Your good buddy Chase is back for the first of two very special episodes! This week, Chase and Blake announce the winners of the Best of 2009 as voted on by you, the Showcase listener! Then, as this extra-length episode continues, the guys delve into all the big comic book news of 2009. Disney buys Marvel! DC Entertainment! Archie marries Veronica… kinda! And Diamond’s new rules change the game entirely. If it’s happening in the world of comics, the boys talk about it. In the picks this week, Chase loves The Complete Rocketeer, and Blake gives us The Tick New Series #1! Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@comixtreme.com!

Music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network.

Episode 151: 2009-The Year in Review
Inside This Episode:

The Blackest Night tie-in concludes as Booster and Jamie Reyes — the current Blue Beetle — face the Black Lantern incarnation of Ted Kord, Jamie’s predecessor and Booster’s best friend. The desecration of a real hero sparks some real rage in both Booster and the Beetle, and an epic battle ensues.

This was easily one of the best of the various crossovers. While all of the Black Lantern attacks, by design, have been by people who mean something to our protagonist, none of them outside of the main titles have felt quite as personal as this one. The Booster/Beetle relationship, to many fans, is sacred, and seeing the Black Lantern Ted Kord is as infuriating to us as it is to Booster. Seeing Booster and Jamie together, taking on the enemy, is just fantastic. Both of them really get a chance to show their stuff, and the resolution pays proper tribute to Ted while still saving the day. Dan Jurgens did a masterful job with this, both on the story and the art, respecting Ted’s place in the DCU and still allowing Jamie’s true self to shine.

In fact, the last few pages are probably my favorite thing about the book. Booster and Jamie don’t have the same relationship as Booster and Ted had, but they’ve got a good one, and Booster shows the young hero the respect he deserves. Ending the book the way it does, with Blue and Gold ready to join the fray with the rest of the heroes, is a nice way to cap the whole thing off. We also have a quick epilogue that ties into an ongoing subplot of this series, the question of Booster’s missing sister. We find out where (or, more accurately, when) Michelle Carter has gotten off to, and it’s not exactly a fun-filled romp. Booster is going to have his work cut out for him next month.

Rating: 8/10

So this post will cover highlights from the last couple of weeks, since I missed the books on December 2nd.

Action Comics #884

Lois quits!  She gets arrested for treason when she plans to out her father’s plans in regards to the Kryptonians as Nightwing and Flamebird work to figure out why he’s spontaneously aged.  In the back up feature, Captain Atom has to go meet up with the Justice League.  He’s in trouble.  I can’t say I’m entirely enthralled with the Rucka run on Action Comics.  It just doesn’t feel all that good.

Adventure Comics #5

Superboy Prime fights Black Lanterns, eventually taking a ring and trying to become one.  That results in an emotional overload where he cycles through all the spectrum before finding himself alone in his basement.  His girlfriend shows up, having been turned into a Black Lantern.  In the back up feature, we have Lex Luthor finally show up.  Who’s apparently the uncle of the girl Conner saved in issue #1.  Not sure how I feel about the “real world” setting here, but it was a pretty good issue.

Batgirl #5

So Stephanie finally encounters the new dynamic duo, and nobody gets along.  On her own, Stephanie starts investigating a fire and gets close to the son of the man who owns the building.  Gets her shot in the head.  I’ll say I’ve enjoyed the series so far.  They’re actually keeping character likable so far.

Booster Gold #27

Booster, Supernova and Blue Beetle vs. Ted Kord.  Great issue, ties into a lot of what’s happened up to this point–as well as Blackest Night.  I look forward to seeing where this one will go.

Dark Avengers Annual #1

So that’s where Noh-Varr’s been… interesting.  I like that he’s officially the Captain Marvel now.  There is that voice in the back of my mind wondering how Bendis will make me hate it though…

Dark X-Men #2

Nate Grey gets caught up on everything.  And he’s not happy about it.  At all.  That about sums it up right there.

DC Holiday Special 2009

Fun little collection of Holiday stories with a variety of characters from the DCU.  Check it out.

Deadpool #18

Deadpool continues his attempt to assassinate Kincaid, who’s basically set up a media nightmare for the X-Men.  Typical Deadpool here.

Doom Patrol #5

The team fights the Black Lanterns, confronting most of their demons in the process.  In the second feature, the Professor and the team fight the cliche.  Giffen is doing really good stuff here.  Check it out.

Gen 13 #33

So Tranquility is gone and the team has nowhere else to go, coming across another group of heroes who have set up camp.  Can’t say as I like the art in this one.  It’s too much of a haphazard approach that I think is too common.  It just doesn’t appeal to me.

Incredible Hulk #605

Banner brings Skaar to New York to fight more beasties from Planet Hulk–the actual name of the planet escapes me at the moment–and decides that Skaar is ready to be the new Hulk.  I like where this story is going, and the only way I can see this going sour is for Jeph Loeb to do what he’s been doing best lately.

Invincible Iron Man #21

They decide to reboot Tony, basically taking parts off of Pepper to fix him.  I liked this and I didn’t.  It does seem to be the first inklings of the Avengers coming together, but I was really liking where this was going in regards to Pepper.  I’m kind of hoping she does keep the armor.

JSA All-Stars #1

This more militaristic splinter of the JSA split, this group is “led” by Magog–with Powergirl’s challenging it.  Basically the key point of this issue involved Powergirl’s clothes being ripped off and the apparent revelation of who’s singling out Stargirl.  Wasn’t named on panel, but he has appeared.  Overall not a bad issue, kind of overdependent on the money shots in the art though.

