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 #221: Mentioning "The Dark Knight" Should Get Me Plenty of Hits!
Like several other million people this past week I too went off to see The Dark Knight, and yeah, I really liked it.
But, for some reason it just didn't blow me away like I thought that it would.
Now, to be clear, I am not saying it isn't a good movie because it IS a good movie. I think it has more to do with my own ability to over hype myself so that when I finally do see the movie in question there is NO WAY it can live up to the expectation that I have created.
I do this ALL the time. If you ever see me hanging around some of my friends just ask them how disappointed I was after seeing Starship Troopers years back. Now I love the movie for what it is, but back then I was expecting something completely different.
That said, I will say this: calling The Dark Knight a comic book movie is far too limiting; yes, it is a comic book movie, but at the risk of sounding cliched it is so much MORE than JUST a comic book movie. I read some reviews where there were some comparisons to crime dramas, like Heat. Now, I wouldn't go quite that far, but I will say this: Christopher Nolan has challenged the standard definition of what a comic book movie could, or should, be.
Perhaps that's just it; maybe there was just too much for me to take in all at once. That's something that I have considered at length and I am really starting to think that I need to see this movie again before I can fully appreciate it.
Yeah, I think so....
At this point I think I may have liked Iron Man better simply because it surprised me more, and let's face it, was more fun than The Dark Knight (which, let's face it, isn't really supposed to be a “fun” movie).
Oh, and one more thing: I LOVED The Watchmen trailer. FUGGING LOVED IT.
Yeah, I said it!
But enough about comic book movies, let's get geeked about comic BOOKS and see What Looks Good...
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #26 $2.99 (Peter J. Tomasi / Patrick Gleason)I know, I take a few months off and what's one of the first books that I go back to raving about? Well, Green Lantern Corps of course.
No, you're not listening to a broken record nor are you reading a post from several months ago. Rather, the simple fact is that this book is a lot of fun for me because it brings back warm memories of the days when I first discovered comics and the GLC (as I've mentioned before, back in Green Lantern Corps #200 from sometimes in the late 80's). However, I think the thing that is getting me the most excited about this book is the fact that I know that this issue, and the next several issues, are all laying the groundwork for the “Darkest Night” story arc.
How so?
Well, first we've got Mongul (the newer one) who was about as powerful as Superman already now with several yellow power rings. Did you hear what I said about being as powerful as Superman? Well, this guy is just that strong, only he's not a boy scout like Superman. In fact, he's quite the opposite. Pain and messing stuff up is what he does best. As such, that creates a fairly heavy element of fear around him and everything he does. Couple that with a Sinestro Corps power ring, which is powered by fear, and well, you got a very, well, FEARFUL combination.
But he doesn't have just ONE ring, the guy has SEVERAL.
What keeps Mongul going?
Hate.
What's that, there's a ring that is powered by hate as well and it is red? Have we seen these red rings before? Yeah, just a few issues ago, when one of the “Lost Lanterns” executed Abin Sur's son for being part of the Sinestro Corps. She was full of rage then and then after being sentenced a Red Lantern ring found her.
Mongul can inspire great fear and is chock FULL of rage. Also, if you've been paying attention there's already been promotion work showing Mongul with a yellow ring AND red ring (amongst others).
In short, this guy is going to be around for a while, and more importantly, he's going to be at the heart of the conflicts that are heading for the GLC, but also in a much larger scope, the entire DC Universe.
Yes, you can have your Final Crisis and enjoy that all you want, but for me the important stuff that's going to happen in the DC Universe is going to first be seen be the Green Lantern Corps.
So yeah, I admit it, I've been pimping this book for months, but you know what? It's not going to stop. If anything, I think my level of geeked-outed-ness (is that even a word) is just going to continue to increase as these stories coalesce into a more powerful epic.
That is unless DC drops the ball, but this far in I just don't see that happening.
GOOD STUFF!
