Damage concept that is pretty central to the character. As soon as the damage was fixed (Warrior, Kyle's run of GL, and everything since), his characterization changed. He's a jerk, yes, but he's a self-aware jerk now. And believe it or not, that does make a big difference.

And honestly, the thing with the Thanagarian and the Rann cadet was honestly done better in Green Lantern Corps: Recharge. (And honestly, considering Oa HAS two lanterns from that sector in Isamot and Vath, that seems rather ominous for our GG:CD cadet).

I should be happy about the addition of female characters (since Isamot and Vath are men) but...honestly, it seems like a gratuitous thing here. Like they are ONLY female so that Chaykin can draw breasts and so Guy can be an ass to people with double-X chromosomes. This might just be my bitterness that there are no protruding nipples on THIS main protagonist.

Not that I really want to see protruding nipples. But I've read Hawkgirl, and honestly, what's good for the goose ought to be good for the gander.

It's a shame though, I do like seeing more girl-Lanterns. And I like seeing a female character in a uniform that's actually practical (I don't mind skimpy costumes but I like the variety), but...her characterization seems empty. Vapid. The same with the Thanagarian woman. I'll take Isamot and Vath any day.

Gibbons may not have Chaykin's political finesse, but he writes far more appealing characters, anyday. And in the end, that's why I read.

The Tormockian part is pretty interesting, but the Vuldarians don't even make sense. And it seems like such a waste. I mean, I know not everyone liked that development in Warrior, but being Vuldarian was important to the character then. It was a scary development, initially out of control, but it ultimately led to something of a greater sense of belonging and family with characters like Buck and Veronna.

It should mean something that he's not a Vuldarian anymore. Especially face to face with these others, when he, so long, was considered the only one left. Guy's always had this unfair element of loss to his lanternhood. The first time, becoming a Lantern came hand in hand with losing his sanity. This time it came with losing his personal power/species identity. I'm okay with that loss not being addressed right now in GLC, as the focus of his current stories isn't in that direction at this moment. But in a story revolving around Vuldarians and Tormocks and all that, I want to see something.

Dark G'Nort is hilarious, but well, he's already coming off like a one-note joke to me. Okay. You have G'nort. Dark. Where do you go from here?

I'm not sure if I'll buy the next one. Probably not. Though I am a sucker for anything with Guy Gardner on the cover. Still, as I said, I read for character. And the character I like to read about really isn't in there.

I'll stick with Gibbons and Johns, thanks.

I do have to admit though, reading through Collateral Damage, I couldn't help but think: "This would have been so awesome if written by Beau Smith." Missed opportunities.

Me Being Lazy!

Okay, I've got some errands to run in the morning, so I'm going to be a bad little blogger and be lazy here on the post today.

So anyway, I'm going to mimic what I've seen other, cooler, bloggers do and have one of those question and answer things.

Basically, anyone who's interested, ask me a question, any question, and I'll answer it!

(Eeek. I hope SOMEONE actually does end up asking me a question, otherwise I'm gonna look rather foolish!)

Quick Update

The responses to this post really went a long way in making me feel better. Thanks guys!

Anyway, as an update, my co-worker is doing well. She's got a bad case of bronchitis and is taking it easy. So all is well! And the genuine niceness of my customers since has helped a lot too.

So personal crisis averted, faith in humanity restored, and most importantly my co-worker is doing okay! :-)

More thoughts on Minx:

The online reaction to Minx is pretty interesting, I think. Personally I think it's a good idea. Don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE to see more superhero comics geared toward women, but to be honest, I know they've got the female superhero comic readers already, so I can see why they're branching out.

And tongue-out-of-cheek, I actually think "Minx" is a cute name.

The major complaint that I've seen a lot is about how only a few of the Minx creators are women. Which is certainly true.

But honestly? I don't really care.

I'd love to see more women in the industry, don't get me wrong. And as someone who might like to try my hand at writing comics someday, I'd particularly like to see more job opportunities for women.

But I honestly think the idea that a comic geared toward women HAS to be created by a woman is just a little stupid. I mean, sure, in general a woman has an advantage over a man in terms of market analysis. But not all women are the same any more than all men are the same. And quality work is quality work regardless of the gender of the creator.

I may be coming from a different perspective here. I'm a superhero comic reader. I'm not the target audience of Minx. But when I read the complaints, all I could think of was that if asked to recommend a superhero series to someone with an eye for strong female characters and well-crafted adventure stories, my first recommendation would be Marc Andreyko's Manhunter.

Followed by Dan Slott's She-Hulk and Gail Simone's Birds of Prey. Allan Heinberg's Wonder Woman would be close after, if it weren't the comic book equivalent of a Bigfoot sighting.

I think Minx has a decent chance of being good. I hope it's successful. And I really hope that when the line starts to sell enough to warrant expansion into more series that we do see more female creators at the helm, but I'm willing to give it a shot first.

I sincerely believe that Minx is a very good thing. We have a big two company acknowledging that there is a customer base that has largely gone neglected by mainstream American comics. It's a sign of progress long overdue!

Another Character I Don't Get...

You know what character I really really don't get? Jericho. I sincerely do not understand this character or what makes him appealing.

I'll be honest, the only experience I have with the character is during the first arc of the new Teen Titans series and the current issues. I remember seeing him in the background of the few early Titans issues I've actually read, but that's not really enough to truly get the character.

I know Jericho's related to Deathstroke and that he can't talk and he does some sort of possessing thing...(which I think is actually a pretty clever use of codename/powers), but that's about it. I do know of quite a few people who are very fond of the character though, so I'm curious about him.

If you guys know any good stories that really highlight Jericho and what makes him tick, please let me know!

NaNoWriMo Finale Post.

:-) Two days late, but there you go.

Anyway, since Chuck asked, I figured I should update on my progress...which is miserable.

As expected, I didn't end up managing to make the challenge. I did end up finishing up at a comfortable, if not respectable 20,000.

Even though I've lost the challenge, I feel pretty accomplished by my results anyway. I really feel like the project is starting to come together. So I'm giving myself an extension on my novel. My current goal is to have all 50,000 words written by the New Year.

It needs some revision (read: much much revision) to be readable, but I may end up posting some excerpts. Maybe. :-) Probably not. :-)

Anyway, my revised goal is set! The remaining 30,000 words by New Years! Wish me luck!

A "Gee Whiz, I'm Dumb" moment!

I like to think I'm an intelligent and reasonably observant person. But sometimes? I miss the flipping obvious. When I realize this, it's usually beyond a Random Ridiculous Realization. It becomes a "Holy crap, I am DUMB" moment.

Seriously. It wasn't until this post that I realized the "Y" in "Y, the last man" could be a reference to the Y Chromosome.

Completely never occurred to me! :-)