Nation X #1

Three shorter works covering the daily lives of the X-Men on the island.  These were pretty good stories.  Really gave good angles on all the characters present.

R.E.B.E.L.S. #11

So Brainiac 3 is now working the Starro while his dad is now a Yellow Lantern.  Vril spends most of the issue as a member of the Sinestro Corps before refusing to follow Sinestro’s orders.  Vril isn’t going to win any awards for his parenting, and that’s reaffirmed with his handling of his son.  Solid issue here.

Red Robin #7

Tim rushes back to save Tam, and they fight the spider assassins.  I’m liking this series, it’s one of the strongest to come out of Battle for the Cowl.

Secret Six #16
So Black Alice wants to join the team.  I think that’s exactly what this book needed.  A younger character for this dysfunctional family.  Great issue.

The Authority #17

Pretty good issue here, with Midnighter helping the Earth defend itself from a crazed Doctor.  Apollo is back at the end of the issue, which means this team is back as it should be.  And they apparently have a cure for the Warhol virus.

Vampirella: The Second Coming #4 of 4

I’ll be honest, this wasn’t the greatest writing I’ve seen.  But that’s not the point.  Vampirella is a scantilly clad vampire running around saving the world.  Again, not necessarily the most well written book, but definitely worth checking out.

Booster Gold (Volume 2) #27
Written by Dan Jurgens
Art by Jurgens and Mike Norton

While this issue was not as powerful on an emotional level as last issue was, it was still a great issue and a great way to honor Ted Kord. I am not sure if I liked the way Jurgens characterized Jaime Reyes here, he seemed a little more in experienced that he has been shown to be of late, but it wasn’t too bad. Next issue I am excited to get back to the main story as it looks like Booster will be going to save his sister from Coast City’s destruction by Cyborg Superman in the past. That should be good. That’s all I really have to say about this issue.

It’s that time again! With only a month left in the year, the boys get together to make their nominations for the greatest in comics in 2009. Blake, Kenny, occasionally Mike, and Chase (via e-mail) make their choices and then leave it up to you to cast your votes by e-mailing the show by December 18! The guys then read a few e-mails, talk about the future of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and make this week’s picks, including Kenny’s Justice League of America #39, Mike’s Booster Gold #26, and Blake’s Monsters, Inc.: Laugh Factory #3 Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@Comixtreme.com!

2 in 1 Showcase Episode 147: Best of 2009 Nomination Special
Inside This Episode:

And now the ‘ring quest’ is complete.  For many others who have also completed this set…it’s a goal poor Larfleeze–”Agent Orange”–will likely never get to do.

As I’ve said before, I think this is just about the coolest promotion for comics I’ve seen.

Of all the rings, of COURSE the coolest wound up being the Green Lantern ring. Because when you come right down to it–whether that first year or so following Kyle’s book, or that brief period after reading the Amalgam “Iron Lantern” issue when I was all the more interested in GL, to more recent years–it’s the “original” of the Corps.

Another thing that I wonder about is what other similar promotions could be done?  Including the year it came out (1991), next year (2010) will be 20 years OF The Infinity Gauntlet; 2011 obviously being the 20th “anniversary.”  How cool would it be to have something like this ring promotion for a re-issue of the original mini-series (6 gems, 6 issues…nice, no?).

Or sticking with DC: what about a Legion of Super-Heroes ring?  As with all these Lantern Corps rings…just change the color of plastic used and the little symbol on the top piece.  Such a ring could be tied to a special Legion issue or annual or issue of Adventure Comics or the like.

And what about a Flash ring?  Given Barry’s back, and I believe the Flash-costume-in-a-ring-for-easy-access was his thing…so why not use the red plastic again and put the lightning bolt on the top piece? And tie this, say, to the new Flash #1 by Johns.

(Last Updated Nov 25, 2009 @ 7:26 pm EST)

Now You Can Follow The Computer Savvy Weblog Via Twitter: http://twitter.com/DCz_Dead_Rise

On Sale: Dec 9, 2009

Retail Price: $3.99 USD

Availability of Comic

*1st Print Cover:

*Variant Cover:

Comic Book Price Book Guide Cost: $ ???? (1st Print Cover) Graded @ 9.4 (http://www.comicspriceguide.com)

Comic Book Price Book Guide Cost: $ ???? (Variant) Graded @ 9.4 (http://www.comicspriceguide.com)

About Comic: Black Lantern Ted Kord is out for blood in this BLACKEST NIGHT tie-in issue! Blue Beetle Jaime Reyes joins forces with Booster Gold in an attempt to take down Black Lantern Ted Kord once and for all. But the battle will have consequences for the Blue and the Gold, and Booster and Beetle’s lives will be forever changed!

*Unconfirmed 1st Print Cover*

For full Information on this comic book please click on the following link “Booster Gold #27“

Till Next Time,

Remy “Se7en”

It’s time for a special Thanksgiving treat courtesy of the Everything But Imaginary players! Step into Rip Hunter’s Time Sphere and accompany us on a quick jaunt just one day into the future, where we travel to the JSA Brownstone in New York. The decorations are hung, the walls are packed, and the aroma of turkey, ham, and Ma Hunkel’s famous Pumpkin Pie fill the air. Three generations of superheroes are gathering, and this year, you’re going to join us for…

Everything But Imaginary #330: Thanksgiving at the JSA Brownstone

Another week, two more rings.

