Brief Character Study: Killer Croc

I always got the impression the writers never knew what to do with Croc. Is he a cannibalistic monster or a misunderstood individual? I was happy to see the writers finally making him a more sympathetic character in the relaunch.

Batman Day Reminder

For those who (like myself) forgot it's on September 26. I have no idea what my LCS is doing but it could be fun...if I'm not working.

Tony Daniel talks about the Bat family

I'm not planning on getting Batman and Robin Eternal but this has a preview of the art. Plus Daniels talks about the bat kids and after his past writing them, well let's just say I was curious.

Thoughts about parts of the interview below.

What titles would you do?

I've been longing for another series to follow and thinking what could fill the gap. Here's some ideas:

• Time Masters/Booster Gold: I've been over this a few times but it needs to star Booster, Rip, Skeets and Michelle.
• Magic Title: I'm not sure what but I loved Sword of Sorcery, Demon Knights, and some of JLD. I'd really love to see something done with the first two series. Mystic U was delayed without us ever getting details. It might be interesting.
• Batwoman: With a new writer because I miss the old Kate. And if their not going to use Bette let someone else use her.
• Robin Chronicles: I really feel like these stories need to be told of Dick, Jason and Tims' Robin days. It feels like we're missing a lot. With the right writer this could be amazing.
• New Superhero: I really like Doomed and how it created a new character to follow. It even has a pretty obscure one making a return. It's fun to see new blood and I welcome the chance to have more new series. I just need to be sold on the concept and creative team.

That's all I can think of at the moment. I'd like different takes for certain characters that I don't like being revamped but that's another list. I might also like to see something done after Titans Hunt depending on how good it is.

Any Writers You Boycott ?

I always see comments about being supportive to favorite creators. But has there either been a writer or writers that for whatever reason you can't stand to the point you refuse to buy anything with their name on it ? That you don't want to see writing your favorite characters ? Or hope someone undoes the damage they created ?

New Booster Gold Series ?

Honestly this is just a rumor for now since it currently has no source but I'm kinda desperate for comic news on Booster. At least any news that doesn't have to do with JL3001. If this is true Jurgens might not be involved since he's on Batman Beyond. I'm curious how it would be done since everything we thought we knew got turned on its head.

DC have been attempting to do something with Booster for awhile although plans seem to have changed more than once. So even if the rumor is true it doesn't mean they can't fall through. There are a lot of loose ends from Convergence that need to be explored. Skeets needs to be there and so does Rip. And oddly enough the new Boosters' origin needs to be explained since we don't know who hired him and who was working on the time sphere. We may be in for a surprise.

DC taking drastic measures?

I heard that DCYOU wasn't doing so well but yeesh! To sum up it's speculated that DC might cut it's losses by reducing page rates, more ads, canceling titles (this was a given) and more of a focus on trades. Which could be bad for certain writers that don't want to write 6 issue arcs for trades. Creators were also told to stop "Batgirling" so many titles which is great but I mainly want them to undo what happened to Starfire. It also looks like Jim Lees' claim that canon matters more than continuity might not be the case anymore. I really don't want BE to have anymore focus outside the series so this could really suck.

Aspects of these stories have also been confirmed by ex-DC editor Heidi MacDonald, who added her own take, regarding co-publisher Dan Didio, saying “the tone of the DC You books was definitely not his decision. However I’ve heard from multiple sources that with the “Nü Look DC” failing to excite retailers and readers, DiDio’s way is making a comeback. It’s still early on all this—although some of the ideas I’ve heard being floated around are shocking—so it’s too soon to tell if this means a return to a tightly interwoven overarching continuity or just a return to DC’s house style.”

Pre-ordering Online and Digital Comis

I've been far too into this for the last few months. It makes me feel a little guilty for not going to my LCS. I have gone to a store recently to buy a couple issues of Robin SOB because I had a coupon but other than that I can't remember when I last went to a comic store. Maybe Free Comic Day? It's just so convenient to buy comics digitially to read seconds after purchase or pre-ordering issues online at a reduced price.

The store I go to is nice but it's also out of the way. Sometimes their out of something I want or the shipment is late. During DC villains' month the special covers were the only ones that came in and they were selling them at $12 and up despite them barely being marked up online (I think it was $3.99.) It's a pleasant enough atmosphere but I rarely have time to take it all in and explore everything. I have left a spot for me to visit them but it won't be until November.

