Who's who in the Comics Bulletin Universe - Update 2008
Who is... Michael A. Diaz?
Michael Diaz lives in Michigan, but don't hold that against him.
There he works as a Sys. Admin. while fostering dreams of one day becoming a "real" writer.
Most importantly, Michael is seriously addicted to comics, something that his wonderful wife tolerates with the patience of a saint.
He also writes this weekly column that people occasionally read.
"[O]ne of the most positive
and entertaining columns going."
- Gail Simone (Birds of Prey, Villains United)
WLG #209: Big Green!
Pressed for time this week, which means yes, there still is a column, just no snappy introduction.
Yeah, don't act that you're disappointed.
So, let's jump straight into What Looks Good...
GREEN ARROW / BLACK CANARY #3 $2.99 (Judd Winick / Cliff Chiang)Again, I'm going to sound like a broken record when I spout off about this book, but really, the formula is pretty simple:
Green Arrow + Black Canary + Judd Winick = AWESOME team book fun.
LOVE it.
You want more?
OK, how about GA escaping from Amazons while BC kicks some tail with the help of Speedy and Connor?
'Nuff said.
Happy Michael is Happy.
GREEN LANTERN #25 $4.99 (Geoff Johns / Ivan Reis, Ethan Van Sciver & Oclair Albert)GREEN LANTERN CORPS #19 $2.99 (Peter J. Tomasa / Patrick Gleason)
Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Ion (Ron Marz / Michael Lacomb)
Yes, I realize that all three of these are different books, but when it comes down to it I'm just going to repeat myself over and over about why I am so geeked about these particular titles this week. Already I'm repeating myself in the fact that it is NO secret that I LOVE the Green Lantern Corps and have loved them for quite some time. I won't use the “way back machine” again like I have in the past, but my love for the Corps goes back 20 years.
So, first, I am excited about the huge issues of Green Lantern because this is the final battle in the “Sinestro Corps War” so of course we're going to see some Hal vs. Sinestro action. Sweet.
Also, I'm sure there are going to be some surprises and revelations. Leave it to Johns to make sure that the door is never shut on a story. Yeah, the War may be coming to a close within the pages of the comic, but its reverbation will be felt for some time to come. To name one thing, what are these “Red Lanterns” that I've heard rumor about? We've seen within this book the Green Lanterns, as well as power batteries for purple, yellow (Sinestro), and blue (Blue Beetle), so there have been hints that MORE are coming, but red? It makes me think of the Darkstars, a group that tried to fill the hole left by the collapse of the Corps years back.
Like I said, though, that's all rumor. I don't know anything more than the next guy, but I have to say that the potential has be excited.
Joy!Then there's this month's issue of Green Lantern Corps. It's supposed to be an epilogue to the battles that have been fought in the book, but look at Ice on the cover with Guy. Again, this harks back to the late 80's and books like Green Lantern Corps and Justice League International, within the pages of which Guy met and fell in love with Ice. Recently within the pages of Birds of Prey we saw that Ice had somehow come back from the dead, so to see her on the cover with Guy again, well, like I said, it brings back a LOT of memories and I couldn't be happier or more eager with anticipation.
Lastly there's the Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Ion book. Ion is fairly new to me as I didn't bother check out the Ion series when it was out, so I am interested to learn more about this entity that is the antithesis of Parallax.
Basically, I've got three whole books of GLC-centric books coming out this week and I'm happier than a pig in dirt.
Awesome.
BOYS #15 (MR) $2.99 (Garth Ennis / Darick Robertson)New arc.
Superheroes doing horrible things.
Gratuitous violence.
I love it all.
ELEPHANTMEN: WAR TOYS #1 (OF 3) $2.99 (Richard Starkings & Moritat / Boo Cook)I really hadn't thought to check out anything about the Elephantmen before, but this past summer I was on a business trip. Being the true geek that I am when ever I go to a new town I check out the local comic shops. Well, on this trip I found a great place in Fort Pierce. The owner there suggested some books, one of which was an issue of Elephantmen. I don't know exactly what series it was, but I know it was the first issue. The story dealt with this large former soldier that was a cross between human and elephant; he was genetically bred to be a vicious warrior, but now the war was over and he was trying to find his place in society. He was sitting outside when a little girl came up and talked to him, immediately becoming his friend, not judging him at all. The poor ex-soldier's story was told in flashbacks as the little girl spoke to him.
I remember being enthralled by the story as I sat in a fast food restaurant enjoying some excellent Cuban food (mmmmm, plantains!) and wanting to know more, especially about this horrible war sometime in the future fought by genetically engineered beasts.
Now, all these months later the story of the war itself is coming and my curiosity won't let me pass this up.
See anything that looks good? If so, then please stop by the
What Looks Good message boards (see link below) and speak your fanboy (or fangirl) mind.
You know where to find me.
Until then,
Peace!
-Diaz
Were Diaz's picks on the mark?
Have your say on What Looks Good at the Looking Good message board.