This week’s rings were the blue and violet (or Star Sapphire). They came with Adventure Comics and Outsiders.

Amusingly enough, if you put ‘em together, they look more blue and pink, almost as if they are something for kids.

With these rings, we’re left only missing the Green and Red rings…those are due next week, I believe.

We begin with Blackest Night and the death of Kyle Rayner in Green Lantern Corps No. 42, which hit the comics world like a nuclear blast. Even if Kyle does come back in some strange manner, the fact that writer Geoff Johns wasn’t afraid to off one of the four main Green Lanterns shows that Blackest Night will reshape the DC Universe for years to come.

I’m sure Johns was walking around all bow-legged this week, what, with his huge pair of brass ones. If Devastator had survived Revenge of the Fallen, he’d blush.

If anything, Kyle’s death was unexpected. If any of the four human lanterns looked like he was about to join the ranks of the Black Lantern Corps it was John Stewart, who is literally walking into a death trap on Xanshi, which seems to have come back as a planet-sized Black Lantern (heads up, Mogo!).

Who knows what Johns has in store for him?

What we now know, though, is why Guy Gardner is about to join the Red Lantern Corps. After the cover of GLC No. 43 was released, showing Guy ripping off his trademark Green Lantern vest to reveal a flaming Red Lantern brand, everyone has been wondering if it was just ruse or if the possible death of Ice or Kyle would push him over the edge.

With the deaths of Red Lantern Vice and Kyle, and Guy’s legendary bad temper, it is now a done deal.

Now the question is whether or not Guy will be able to control his rage. Many argue that Guy will be just like Atrocitus and able to keep his rage in check. This also adds a twist to Hal Jordan’s recruitment of the other lanterns.

You gotta remember that in the Green Lantern: Secret Origin arc (Green Lantern, vol. 4, 29-35), Atrocitus hunted down William Hand because he wanted to bring about Blackest Night on his own.

Makes you wonder what Atrocitus will do now that Blackest Night has come, and why he came after Larfleeze and demanded the Orange Lantern battery. Will Atrocitus cooperate with Hal and the others, or will he and Larfleeze hold out?

In that case, will Guy step in for Atrocitus as a representative of the RLC?

Also, Johns still hasn’t revealed how the Indigo Tribe members came about or earned their rings. What we do know is that they represent compassion, and that compassion is always linked to great sacrifice. So, I ask you, what greater sacrifice than that of Kyle? Is that the path to becoming an Indigo Lantern? Or, will Kyle become a Black Lantern?

So many questions. Don’t you love it?

By the way, in case you haven’t read them yet, the Blackest Night offerings of R.E.B.E.L.S. and Booster Gold are remarkable. Pick them up if you haven’t do so already.

Rage on, Guy. RAGE ON!

Action Comics #883

Chris and Thara continue to hunt Zod’s sleeper agents.  Chris spontanteously grows old.  In the backup story, Captain Atom arrives back in the real world and is immediately attacked.  Mon-El comes to the rescue.  Not a bad issue, although kind of slow.  I don’t know, it just feels like it’s hard to care about these characters.

Batgirl #4

Stephanie’s first run through with the new suit has her facing off against Livewire as Barbara tries to help Wendy deal with her anger.  Easily one of the best series to come out of Battle for the Cowl, this is just an enjoyable read.  I would say this could be the best series to come out of Battle for the Cowl.

Batman #693

The second part of the Tony Daniels written story where the mob is starting to move back into Gotham.  With Dick working as Batman, he teams up with Huntress to keep an eye on Falcone and keep things from falling apart.  I think Daniels has a very solid grasp of this and is doing something good here.

Batman and Robin #6

Jason Todd is attacked by the Flamingo as he leaves Batman and Robin to be unmasked once one million people go to the website to activate a webcam.  They escape, just in time to save Jason and Scarlett from the Flamingo.  Robin gets shot, Jason arrested, Flamingo is apparently killed, and Scarlett just runs off–apparently losing the face that Professor Pyg forced onto her face.  I’ll be honest, this has been a weird story so far.  I like the angle with Jason where he’s primarily dealing with the fact Bruce wanted him to be another Dick Grayson.  It’s a pretty obvious point, but I think an explicit statement worked nicely.  The story itself was kind of screwy though.  Can’t really explain what it was about it.  I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel right.

Booster Gold #26

Well, once Blackest Night Started, we knew this one was coming.  Black Lantern Ted Kord.  Features Jamie Reyes in a story where Booster’s disappeared to go back in time to Ted’s funeral.  Back in the present, Skeets is looking for Booster, eventually picking up the current Blue Beetle who decides to help.  Then they get attacked by Black Lantern Ted Kord.  This is going to be a part of Blackest Night I’m going to watch closely, as I think it’s going to be a good angle.

Cable #20

So Bishop and Cable are duking it out as Hope tries to figure out a way to escape from the Brood.  Solid issue, this leading into what will be Hope’s big story in the near future.  Really want to see where it goes, what impact she has on the X-Men.

Dark X-Men #1

So Mystique is leading a team of Dark Beast, Mimic, and Omega.  And Mystique looks like Jean Grey.  They are sent on a goodwill mission by Osborne, and things go crazy from there.  Only the first issue so I’ll wait to see what happens next, but I’ll admit this didn’t get me terribly excited.  Girl Called Hope backup feature where Cable is training her.  These short segments are kind of hard to judge, but it looks interesting so far.

Deadpool #17

Domino is afraid of chickens.  That’s about all I have to say about this.  Entertaining issue.  About what you’d expect for Deadpool.

