By Beau Smith There's a lot to get to this week. My Busted Knuckles inbox is pretty full and I figure it's time to shift most of it out to you, after all, that is the goal. Grab your notebook and something to scribble with. You're going to want to write some of this down.
"I'll Have A Blue Beetle Christmas."  As your constant Indiana Jones of rare and manly finds, I have uncovered another gem that may have slipped through your radar. The comic book is DC Universe Holiday Special #1. A nice, fat comic book with loads of Christmas stories by various writers and artists. There are tons of your favorite DC heroes in these neat stand-alone stories. You'll find Superman, Nightwing, Aquaman, Robin and others. The story that really stands out in this is "Christmas With The Beetles". Story by J.C. Vaughn with art by Lee Garbett (A REAL find) and Trevor Scott. It's a wonderfully written seven page story that proves that truly talented writers can still give you a beginning, middle and end within tight confines and be every bit, if not more satisfying that some long, drawn out 6 issue story arc. The pacing of this story that connects all three versions of The Blue Beetle is as tight as a spandex skirt on Jennifer Lopez's rear end. The camera angles used in the art would make Christopher Nolan green with envy. This is a story that I read and muttered "I wish I had written this." That's the highest compliment that I can give a story. Trust me, I toss those out like they were manhole covers. This story is a tightly wrapped package with no blocks of unneeded dialogue. It makes you like and want more of every version of The Blue Beetle. Read this and you too will want more stories by J.C. Vaughn and Lee Garbett. Vigilante Given Justice  While we're on the subject of DC Comics, they've released another book for Feb. 2009 that needs your attention. It's Vigilante #1 by Marv Wolfman, Rick Leonardi and John Stanisci. I've been an avid fan of The Vigilante in both his cowboy form and the modern one for a long time. Marv Wolfman's new series keeps me there. The Vigilante is right where he should be, fighting real crime and doing a damn fine job of it. Wolfman puts on a real writing class in this issue showing once again that you don't need a lot of useless blocks of ten ton text, bloated "blah-blah" dialogue and "I'm so clever" one-liners. The only agenda being pushed here is "Crime Doesn't Pay." That's refreshing. Rick Leonardi's art is a pleasure to see unfold. Nothing but quality craftsmanship in moving the story with the action. His reference is perfect and his work here is visually exciting without being over the top. This book is a must, kids. I pray that DC pushes this book and retailers let their customers know about it. Drop one of those boring books that you're buying and replace it with this one. Ed Brubaker Gave Me A Gift My personal two favorite super hero comic book series right now are JSA at DC Comics and Captain America at Marvel Comics. Ed Brubaker, the writer of Captain America, has given me a gift. After all these many years, Marvel Comics has finally given me a Sub-Mariner that I can say "Yeah! This is the way I'd write him." In eight pages of this 22 page story, Ed Brubaker has made up for the last ten years of not-up-to-par versions of the Sub-Mariner. He didn't use any back peddling and he didn't feel the need to reinvent Marvel history. He saw the way Namor should be and wrote him that way. Namor's scenes with Bucky Barnes are like those of a tough Uncle or mentor. There's respect and there's friendship, manly friendship. None of that warm and fuzzy stuff that people these days mistake for manly. The art by Steve Epting goes beyond great. The guy is in a realm of his own and we're just lucky to get to see it. If you don't buy another issue of Captain America this year, then make sure you pick this one up just to see Namor as he should be. For those of you that were raised on the Steve Rogers version of Captain America, like me, learn to embrace this series. You'll always have your childhood Captain America busting the heads of Nazis and bad guys with a government that is true. You can go there any time you want with back issues and collections. Think of this series as a printed form of the TV series 24 starring Captain America in the Jack Bauer role. It works. Oh, and by the way, in issue #45 check out Batroc The Leaper finally getting the respect he deserves as well. The Frenchman is nobody's fool. Good stuff!  AdHouse Books Delivers  Gee, whoever thought that brutal, ugly violence could be so beautiful? AdHouse Books, noted for their very arty and indy books, has published a graphic novel called Mesmo Delivery by R. Grampa that will take you back to the heights of fine European graphic novels of the '70s and '80s. Mesmo Delivery is a beautifully formatted book that tells the tale of truckers, a pit stop that's more of a piss stop, a fist-fight that turns into a blood bath without soap. R. Grampa's art is a feast for the ol' eyeballs. The story is twisted, but not so twisted you think a Brit wrote it. Mesmo Delivery is not for the squeamish as the saying goes. There are cuss words and nasty habits so be prepared to enjoy it. Busted Knuckles Manly Cover of the Week: Life With Archie #57 January 1967 Archie Comics. The spy craze from the 1960's was all kinds of right. James Bond, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Our Man Flint  Busted Knuckles Babe of the Week: Christina Cox Actress You've seen her all over your TV screen in such shows as House, Bones, Blood Ties, Stargate Atlantis and Numb3rs. You'll soon see her on a new series called Defying Gravity. Anywhere you see Christina Cox is a good place. I personally cannot understand why someone hasn't given Cox her own action series or film. She is trained in Muay Thai Kickboxing, gymnastics, firearms and weaponry as well as stage combat. She's great looking, can act with the best of them and… well… she's really good looking. Keep your eye out for this Busted Knuckles Babe of the Week.    The Roundup Strange Beau Facts:
 Okay, that's enough Beau Facts for this time. Maybe if they irritate everyone I'll do more soon. Thanks for stopping by and reading the column. I always appreciate it. Also, a big thanks goes out to Jenny Williams and her husband Tom for sending me the very cool T-Shirt from his construction company. It is truly manly! Your amigo, Beau Smith The Flying Fist Ranch www.flyingfistranch.com beau@flyingfistranch.com |