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #23 $2.99 (Dwayne McDuffie / Ed Benes)I'm just trying to catch up on the Justice League here, so I see that Amazo is back. That's cool. But what's this? The entire rest of the team is down, leaving only Wonder Woman to take on a killer robot with the powers of the entire Justice League. You know, I don't think you could count me as one of the biggest Wonder Woman fans around. Heck, I think I own half a dozen or less Wonder Woman comics total (though, really, I can only think of one), but for some reason seeing Wonder Woman take on Amazo all by herself is appealing to me.
It's odd, because I was just thinking of Wonder Woman the other day (no, not like that). With Batman taking another huge turn at the box office, and Superman's future uncertain, who is Warner going to throw up on the big screen next?
Sure, I've heard all about Supermax (The Green Arrow film) and such, but really, if Wonder Woman is one of the “Trinity” how long before she finally gets her own film?
The way things are going, probably a while, but I found myself interested in her this week for some odd reason so it is almost serendipitous that she is the focus of this month's issue of Justice League America.
WAR HEROES #1 $2.99 (Mark Millar / Tony Harris)Yeah, I mentioned this last week, but I made a mistake and the book is actually coming out THIS week. I know, first column back and I'm screwing up already. Anyway, I took the opportunity this week to expound a bit more as to WHY I am excited about this book. Anyhow, that's why I mentioned the book TWO weeks in a row. I should get an editor....
Just seeing that cover with the blurb from Bryan Hitch saying “Millar, you fool. We should have done this as Ultimates 3 is enough to get me excited. Let's face it, the first two Ultimates books were pretty frigging awesome (at least IMHO).
But then I see the name “Tony Harris” and I immediately thing, “Hitch? Hitch? We don't need no stinking Hitch!”
That's not a slam on Hitch, I love his work as well, but if you've going to too a book with realistic soldiers and Hitch is unavailable (because he's already working with Millar on Fantastic Four) then you really couldn't do any better than Tony Harris, the artist that has been doing GREAT work over on Ex Machina.
So, let's look at this a second: Mark Millar, super-rich comic book Scot; Tony Harris, artist extraordinaire; soldiers with superpowers.
Someone want to explain to me what there ISN'T to love here?
UNCANNY X-MEN #500 $3.99 (Ed Brubaker & Matt Fraction / Greg Land & Terry Dodson)500 issues is pretty impressive. No, this isn't a Detective Comics or Action Comics, but then again, Marvel hasn't been around the block as many times as DC has.
I have to admit that I have been a bad x-fan as of late. Other than Astonishing X-Men I am kind of lost as to what's going on in the whole X-line. That's entirely my fault and I know that, so once again this is another issue for me to jump on board.
I know, I've said that in the past and I meant it then but this time I really mean it.
First off, look at those writers: Brubaker and Fraction. All kinds of awesome there. Now, look at the artists: Land and Dodson. More sweetness.
Now I hear that the X-Men are relocating to Left Coast?
OK, I realize that this is a comic book and that there isn't really a change in locations going on, but consider this: done well, the city, the location of a story can work almost as another character within the story, bringing its own presence and feeling. Look no further than The Dark Knight movie out right now to see what I mean about a city being like another character.
So, with that being the case with this particular creative team I have to say that yeah, now is a good time to jump on board and see what's going on in the X-world. Sure, I've been sticking my head into the GLC and Green Arrow books for the most part, but the X-books will always be dear to me. I'm eager to see what new adventures await these characters I know and love.
Anything that looks particularly good to YOU this week? Was there something that I missed that SHOULD be on my pull list? If so, please stop by the What Looks Good message boards (see link below) and let me know what YOU think. Remember, this comic isn't just about me; it's about people talking about comics that they love and sharing those thoughts with others. So stop by, say “hi”; I promise that I won't bite. I can't make that promise for anyone else, though.
See you next week!
Peace!
-Diaz
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