Fables #90

Frou Totenkinder is gone, so Ozma is now the big magic user in Fabletown.  Still trapped with Baba Yaga in the offices, Bufkin and his small group of fighters continue to fight and torment her.  Fables is doing good stuff.

Green Lantern Corps #42

Fighting the Black Lanterns, the Green Lanterns pull out all the stops.  Kyle and Guy release the Red Lantern Vice on them, which works briefly before they get overwhelmed again.  When the Black Lanterns overwhelm an Alpha Lantern, Kyle grabs the battery and detonates it, killing himself and the Black Lanterns.  This was a particularly sad moment for me, as I read Green Lantern when I was younger and Kyle was the Lantern then.  It was just a sad moment.

R.E.B.E.L.S. #10

Blackest Night tie-in here.  Basically everybody is gunning for Vril Dox.  And he gets a yellow power ring.  Last page was amazing.

Red Robin #6

Set after the Blackest Night: Batman mini, Tim is helping Ra’s Al Ghul and the League of Shadows take down this second group of assassins.  Not a bad issue, as Tim starts to see the conflicts of the path he’s chosen.

Well, here we go. Not sure how often I’ll want to do this, but might as well try it out. Here’s the comics I picked up this here week!

DC: Majority stockholder this week!

Batman and Robin #6
Booster Gold #26
Green Lantern Corps #42
Unwritten #7

Marvel: Sorry, House of Ideas.

Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #1

If you’re a fan of Batman & Robin, stop reading this paragraph, because I think I’m going to stop picking up this title. I don’t know if it’s Morrison’s writing, or Tan’s replacing of Frank Quitely starting this issue, but it’s just not a fun read for me. I think that I was done with the book anyway, after being generally sick of everyone ever thinking that Grant Morrison’s work is perfect. Maybe it is. But I’m a casual reader at best, so I don’t want every line on every page referencing back to some book from the 60’s that I’ve never read. GM’s work just isn’t my cup o’ tea. Maybe this is because I didn’t really “get” Final Crisis. And Tan, sorry, but if I was unsure based on Grant’s text alone, your addition to the book sealed my departure. Also who gives a shit about Scarlet?

—–

Booster Gold is a sold title every month (in my humble opinion, of course). A few years ago, you wouldn’t see me holding a BG book with a ten-foot pole. I love the “idiot-secretly-saves-the-world-and-all-time-and-space” angle, and having the recently-cancelled Blue Beetle (boo!) show up as a backup story every ish doesn’t hurt. This issue was relatively slow until the last few pages, as it dealt mostly with Booster’s grief over Ted Kord’s (the previous Blue Beetle) death. Yes, he’s STILL grieving – and rightly so, because Ted was awesome. Anyway, this sets up this Blackest Night tie-in story with Zombie-Black-Lantern-Ted rising from the grave to torment the living! Was nice to see the return of another BG character – Supernova – this ish, and I hope DC starts using him more.

—–

The Green Lantern Corps is another monthly I wouldn’t have guessed I’d ever be into, but I can thank Marvel – yes, Marvel – for getting me back into cosmic-related stories with Annihilation, Conquest, and Nova. That made me want to see what DC had to offer in the same vein, and now GLC is one of the few titles – along with Green Lantern – that I’m collecting in both single issues and trades. This book only really has two major story moments, with the first being the Black Lanterns’ apparent need to completely devour the various power batteries immediately upon reaching 100% power with their black rings. The second, which I refuse to spoil, made me say “oh, shit.” It was one of those last page shocks, so we’ll have to see how it plays out next ish.

—–

I can’t really talk about and/or review this week’s Unwritten, because I only managed to skim through it earlier on break from work. Here’s the only way I can think to describe this book: it’s a little bit of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (only a little), a dash of Fables, and a whole hell of a lot of Harry Potter. Imagine: There’s an author that creates a Harry Potter-style book that becomes a world famous series of tales, and the author’s son Tommy is the basis for the main character, and Tommy – now a grown man, and his father long since passed on – is now experiencing things that only “Harry” would, except Tommy is a bit unwilling to accept this really happening and is a bit of an asshole. This issue features a ghost, a flying cat, an attempted assassination, and Frankenstein’s monster. Tommy – it’s real. Get with it quick or you’re going to get killed. I think as this book continues we’ll see many more fictional characters stepping into the light as Tommy realizes that fiction might be fact after all. Waiting on Dracula or the Invisible Man.

—–

Hot off the heels of War of Kings – which by the way I didn’t like as much as I thought I would – comes Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard. This marks the first major tie-in to the new cosmic-arc from Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, and based on the promo ad for the storyline alone I’m already pretty pumped. If you didn’t read War of Kings, it ended with Black Bolt and Vulcan killing each other (unconfirmed, I would hate it if either one actually died!) in a massive explosion that ripped a whole in space/time. Fail, right? Well, this rip in the universe – now simply called the “fault” – can and will cause trouble (I know because I read comics and you can tell when shit’s going down). Gladiator, who has now reluctantly taken over leadership of the Shi’ar, is commanding his Imperial Guard to investigate the fault first-hand. The issue really served two purposes: to quickly acquaint the reader with some Shi’ar superbeings they’ve probably never would know or care about otherwise, and to show how Kallark is struggling to his people unified while some sections want to depart the Empire following Vulcan’s tyrannical rule. That was a long sentence. If you’ve read this far, check your mail – the cookies on the way. Also the Starjammers (two of them at least) make a cameo. Yay!

