Comic Proportions

Just read an interview on Newsarama with writer James Robinson about his current stint on the Justice League of America.

In case you haven't read his run yet, it is absolutely dreadful, and it features the WORST JLA lineup (the Dick Grayson version of Batman, Donna Troy, the "disco" Starman and Congorilla ... that's it!) since the Detroit iteration back in the day.

Anyway, I was reading the interview and Robinson said something that really struck to the heart of the problem with the title:

"One of the things about this book is it's always going to feel like it's right in the heart of the DC Universe."

That's an erroneous way to approach the book and is one the reasons why the teams roster changes so much. By trying to tie it so much to current DC continuity — which is always shifting and moving — then the book is sort of handcuffed by the whims of dozens of different creators on a bunch of divergent comics. So if Superman is in outer space for a story arc in his own book, then he's missing from the JLA for just as longer ... maybe longer. (The worst example of this was during Dwayne McDuffie's run not too long ago.)

And make no mistake, the JLA is DC's "Big Seven" — Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and The Flash — and any change to that lineup is merely an aberration that can't last long.

Now, I'm not saying the JLA should totally avoid continuity. I'm just saying that the team's adventures work best when they take place between story line's on the individual members' own books — not during.

That's my take.

I just read a post on Newsarama.com about the new direction on Wonder Woman (starting with issue 601), as directed by the new creative team of J. Michael Straczynski and artist Don Kramer — and honestly, I'm worried. Here's a quote from JMS himself about his upcoming run:

"Our story puts Diana, alone, against almost impossible odds in a situation that begins with the destruction of Paradise Island and nearly everything she holds dear,” added JMS. “Pursued, hunted, with the events that led to this a mystery, and her future uncertain, Diana must go into the depths of her soul, and the darkest places in the world, to try and rescue the people, and the world, she cares for. Something, or someone, has flipped a switch so that the world she lives in is not the world that was...and she's the only hope of restoring that world."

Sounds like a really bad idea. I mean, how many times does Paradise Island need to be destroyed? This seems to happen all the time. Does anyone even remember what made the place cool in the first place?

That "destructive" train of thought makes me think about everything that's wrong with DC these days; every creative team is so anxious to tear everything down, kill people, etc. What Wonder Woman really needs is great stories and great art. That's it.

Speaking of art, Don Kramer is talented, but I don't really think he's the right guy for Wonder Woman. If DC is really committed to getting WW to icon status again, I think they need to get a big-name artist on the book.

I hope JMS and Kramer both prove me wrong, but I doubt it. That's my two-cents.

OK, so every comic book reader on earth knows that Comic-Con International — the biggest comic convention in the country and one of the biggest in the world — is going down NOW in San Diego.

Yeah everbody knows it's happening but, due to various different factors (like being broke and stuff), not everybody is going. So what's a San Diego-less comic fan to do this weekend? I've got a few ideas:

Get on the Internet: Obviously, if you're reading this, you're already online. And you probably know about the various news sites to keep you informed about all the cool stuff that's bound to be announced over the next few days. Still, I'd like to suggest you follow the Beat blog. It's written and such by Heidi McDonald and she's been obsessed over Comic-Con for the last few months it seems. She's bound to have some cool stories from the Con.

Live vicariously through Twitter: Get on Twitter and follow some folks who are at the Con. Heroes Aren't Hard to Find owner Shelton Drum is supposed to go I heard.

Go mobile: If you're not by a computer and you have a phone the supports Apps (like, you know, the iPhone), you can download the Comic-Con App. It promises to keep you up to date  with all the poppin' things poppin' in Cali. I plan to download it later. I'll tell you what I think when I do.

Read free comics: Here's your chance to finally read that stack of Free Comic Book Day comics you haven't got around to yet. Might I recommend Owly?

Even more free comics: As you probably know, the library is filled with great graphic novels. This weekend, visit a local branch and check out some good stuff — like the Wonder Woman collections from the 1960s where Princess Diana has no powers and uses kung fu. Cool stuff. If you live in Charlotte, the best library for graphic novels is the Checkit Outlet Uptown near the Green. It's not open on the weekend, but you have a few hours before it closes today. Hurry!

Raid the quarter bins: Now's the time to go longbox diving in search of off-the-wall comics from back in the day. I'm still building my collection of Defenders comics. Gotta get that story arc with the Mandrill! Talking monkeys rock.

Aaaaaand ... that's all I can think of. If you're stuck in Charlotte or wherever, don't fret. Jut follow my tips and you probably won't slit your wrists. Anyway, check back Monday for a roundup of all the big announcements from Comic-Con.

It seems like it wasn't so long ago that I was bitchin' and moanin' about the comic books being published by DC Comics. I mean, I really was not digging a lot of what the company was doing.

It's not that I hated everything, but if you read any of my weekly "Comic Proportions" columns, you may remember my discontent with a slew of DC books. I complained about Judd Winick's aimless run on Green Arrow and Black Canary, hated on the ambiguous and slow Final Crisis, and talked shit about the confusing weekly series Trinity ... among other comics.

But these days, I've really gotta admit that DC is putting out some stellar stuff. I would even go so far as to say that I think DC is publishing some of the most exciting mainstream comics on the stands.

"Like what?" you may ask. Well, I'm loving:

Wednesday Comics: The newest weekly series after Trinity, Wednesday Comics is DC's tribute to old, full-page comic strips. The giant-size publication features work by the best in the business. Seriously. I'm talking Neil Gaiman, Paul Pope, Joe Kubert, Mike Allred, Kyle Baker and the list goes on.

Blackest Night: Where Final Crisis slipped, Blackest Night goes all the way for the touchdown. An "event" comic in every sense of the word, this comic takes place across the cosmos and pits DC's greatest heroes — led by Green lantern — against truly deadly (and dead) foes. And big action starts from the first issue. This ain't no talkin' head book. This is a true summer blockbuster.

Batman and Robin: Grant Morrison and Frank Quitley — fresh off All-Star Superman — team again for a brand-new incarnation of the Dynamic Duo. This time around, Batman is really the original Robin, Dick Grayson, and Robin is the homicidal illegitimate son of Bruce Wayne. Seriously. The art is amazing and the dialogue is insane. Cool shit.

And there's more — like Wonder Woman, Superman: World of New Krypton, Jonah Hex, JSA vs. Kobra, Detective Comics, Madame Xanadu. I also must mention that I love the company's "second feature" program, which places back-up stories in several regular monthly titles that star second-tier characters like the Question, Blue Beetle and Manhunter.

Yeah, it's safe to say the DC s on a roll. One day we may be remembering this time as another "Golden Age" for the company. Time will tell. For now, I'll read and enjoy.

Oh ... one last thing: Teen Titans still sucks. Can we fix it please? Soon?