Monday, January 18, 2010

FBOTU’s Weekly Comics Load: Power Bottom Surprise Attack!

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So many comics this week! A veritable overload of onomatopoeia, interrobangs and word balloons. Since I read a lot of DC titles, I was happy to see this month’s DC Nation page at the back of most issues. It’s a short feature on a group of LGBT students from Harvey Milk High School and their visit to the DC offices in New York. The group took part in a career day event designed to highlight and promote positive LGBT role models in the workplace. Go DC! Not only was it extremely cool to host the kids, but even cooler to publicize the fact in your books this month. Thank you for that. Now, on with the Load!

	Adventure Comics #6 Is it incest if a clone fools around with his cousin? If it’s a chance to make out with Conner Kent, I say go for it. I’m loving the art in this series, too. Francis Manapul’s work is so simple, yet expressive and really lovely. Check out this portrait of the Teen Titans looking like the cast of a CW teen drama.
	The Amazing Spider-Man #617 Did I need a whole issue and two separate stories exploring the Rhino’s love life? I could make all kinds of jokes about horns and ramming and the logistics of a 7’, 300-lb. man having sexy with a 5’4” woman, but I think the whole sordid affair is best left to your filthy, disgusting imaginations.
	Angel #29 I decided to give Angel another chance, since Bill Willingham took over the writing. How would the world really react to the revelation that vampires exist? Would people react in a campy and poorly acted manner, like in True Blood? Or would governments and corporations try to seize control of the issue and sell immortality to the rich and powerful? Yeah, probably that second one.
	Batgirl #6 Last month’s Batgirl elicited some strong reactions from fans, both pro and con. Personally, I like how the whole Bat family is shaping up in Bruce’s absence, as each member finds his or her place in the group dynamic. Dick is growing into his authoritarian role quite well, and Damian and Stephanie are well-cast as the squabbling siblings who must find a way to get along and work together. That just leaves Barbara as the crazy wheelchair-bound aunt the family keeps hidden in the attic, similar to Joan Crawford in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
	Batman #695 I know the many Bat titles aren’t exactly in perfect continuity with each other, but I found it interesting that all the titles I read this week ended with Batman in a different near-death cliffhanger. I know that’s the hallmark of the genre, but I hope we’re not heading towards a situation that could make anyone doubt Dick’s right to the cowl. On the plus side, I still think we’re getting closer to a Selina/Dick hook-up. That would really drive Barbara over the edge, huh? Is it wrong that I still want Barbara and Wendy to team up as Gotham’s new supervillains?
	Booster Gold #28 Check out the cool, cosmic cover art of this month’s issue. Dan Jurgens can’t draw a bulge to save his life, but he can do one heck of a cover! As for the issue itself, I would love to have a series strictly dedicated to Michelle, where she escapes her own death, but continues to show up across history at the worst possible times. Like on the Titanic. Or in Hiroshima. Or at the “Gays in Comics” panel at Comic-Con last year. She could be a clumsier, ditzier Doctor Who.
	Buffy the Vampire Slayer #31 Well, it’s nice to have Joss back on the title. You can really tell the difference in authenticity. I had given up on this title until I read a major spoiler about upcoming revelations. So I’m back on board to see how it all plays out. I have to say that if you’re a Buffy fan, this issue has a lot of great character stuff, especially between Buffy and Xander, as Buff realizes she’s losing her back-up boyfriend for good. Or, as Xander puts it: “I rate almost as good as trying to change your sexual orientation. You went--through gay--to me.”
	Catwoman: Blackest Night #83 Eyeball torture, man-eating plants and blood-soaked nuns. Sweet Jebus. I don’t know how much more of this Blackest Night shtick I can take.
	The Marvels Project #5 Don’t have much to say about this low-key revisit to Marvel history, except beware the dreaded Power Bottom Surprise Attack!
	Nation X #2 It’s unfortunate that this issue came out the same week that Prop 8 is being challenged in federal court. I fear opponents of civil rights for gays will use this issue as proof that gays are silly, bilious and incapable of mature relationships.
	Secret Six #17 Speaking of silly and bilious, last week I predicted that no matter who won or lost the fight between Bronze Tiger and Catman, the battle would end with Catman’s tights ripped off. Well, I was wrong. Though the cover promises ripping bodices, Catman’s suit pretty much stays intact. Instead, Bronze Tiger gets his spandex ripped right off his shoulder, like the heroine in a Lifetime movie of the week. Oh yeah, and Catman takes a bite out of his internal jugular vein. Oh well, even with blood dripping down his chin, Catman is still hot.
	Titans #21 The Unintentionally Funny Moment of the Week goes to Titans for this dramatic closeup of a photo of Roy enjoying the use of his right arm. How will he ever pick up his little girl now? With his left arm? Don’t be absurd! As Donna says, “it’s all over” when he wakes up. Donna seems like she’s more than ready to pull the plug and put him out of his misery. Better wake up soon, Roy!
	Unwritten #9 COMIC OF THE WEEK: The great thing about Unwritten is that it could have easily rushed the developments and revelations in this issue a long time ago. Instead, they took their time and earned each and every action that takes place here. But as more and more tragedies lay in Tom’s wake, how will he (or this series) ever reach a sense of redemption or triumph? I have no idea, but I am hooked until the (presumably) bitter end.

Happy reading! And be sure to let us know what you’re reading this week, whether in the comments section or over in the Comics Forum.