Thanks, kids! We should do this more often!

- Brent

Full review posted to comixtreme.com.

Story: 4.5/5
Art: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5

Did you know that there’s a lot of Blackest Night comics that I haven’t reviewed?  I mean… really.  I guess it’s time to play catch up on our fun mega event of DC.

There’s a lot of zombie bashing both positive and negative after the click.

So, the first batch of miniseries tying around the Blackest Night event ended within the last couple of weeks.

I have to say that really… it wasn’t too much of a success.  Sure, some parts were nice like seeing Deadman for a bit… and then not… and then having Dove suddenly becoming a surprising (even to herself) player in the event.  But, overall, it just didn’t all flow to me.  I think part of it was just that it was all too ridiculous for me. 

Batman was a big stupid stupid fest of stupidness in the last issue where The Flying Graysons and Tim Drake’s dad recreate their deaths in an incredibly elaborate way to get some sort of emotions out of the Big B and Red R.  Then, the whole Mr. Freeze gun/last ditch effort to hide themselves from the Black Lanterns was way too contrived.

Superman was just a big brawl fest.  Plus, the characters were pretty flat.  Sure, it was nice to learn that Superboy’s arm could have fear in it, and to see the Psycho Pirate back (and then his semi-useful mask used as a tool against the Black Lanterns… which crumbles in two frames which took a lot of rereading to figure out).  Overall, the miniseries just accomplished me feeling really bad for Smallville.  Poor one-dimensional stereotypical hickish townsfolk…

Titans was a love affair, hate affair, okay affair.  Part of me could see past the T&A fest when the story was okay, but then the other part of me was super offended.  I like Dove’s new role, but that’s about it.  Plus, it would have been cool to see Raven in this… but she wasn’t there.  Oh well.

Overall, the first batch of miniseries get an okay out of me… not really satisfying but not really terrible… they just don’t equal the power in the main feature.

The next grouping is the first two weeks of the ring promotional deal!  You know, when this was first announced (you’d get a promotional plastic ring with one of the Lantern Corps symbol on it for buying a certain comic) I thought it was a great marketing ploy but I wasn’t too excited to buy some comics that I wouldn’t normally get.  Well, each one of them proved me wrong in their own little ways.

Doom Patrol #4:

Now, I’ve been meaning to read some of the classic Doom Patrol stories, but I just haven’t had the time.  I know there’s a giant mythos behind the group, but I can honestly say that I don’t really know any of it.  Now, all of the promotional books (thus far) have included a memory download for the Black Lantern ring to sort of bring new readers (as in the people just buying the comic for the ring) up to speed.  I don’t really feel that this one completely accomplished that unlike the other two.  Sure, it definitely helped a hell of a lot, but not completely.  Part of me liked the art in this comic and part of me didn’t… It looked good in some instances (most notably how the Black Lanterns have sort of a mummified look to them and the representation of emotions through the Black Lantern’s eyes now used as a common device in all of the Blackest Night books), but bads in others (I didn’t too much like the inking or coloring, really).  The reveal at the end was super interesting with Clifford Steele and has me considering picking up the next issue.  To tell you the truth, I didn’t read the back up feature… I really like J.M. Dematteis especially after Savior 28, but to have a back up feature and then a preview for an upcoming book sort of steals away from the flow.

R.E.B.E.L.S. #10

First things first, I really loved the art in this comic.  The highly stylized use of a thin line and the super cool inking with dashed lines to show texture (especially on faces) was just way too neat.  The facial expressions are over the top and yet spot on.

Anyway, this issue follows Braniac 2 and 3… I knew a little bit about the different Braniacs, but the Memory Download beginning was a nice refresher.  My question was why does Vril Drox (Braniac 2) still hang out with a giant posse (including Kanjar Ro) when he has robots to do his shit for him?

Oh well, the reveal at the end was priceless and shows that something done before in the Sinestro Corps War can be done again and still have a kickass effect.

Plus, Black Lantern Harbinger’s in here… and she’s not that whiny!

I’m definitely considering picking up the next one, and this review’s sort of sparse because the comic mostly speaks for itself.

Booster Gold #26

Now, I have a love/hate relationship with Booster Gold… He’s a showboat who’s now on the right track, but that still doesn’t forgive for his past mistakes of being sort of a stupid character.  Like everyone else (mostly), I feel like 52 definitely vindicated him a lot (which makes me think… are we ever going to see how Animal Man is dealing with Blackest Night?), but there’s still some problems in his comic now.

Despite having an unbalanced relationship with Booster Gold, I’ve always liked Ted Kord Blue Beetle… mostly because the first issue I read with him in it was Infinite Crisis and him being all badass with Max Lord and getting his brains blown out.

Overall, I came out of reading this comic saying aloud “Holy shit! That was a lot better than I thought it would be.”

From Booster revisiting one of his failures to the relationship with the new Blue Beetle, I really thought this issue excelled, and there’s no doubt that I will buy the next comic.  Part of the reason this comic works so well is that we know Ted Kord’s going to come bursting in at some point, but Dan Jurgens holds it off until the end and instead works on developing/reminding the reader of Booster and BBs friendship and characters.  That makes the sickening reveal at the end so much better.

Does anyone else find that Ted Kord’s nose looks really weird and a little uncharacteristic of him in life despite being all decaying…?  Also, couldn’t they have made his costume on the head sink in just a bit to represent the head wound…?

Nevertheless,

Our next grouping is the actual main event players a la Green Lantern, Corps, and Blackest Night.

