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Feb. 20th, 2004 02:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
greenygalReally large shipment of miscellaneous comics arrived recently from Milehigh. The Green Arrow/Speedy Secret Origin probably deserves its own entry, but I did want to share some
--Deathstroke Annual #4 has some nice flashbacks--I'm a sucker for Wilson family history--but the concept sounds *awfully* familiar.... An rival of Slade's from before he became Deathstroke being responsible for Joey's throat being cut is not my favorite idea, but I can deal with it. *Two* of them being involved, however, completely independent of each other...and then both taking up the Ravager ID later...uh, well, yes, Wolfman was kind of running out of ideas there, huh? They even both wanted Addie, for heaven's sake--and the idea that Addie had a disastrous relationship with Slade's half-brother before she met Slade is pretty contrived as well, although in a better story I might have let it go. And I can't say I like at all the idea that Slade could have saved Joey if his weapons hadn't been sabotaged. Mmmph. But Rose's backup story where she expresses inner trauma by beating up muggers isn't bad. :) (She doesn't *like* her father, but that doesn't mean they haven't got things in common...)
--NTT Annual #6 confirms that Karras was, too, married to Kory. He said so. Repeatedly. And Dick failed to look surprised. So yes, Kory must have lied when she claimed otherwise, and then 'fessed up later. Always good to have confirmation of these things. (And wouldn't I love to hear the backstage workings on this one...)
[ETA: This is a reference to the shameless and ridiculous retcon perpetrated in the otherwise wonderful NTT #39, where Kory claims that she and Karras did not get married, they only "took a vow to be spoken by leaders of rival states--a vow of peace and cooperation." I can appreciate concern about having two popular characters engaged in an adulterous relationship, but almost two years after the wedding was not the time to have second thoughts.]
--NTT Annual #11 is better than it really ought to be at that stage of the series (note that I said "better," not "good,"), mainly because it focuses on personal moments and origin bits. Particular bits for me: Kyle's visit to Alex's grave on her birthday, guilty that he'd forgotten completely until he started buying *Donna* flowers--ah, my sweet empty-headed boy. Donna explaining the Statue of Liberty to Minion--I don't care about the politics, I don't care about the irony, I don't even care about Minion, I'm just sniffling. Shut up. Grant's disastrous attempt to work on his powers--"Would you believe I can fly? Just not very well." And, endlessly amusing to me, Wally letting Bart go answer a call for help from Roy. I can just hear him: "Yes! I'll sic Bart on him! They can get on each others' nerves for a change! I'm free, I'm free!"
--Yeah, that Devin Grayson Dick & Donna story in Batman Chronicles is just as good as everyone said it was. Of course, it's exactly the kind of piece that plays to her strengths, and I note that even before it was an editorial direction she was pushing The Original Titans perhaps harder than necessary. But it's so awfully sweet, and a salutary reminder that there was a time when her presence didn't drive me off books. (The third story in that issue almost killed me, as I thought for a minute that it was Mike Grell writing Connor Hawke, which might or might not be good, but is still something I would commit many immoral acts to see. Turned out to be Ollie, although it's not as though that's a bad thing either.)
--Orion, Lightray, and Metron as kids? Utterly adorable. (I don't think Metron should be there, actually, but he's still cute.)
--Reason #43 to love/hate Suicide Squad: the off-panel death of a supporting character--in large part due to their own stupidity--breaks my heart. Ow. Ow. Ow.
--Plus, I'm just going to have to admit it. My Suicide Squad OTP--despite a number of better options existing--is Deadshot/Rick Flag. Who don't share love, liking, sexual chemistry, or nearly enough screen time. This book will kill me yet.
--Paul Levitz's Wildcat is much more likable than the current version, and reads as far more mature. (Gerry Conway's version is just as obnoxious as the current one, though.)
--A wolf is not an appropriate security system for an office building. Really. Granted, neither are acid-filled sprinkler systems, but at least those don't require feeding. (Uh...don't ask.)
--Deathstroke Annual #4 has some nice flashbacks--I'm a sucker for Wilson family history--but the concept sounds *awfully* familiar.... An rival of Slade's from before he became Deathstroke being responsible for Joey's throat being cut is not my favorite idea, but I can deal with it. *Two* of them being involved, however, completely independent of each other...and then both taking up the Ravager ID later...uh, well, yes, Wolfman was kind of running out of ideas there, huh? They even both wanted Addie, for heaven's sake--and the idea that Addie had a disastrous relationship with Slade's half-brother before she met Slade is pretty contrived as well, although in a better story I might have let it go. And I can't say I like at all the idea that Slade could have saved Joey if his weapons hadn't been sabotaged. Mmmph. But Rose's backup story where she expresses inner trauma by beating up muggers isn't bad. :) (She doesn't *like* her father, but that doesn't mean they haven't got things in common...)
--NTT Annual #6 confirms that Karras was, too, married to Kory. He said so. Repeatedly. And Dick failed to look surprised. So yes, Kory must have lied when she claimed otherwise, and then 'fessed up later. Always good to have confirmation of these things. (And wouldn't I love to hear the backstage workings on this one...)
[ETA: This is a reference to the shameless and ridiculous retcon perpetrated in the otherwise wonderful NTT #39, where Kory claims that she and Karras did not get married, they only "took a vow to be spoken by leaders of rival states--a vow of peace and cooperation." I can appreciate concern about having two popular characters engaged in an adulterous relationship, but almost two years after the wedding was not the time to have second thoughts.]
--NTT Annual #11 is better than it really ought to be at that stage of the series (note that I said "better," not "good,"), mainly because it focuses on personal moments and origin bits. Particular bits for me: Kyle's visit to Alex's grave on her birthday, guilty that he'd forgotten completely until he started buying *Donna* flowers--ah, my sweet empty-headed boy. Donna explaining the Statue of Liberty to Minion--I don't care about the politics, I don't care about the irony, I don't even care about Minion, I'm just sniffling. Shut up. Grant's disastrous attempt to work on his powers--"Would you believe I can fly? Just not very well." And, endlessly amusing to me, Wally letting Bart go answer a call for help from Roy. I can just hear him: "Yes! I'll sic Bart on him! They can get on each others' nerves for a change! I'm free, I'm free!"
--Yeah, that Devin Grayson Dick & Donna story in Batman Chronicles is just as good as everyone said it was. Of course, it's exactly the kind of piece that plays to her strengths, and I note that even before it was an editorial direction she was pushing The Original Titans perhaps harder than necessary. But it's so awfully sweet, and a salutary reminder that there was a time when her presence didn't drive me off books. (The third story in that issue almost killed me, as I thought for a minute that it was Mike Grell writing Connor Hawke, which might or might not be good, but is still something I would commit many immoral acts to see. Turned out to be Ollie, although it's not as though that's a bad thing either.)
--Orion, Lightray, and Metron as kids? Utterly adorable. (I don't think Metron should be there, actually, but he's still cute.)
--Reason #43 to love/hate Suicide Squad: the off-panel death of a supporting character--in large part due to their own stupidity--breaks my heart. Ow. Ow. Ow.
--Plus, I'm just going to have to admit it. My Suicide Squad OTP--despite a number of better options existing--is Deadshot/Rick Flag. Who don't share love, liking, sexual chemistry, or nearly enough screen time. This book will kill me yet.
--Paul Levitz's Wildcat is much more likable than the current version, and reads as far more mature. (Gerry Conway's version is just as obnoxious as the current one, though.)
--A wolf is not an appropriate security system for an office building. Really. Granted, neither are acid-filled sprinkler systems, but at least those don't require feeding. (Uh...don't ask.)