But then again maybe I shouldn't feel too bad about not supporting them as much as I used to since my pull list has always been pretty. Most of their regulars have stacks so big they have tabs.

Scott Snyders' dangling Plot Thread

Remember back around Black Mirror when Dick was Batman and went to an evil auction ? Well he did and it turned out they were selling a particular item Dick felt compelled to take. After he passed out Tim found him and Alfred asked what to do with the item. You know, the item with brain matter, blood and tissue on it that was used to beat one of them bloody ? I'm not saying it wasn't a good storyline it just felt pointless to have the crowbar around if they weren't going to address the elephant in the room. Or let Jason decide.

Scott Snyder: Last thing - that's what I was thinking. I considered having him ask Jason, but that's a whole can of worms I don't think Dick wants to go anywhere near. So what to do with it? It was important to me (as someone who remembers vividly calling in from a pay phone to decide Jason's fate) that the crowbar not disappear during the fight in Mirror House. 

I wanted it to have a kind of burial or at least get some kind of reverent moment from Dick. I'm not sure Alfred will actually throw it in the river (though that's a scene I'd love to write for its quiet drama) but I just felt that that's what Dick would say at that moment. Like no more reverence for objects like these (given what just happened at Mirror House). You know? 

Thoughts about this below.

New Reading List

A lot of new things to look forward to in the coming months.

Nathan Fillon wants to be Booster Gold

I'm always happy to see the characters I like get some love and I'm fond of Nathan's performances...I just can't see him as Booster.

On the bright side my mom heard of this although I don't think she was listening when I explained part of Boosters' origin. I told my dad about Booster awhile back but he keeps saying, "that's a stupid name." You know none of my causally-interested-in-comics friends mind the name or the origin. They don't even question it.

...Although my sister and my brother in-law were inappropriately amused when they learned of Skeets name.

How much do the super villains know?

Does Batmans' rogues gallery suspect his identity or the IDs of the other Robins since Nightwing was unmasked?

I don't remember if they knew Red Robin was the former Robin in last canon but they should know now.

Villains have taunted Batman over Robins' death (Damian) so do they still believe he died and think there's another new Robin?

What do they think is the connection between Red Hood and the bat family? Everyone has to know about the events of UTH. Do they think this is another Red Hood? Does anyone besides Joker (and some of the villains that know Bruces' ID) know this is the Robin he killed? I don't think Joker would let anyone know since he's always gloated about killing a Robin.

I'd love to read an issue of the villains arguing over what they believe is true to get a better perspective.

The Implications of Titans Hunt

It seems that Titans Hunt takes place in DCnU which has heroes that seemingly forget the history of the Titans before Tim creates his own team. Let's discuss whether this can work in canon.

Straight about of Gotham

A parody rap with Two-Face, Riddler and Joker rapping. Bits from the comics are mentioned too.

Bat-Characters that I'd like to get

I have made a list of figures I'd like to get made awhile ago and some are on this list. But with DCC still going back to the same character selection and Robins 75th anniversary taking place it bears repeating. That said there are some new additions to the list too.

Doomed #3

This is a fairly new series with new characters which means just about anything can happen to it's cast. I'm still unsure what direction it will take and that's usually fun.

SPOILER AHEAD

Red Lanterns: Blood Brothers TPB

Some of my thoughts now that I finished this.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Guys' best friend?

I'm still reading through Red Lanterns when Guy calls John his best friend. I thought that was Kyle. Did that change since the reboot? GL history seems more or less intact with Guy first becoming a RL because of what happened to Kyle so they were still close.

DC Solicits for November

Nothing new seems to be coming out but that doesn't mean there isn't anything to talk about.

Happy Birthday Jason Todd!

If my metas were written out I'd post them but their not. There's another month until the next issue of Red Hood/Arsenal so I might read more post-Crisis Robin Jason and do more reviews.

As for Roy, well tomorrow is August 17th and I believe that's Lians' birthday.

Got the 1st Guy Gardner Red Lanterns trade

Because I'm only interested in the series after Guy turns up. I'm enjoying it and like Guy I'm getting mighty annoyed with Hal. I'm glad I trade waited so I have all this to read although it's still weird to realize canon has changed for Guy.