Green Lantern #47

You know, I really don’t care much about Hal Jordan anymore.  Sure, he’s cool, but he’s just a Batman in space with a ring…  The stars of this book are the other players: Sinestro, Larfleeze, and Atrocitus.  Holy shit do I still want them to stay around when this is all over.  They’ve had such little screen time (excluding Sinestro) that I really want them to play out for much longer.  Hell!  Atrocitus gets his heart ripped out by the Inversions (who look super neat) like everyone else and ends up still living because he doesn’t need a heart because he’s such a badass.

Too bad Abin Sur doesn’t stay around for a bit longer… I guess he’s more important for the ideal and the standard of being the best Green Lantern ever than actually an interesting character.

Unfortunately, this comic doesn’t accomplish what it’s meant to, and that’s making Green Lantern seem interesting… it’s a bit of a sign of bad tidings when your lead character’s outshined by others.

Still, a respectable:

Green Lantern Corps #42

Stuff on Oa increases the shit up… there’s a lot of characters and I feel like only Kilowog gets a decent amount of treatment.

Sure, Kyle Rayner’s sacrifice at the end is pretty neat, but after just seeing something similar with Sodom Yat, the effect is lessened.  Plus, in the whole Origins and Omens thing that came out to get people excited about Blackest Night, Kyle was all painting a mural… So, I know that this isn’t going to last.

I don’t know… this comic just sort of felt like a placeholder in the event to find out what’s happening elsewhere.  Hmm…

Blackest Night #4:

Do the Justice League villains on the front of this cover really play much of a role on the inside… no… but they look cool.

Wow, but isn’t the part in Gotham so neat… Scarecrow just walking around and stares down Black Lantern Azrael (who looks super cool with that hood even if it’s a bit like Black Lantern Hawk).

Then, Luthor’s being a badass.

Then, Mera is suddenly a power player with the Flash and Atom… the new Big Three.  Then, Jason fights Ronnie and makes me want to see what happens.  Then, Atom gives a pep talk that sort of back fires (sadly) but rips a guy apart.

Then, in two pages in creepy near silence, Nekron rises… as does all of Coast City.

Escrito por Dan Jurgens; Arte por Dan Jurgens, Mike Norton y Norm Rapmund; Colores por Hi-Fi; Publicado por DC Comics.

Como dije en la reseña de Doom Patrol #4 (que era el primer “tie-in” del intento de extender Blackest Night a una buena cantidad de títulos del Universo DCíta), estoy seguro que esta serie de números son totalmente inecesarios para entender o tener el panorama completo de la Noche Más Oscura. Con este pensamiento (y con la idea de obtener el anillo que viene gratis con esta edición) compré mi copia de Booster Gold #26.

La primera agradable sorpresa es que Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes) era un invitado en este número y eso me gustó. La segunda sorpresa es (siempre y cuando lo veas como un número que no es necesario para enteder BN) que terminé bastante satisfecho y sobre todo con las ganas de comprar el número que sigue.

Este número es muy bien escrito. Principalmente, por la carga emotiva y por la forma en que Dan Jurgens cuenta su historia. Gran parte de este número, es dedicado a establecer una unión y una enlace bastante sentimental de Booster Gold (Michael Carter) con su gran amigo Blue Bettle (Ted Kord). Booster Gold usando sus abilidades de viaje en el tiempo, se va al pasado a revivir el funeral de Ted Kord. Reviviendo ese momento desagradable y triste para él. Mientras en la época actual, Ted Kord se levanta como Black Bettle y éste va detrás de Supernova y Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes). Cuando Booster Gold decide regresar, se encuentra conque su amigo y compañero, está “vivo”, la carga emocional es muy bien ejecutada. Y en el siguiente número, veremos el gran final de esta historia con (espero) la batalla entre ellos.

El arte es otro apartado donde este cómic destaca. Lleno de grandes trazos y con enmarcando los grandes momentos. Dan Jurgens, Mike Norton y Norm Rapmund hacen un cómic muy disfrutable.

Quizás estoy siendo injusto y el impacto que tuvo en mi, Booster Gold #26 es bastante distinto que el tuvo Doom Patrol #4. Y digo injusto porque al leer este número ya sabía lo que esperaba… y puede ser que esa es una razón para haberlo disfrutado más y no ser tan exigente como con Doom Patrol. Quizás.

I don’t mention it often enough, but Booster Gold is consistently one of the best comics DC is publishing. Dan Jurgens, the character’s creator, has done wonderful work since Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz left this title behind, and I had no doubt that the Blackest Night crossover would satisfy as well. While it wasn’t my favorite issue, or my favorite BN tie-in, it got the job done.

Skeets, Booster’s little robot buddy, gets worried when Booster goes off the radar, so he seeks out the help of Jaime Reyes, the current Blue Beetle. Jaime and Booster having recently shared an enemy, Skeets is hoping the teen hero will have some info. Jaime can’t find Booster, but joins the hunt.

As this is going on, a Black Lantern ring falls upon the grave of Ted Kord, the previous Blue Beetle, and the best friend Michael Carter ever had. Ted’s death back in Countdown to Infinite Crisis was one of the harshest gut-punches fans of DC Comics have felt in years, and while I’ve certainly come to appreciate Jaime, I’d be lying if I said part of me didn’t miss the old Blue and Gold dynamic almost as much as Booster himself. When Ted’s corpse rises and goes after the time-traveling Booster’s ancestor, the timeline of the greatest hero you’ve never heard of is threatened outright.

Like I said, this was a good issue, but not a favorite. It plays out a lot of the ongoing storylines in this title, which is fine, but I felt there was a bit too much buildup before we got to the Black Lantern storyline. Booster’s time-travel detour is one that makes sense for him to take, but it’s a bit coincidental that he just happened to be there (or… then, I guess) today, when Ted is busy rising. If the intention was to remind us all of just how much Ted Kord meant to Booster, we didn’t need the reminder.

It’s cool to see Daniel again, though, and I do like when we see Booster and Jaime together. There’s good stuff here, and I think that in the second part of this story, with the setup stuff out of the way, it’ll be a better issue.

Rating: 7/10

Wednesday has come and gone. The heroes have fought their battles and villains have hinted at things to come. Now it’s time to review the game tape…

A warning, the last review is really grumpy. You’ll know it when you see the appropriate image.

I know I mentioned a while back that we should accept the genius of Langridge, but this issue needs comment. Muppet Show: The Treasure of Peg Leg Wilson #4 is a good ending to the arc and a nice segue into the next. This is the problem with the issue. It works too hard to serve the story. The clever variety of sketches are mostly gone because this issue has to wrap up the arc. Still, a poor Langridge issue is better than a good issue of most other writers. Next month: ROAD TRIP! WOOOOOO!!!

X-Men Forever #11 continues to demonstrate how far through the looking glass we’ve come with the book: Wolverine is still dead, Cyclops has still got a healthy son, Shadowcat has an adamantium claw, and Colossus is back in Russia as a champion and boy toy of a certain Black Widow. Seriously, this is the most enjoyable X-book out there.

Tony Daniel’s second issue of Batman was pretty uninteresting and mildly confusing. Daniel drew a passable issue, but he forgot to tell a coherent story. On the upside, Edward Nigma remembered something useful: he’s really the Joker…if a certain panel is to be believed. Morrison’s Batman and Robin #6 was adequate. The dial-in poll run by Jason is a nice moment for those of us who remember back in the day. On the other hand, Hannibal Tabu at CBR’s Buy Pile called it nicely when he said Flamingo is the Batman equivalent of Darth Maul. I’m waiting to hear Jesse’s take on the Doc Savage cross-over book. I do know the background and history of the character, but I’m not sold on the idea of needing him in the DC Universe.

Anyone remember the DC cross-over events MILLENNIUM, ALIEN INVASION, or BLOODLINES? Of course not, they suck. I fear Blackest Night will be the same way. I came to the realization while reading this month’s Booster Gold. DC’s plan to connect it to books to boost numbers hurts both the book the story ties into and the over all story. My beloved BG suffers because we’ve already dealt with Ted and his death. I can understand that Booster feels guilt and shame and anger, but bringing Ted back is an unfortunately literal depiction of the old chestnut, “beating a dead horse.” The only readable part of the book was the funeral/memorial. Reading Booster go down the list and point out why each hero attending is really a douche bag was entertaining. Worse, by throwing all of these sub-par tie-ins and mini’s, DC has managed to turn the potentially best GL story in…ever into a drawn out and over exposed flaming piece of stupid.

On the whole: not a great week for books. I won’t be reviewing for a couple of weeks. I’ll try to post something on those Thursdays, but with my travels in the next two weeks, I won’t be around to get books.

Now, this is getting to be more like it! Including that Black Ring from Blackest Night #1, 4 out of the 8 rings are now available.

I’m very thankful that my comic shop, at least, is giving the rings away with purchase of the comics that had to be ordered in X quantity to be able to order the rings.

I have not yet asked the comic shop if (any of) the rings are going to be for sale individually–I think the temptation to try to purchase an extra or two might be a bit too great. Of course, when you get right down to it, the ones I’d most be interested in getting multiples of would be the Green and Yellow.

But as-is…cool as these are, I think they’d lose just a little bit of specialness if they weren’t unique items in my collection.

Booster Gold (Volume 2) #26
Written by Dan Jurgens
Art by Jurgens and Mike Norton

Jurgens is by far one of if not the best artists DC has, why doesn’t he get any appreciation for it?! He is also just as good of a writer. You don’t have to have read anything with Booster Gold before and you would completely understand and enjoy this issue. If you know Booster’s history, you will enjoy it more but that means it is a good use of continuity. I loved every page of this issue. Pick this up if you are a fan or just someone getting into DC through Blackest Night.

Halloween is over, but the boys have one last treat for you — our Trick-or-Tangent episode! This week, you steer the course of the show, as the guys answer your e-mails. Artist chatter, the state of the Shazam! family, spacefaring with the Guardians of the Galaxy, and even a letter in support of Twilight. Plus, Blake asks (okay, begs) your help in supporting his latest creative enterprise. In the picks this week, Kenny chooses the Justice League of America: The Lightning Saga graphic novel, and Blake is happy about the return of Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories! Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@Comixtreme.com!

Episode 143: Trick or Tangent
Inside This Episode:

(Last Updated Nov 28, 2009 @ 8:31 pm EST)

Now You Can Follow The Computer Savvy Weblog Via Twitter: http://twitter.com/DCz_Dead_Rise

On Sale: Nov 11, 2009

Retail Price: $3.99 USD

Availability of Comic

*1st Print: May Be Hard To Find In Some Locations

*2nd Print: Very Easy To FInd

Comic Book Price Book Guide Cost: $ 4.00 (1st Print Cover) Graded @ 9.4 (http://www.comicspriceguide.com)

Comic Book Price Book Guide Cost: $ 4.00 (2nd Print Cover) Graded @ 9.4 (http://www.comicspriceguide.com)

About Comic: What’s blue and gold and bloody all over? This BLACKEST NIGHT tie-in issue! Booster Gold’s worst fears are realized when Ted Kord comes back as a Black Lantern intent on killing his former best friend. Good thing there’s another Blue Beetle around to help…but will Jaime Reyes be too late to save Booster’s life?