DC Universe/Batman Guide Books

I used to get these books years ago when I was into Marvel and I have a few Star Wars books too. These guides tell you how something works, who characters are, all kinds of details. I haven't gotten any DC guide books because of the bias in the character section. It's really annoying to the point I want to create my own. Because I shouldn't be reading from a character POV that's different from canon and dislike how said character comes off.

Roy Harpers' Behavior Part 2

Where Roy gets a bit reckless, thoughtless and one has to wonder what's going on.

Red Hood/Arsenal #3

The boys get their first non-Battleworth mission.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Robin, Son of Batman #2

Damian deals with his first act of redemption with Nobody 2 tagging along.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Robin, Son Of Batman #1

Since a comic book store a bit further out than my normal LCS had a coupon getting two issues of this wasn't so expensive.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Character Study: Crux/Simon Amal

Due to editorial mandated tie ins, etc. Simon doesn't have too many appearances under his belt. Despite this he still managed to get some good character development.

Arrow and Flash Tease Booster Fans

Here are best parts:

“The show will contain elements of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis’ Justice League International run,” said Guggenheim on the tone of the show. Guggenheim also mentioned Dan Jurgens’s 2011 Time Masters: Vanishing Point, which he calls “a good series for its depiction of Rip Hunter and a crazy combination of characters."

And for the obvious question of the Booster/Rip dynamic:

“I wish I could tease a Booster thing but, you might have to wait a good long while at least on our show. Perhaps Booster is being groomed for bigger things."

Every Time I want to get Fables...

I hear something else about Willingham that puts me off. Well I was never fond of what he did to Steph but I assumed most of it was editorial.

Batmans' Arrogance

Just a few of the things Bruce was a little too arrogant on that have or will likely blow up in this face.

Character Study: Essence

Not much is known about her but what we have seen has been intriguing.

Scott Snyder interview

Honestly I'm just linking this because of his reaction to the Dick Grayson sex appeal vs. Bruce Wayne. He sounds so upset. And Scott, I did see that and I was too surprised to say anything. I promise that if/when I get around to reviewing it I will say something.

"The funniest thing was that, when I started writing Bruce, I was like, 'Bruce! Okay, shirtless Bruce!' It was like crickets. Bruce is sexy, dude! There's one shot in 'Zero Year' and it's a butt shot where he's in a towel and Alfred's stitching him up and I was like, 'If this doesn't do it...' Nobody said anything!"

Writers' Block: The Complicated Relationship of Bruce Wayne and Jason Todd Part 3

This entry talks about why Jason sees Bruce as his father figure, some of the confusion that came when he became Robin and how others in the superhero community view Jason.

Relatives Visiting

My sister and her husband to be exact. In the pas we've gone to some comic cons but haven't been attending aince the last one was a pain in the ass. Stan Lee was there and while it would be nice to see him it was unbearably crowded. You literally had to go the direction the mob of people were going because there were so many.

We usually share comics and I have a bunch since we last saw each other. If I had to guess my sister might look at one trade unless she's won over by app I have for digital comics. I'm not sure how much my brother-in-law will read but I think he'll like the app and look at my bat-related books.

Batman editor looking into Damian

A fan asked why Damian takes after Bruce rather than being portrayed as biracial and the editor promised to look into it. How the bat familys' diverse background has been written has been somewhat uneven in the past.

Writers Block: The Value of Mercy

How RHATO and RHA deal with the issue of killing.

What would you get with a limited budget?

Say you could only get three of your current books, what would you get?

I've been looking at upcoming issues and their prices. At the moment I'm only getting series with $2.99 price tags. I noticed a lot of titles going for $3.99 and $4.99. Which so far hasn't been a problem because I can either trade wait for those or don't want them at all. The comics I order online come at discounts and after a few months digital lowers the cost of issues from previous months. Some that come out in digital format first like DC's Bombshells are 99. Cents compared to the $3.99 price.

I'm only getting a few titles at the moment so it's not a big deal to me. Still it makes you question if you should be following a book in the first place if you can easily name it in your drop list.

Screw the "New Joker" Theory

I'm not reading why people think it's going to happen. Whether it is or isn't going to happen it's a stupid idea. No one liked it when Miller did a similar twist and this would be throwing a character under the bus for cheap drama.

Now I came upon a post from someone that claims to be in the know that seems to suggest this is bull. I don't know how true this is/if they do have inside knowledge or not. If their right we comic fans should be happy. But if this theory happens I'll be pissed.