*1st Print Cover*

*2nd Print Cover*

For full Information on this comic book please click on the following link “Booster Gold #26” -

Till Next Time,

Remy “Se7en”

Everything must go!

I know – this isn’t very professional – but nobody pays me to do this, so I’m going to do it anyway!  I’m moving house very shortly, and that means I have a lot of possessions I need to off-load.  Sadly, that includes a massive pile of comic books.  Naturally, I’m selling them on eBay, and now I’m flogging them off to you, Dear Reader.  Oh, and there’s also a Super Mario Galaxy Strategy Guide if you need as well…Here’s a list:

		SALVATION RUN #1-7 Incl. Neal Adams Joker Variant Cover Postage cost: AU $4.99	1	0	AU $14.99	9d 20h	Sell similar
		Super Mario Galaxy Collector’s Edition Strategy Guide Postage cost: AU $6.99	0	0	AU $0.99	9d 16h	Sell similar
		BATMAN: Streets of Gotham #1 & 3 Comics by PAUL DINI Postage cost: AU $3.25	0	0	AU $1.99	9d 16h	Sell similar
		BATMAN UNSEEN #1 Comic by DOUG MOENCH & KELLEY JONES Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $0.99	9d 17h	Sell similar
		BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS #1 Comic FIRST ISSUE (Ed Benes) Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $0.99	9d 17h	Sell similar
		COUNTDOWN to FINAL CRISIS #51 – 32 Comics (20 Issues) Postage cost: AU $4.99	0	0	AU $23.99	9d 17h	Sell similar
		ROBIN #169 Resurrection of Ra’s Al Ghul Part 5 Batman Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $0.99	9d 18h	Sell similar
		ROBIN #173 & 174 Comics by CHUCK DIXON Spoiler Returns! Postage cost: AU $3.25	0	0	AU $1.99	9d 18h	Sell similar
		SUPERGIRL #37 Faces of Evil: SUPERWOMAN New Krypton Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $0.99	9d 18h	Sell similar
		THE MIGHTY #1 & 2 Comics by Peter J. Tomasi (GLC) Postage cost: AU $3.25	0	0	AU $1.99	9d 18h	Sell similar
		BOOSTER GOLD #13 Comic (DC Comics) Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $0.99	9d 19h	Sell similar
		52: The Four Horsemen #1-6 Batman Superman Wonder Woman Postage cost: AU $4.99	0	0	AU $6.99	9d 19h	Sell similar
		The Death of the New Gods #1-4 Comics by Jim Starlin Postage cost: AU $4.99	0	0	AU $5.99	9d 20h	Sell similar
		The Death of the New Gods #6 & 7 Comics by Jim Starlin Postage cost: AU $3.25	0	0	AU $2.99	9d 20h	Sell similar
		COUNTDOWN to MYSTERY #8 Comic by Mark Waid, Gail Simone Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $1.99	9d 20h	Sell similar
		COUNTDOWN to MYSTERY #5 Doctor Fate & Eclipso Comic DC Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $1.99	9d 21h	Sell similar
		Brave & the Bold #17 SUPERGIRL & RAVEN by Marv Wolfman Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $1.20	9d 21h	Sell similar
		SUPERGIRL #30 Comic by Will Pfeifer (Catwoman) Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $0.99	9d 21h	Sell similar
		SHADOWPACT #17 Comic by Matt Sturges & Doug Braithwaite Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $0.99	9d 21h	Sell similar
		TITANS #1 & 2 Comics – Nightwing, The Flash, Starfire Postage cost: AU $3.25	0	0	AU $2.99	9d 21h	Sell similar
		Birds of Prey #119 – Oracle Black Canary Huntress Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $0.99	9d 21h	Sell similar
		SUPERMAN: EMPEROR JOKER Trade Paperback by Jeph Loeb Postage cost: AU $4.99 High bidder: ertansteph ( 117)	0	1	AU $8.99	9d 22h	Sell similar
		COUNTDOWN: Search for Ray Palmer RED RAIN KELLEY JONES Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $0.99	9d 22h	Sell similar
		COUNTDOWN to FINAL CRISIS #14 – 11 Comics (4 Issues) Postage cost: AU $4.99	0	0	AU $4.50	9d 22h	Sell similar
		TRINITY #1 by Kurt Busiek Batman Superman Wonder Woman Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $0.99	9d 23h	Sell similar

		Rann-Thanagar Holy War – Starfire, Hawkman, Animal Man Postage cost: AU $4.99	0	0	AU $3.50	9d 23h	Sell similar
		GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #1-3 Batman Two-Face Riddler Postage cost: AU $4.99	0	0	AU $3.60	9d 23h	Sell similar
		BATMAN & THE OUTSIDERS #1; #3-7 (6 Issues) Chuck Dixon Postage cost: AU $4.99	0	0	AU $6.99	9d 23h	Sell similar
		Outsiders Five of a Kind Thunder & Martian Manhunter #1 Postage cost: AU $2.50	0	0	AU $0.99	9d 23h	Sell similar

Just click the links if you’re interested!  And even if you’re not, have a bid anyway – consider it a small donation if you’ve been enjoying the site thus far.