Aquaman and the Others

Go back about 20 years, read Peter David's Time and Tide and tell me that Aquaman isn't a legit power house in any 4 color Universe!

Now I will admit that in his mid-80's Justice League appearances he does come off as a bit of an asshole and can at times be whinny but we've all had bad days (decades) every now and then, so let's cut the Ruler of the 7 Seas some slack. I mean water covers about 70% of the Earth and he had marital issues that would make Arnold Schwarzenegger cringe, the guy had a lot on his plate. But much to my delight, in spite of his checkered past, post-Flashpoint Aquaman has been a runaway train of awesome, in not only in the 2 titles which he's featured (Aquaman and Justice League) but on the Diamond Sales charts as well.

So where does the blond bad ass of the Ocean go from here?

Here's my pitch. Aquaman is the King of Atlantis, by definition he is a leader! He was also, in his younger days, a part of a group called The Others (see Aquaman #8-#12). The Others and their relationship with AC are also fleshed out a bit more in Aquaman #0 and #20. DC has an opportunity here to add another "-verse" to their line-up. The Bat-verse has always had a book like Batman and the Outsiders or Batman Inc. to add a richer history and more depth to the Batfamily. DC could do the same Aquaman and add another cash cow franchise to their already burgeoning stable.The time is now to strike while the iron is hot with King Arthur and add a title that creates an "Aqua-verse". I want a new monthly book from DC, I want Aquaman and The Others!

Here Comes the BOOM! (Studios)

Talk about a get! The Fandroid Apocalypse proudly presents to you, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BOOM! Studios, Ross Richie. BOOM! Studios is my absolute favorite Independent Comic Book company, which is why it was such an honor for me to interview it's founding father. For those new to BOOM! I highly recommend you check out Keith Giffen's Hero Squared, Mark Waid's Irredeemable, current sci-fi epic The Hypernaturals and one of my personal faves, The Savage Brothers. Mr. Richie was gracious enough with his time to sit and answer 13 hard(ly) hitting questions from me and he absolutely nailed it!

Enjoy!

Q. This is a comic book blog so, what book hooked you?

A. Fantastic Four 178 by Roy Thomas and George Perez. One guy was made of fire, the other from rock. I never looked back!

When?

1977. The comic was in my Easter basket.

And Why? (and yes I am counting all this as 1 question!)

One guy was made of fire, the other from rock! I was a Star Wars kid and loved the sci-fi elements. I was too young to read sf novels, so comics hooked me!

Q. It’s the comic book draft and BOOM! has the#1 pick who’s your hero/villain/team? (in the interest of being interesting no BOOM! books allowed)

A. Magneto. He can do anything with his power. C'mon, magnetism is one of the unifying forces of reality itself...

Q. You’re a Texas guy, what Lone Star State son would make for the best comic book adventures?

A. This is where I get to plug a BOOM! book -- we did a series called Galveston that starred Jean LaFitte teaming up with David Bowie. You gotta love the cowboy/pirate comic! The fact that it was based on an historical BFF relationship is just gravy...

Q. I’m still not over the cancellation of Eureka (Damn you SyFy…), will BOOM! ever publish more mini’s based on the show?

A. No, sorry.

Q. The Hypernaturals is a clinic on how to do a sci-fi comic book. Why are all the best writers British?

A. They didn't grow up on US superheroes. Many of the British writers grew up on a steady diet of comics of different genres published in the UK so when they do superheroes they have a more fresh approach.

 Q. The 1990’s really seemed to be the Golden Age of Indie comic books. Did your time at Malibu serve more as a what to or what NOT to do when you started BOOM! Studios?

 A. Definitely was a huge advantage. It was a different market back then in every way -- sales were massive, the material wasn't as sophisticated as it is now. Many things changed in the ten years between me leaving Malibu and starting BOOM! but there's no question I couldn't have done it without my time at The 'Bu!

 Q. You’ve published a Die Hard book by Chaykin and are about to release Robocop by Frank Miller. Any chance of a Rambo series by Alan Moore to round out a 1980’s action movie tri-fecta?

 A. I am a huge Alan Moore fan since I bought Saga of the Swamp Thing #21 off the rack. If he's in, I'm all about it.

 Q. Seriously though, I know that Frank Miller has a long history with Robocop, but how did a series of all new material for the character with BOOM! come about?

 A. It's not all new. It's Frank's screenplay for Robocop 3 taken from screenplay form by Steven Grant and turned into a comic.

 Q. I read that you are a producer on The Mage feature film adaptation. Is that still in production?

 A. No, that project fell out of development.

 Q. What’s your thoughts on real life “Vigilantes” i.e. Phoenix Jones?

 A. Seems dangerous to me.

 Q. If DC is so dead set against bringing back Ted Kord, can BOOM!? Please? I mean no one ever stays dead in comics…EXCEPT Ted Kord! I think Dan Didio has a personal vendetta against me.

A.  If DC is willing to grant BOOM! the rights to Ted Kord I'm all about it...

 Q. Who is YOUR Batman? West, Keaton, Kilmer, Clooney, Bale or Conroy?

 A. Adam West, but I not because of the 1960s show. I loved The New Adventures of Batman cartoon from 1977, which took itself far more seriously than the classic 60s show.

 Q. Are you sure it's not George Clooney?

 A. George Clooney is always Danny Ocean to me and one of our greatest directors and actors.

Marvel On Marvel Crime

The Internet was set ablaze this week with what I have deemed Marvel on Marvel crime. Just a week or so after Joss Whedon announced the addition of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch to the Avengers 2 line-up, Bryan Singer and Fox confirmed that Quicksilver would be making his big screen debut 1st in the already in production sequel to 2011's X-Men First Class, X-Men First Class: Days of Future Past.

Because the Interwebs have turned us all into raving lunatics that act like religious extremists when it comes to pop culture likes and dislikes, sides were immediately chosen. To the right we had the X-Men faithful that will forever pledge allegiance to Mr. Singer for restoring the franchise to it's once prominent glory with First Class and removing the bitter taste that "The Last Stand" still left in their mouths. To the left you have equal parts Singer haters (some people can't move on from Superman Returns), Whedonites and Avengers apologists. Both groups spent the better part of this week laying down an anonymous verbal Jihad on the other, claiming proper rights to Pietro.

I just don't get it! In this time of great comic book movies why must we hate one to like another? I liked both First Class and Avengers, A LOT! Each film brought something different to the table and for that I have an equal appreciation for both. I loved the story telling and character study that First Class dove into. It was a period film that absolutely nailed the turmoil and strife that these Mutants would have went through in 1960's America. The parallel to the Civil Rights movement was done beautifully. I saw the Avengers as the film version of a company wide crossover. The previous films were the tie in issues that helped craft the main event. It wasn't a political statement, it was action and adventure. They were each exactly what they should have been.

So, here is my solution. Both films should use Quicksilver. There doesn't have to be any overlap in story or explanation of his dual appearances. More than likely he won't even be used in anywhere close to the same way in either movie respectively. Just tell great stories with both, that treat the character right and everybody wins!

The Best of 2006

2006 was a memorable year in comics.

DC's Infinite Crisis ended in '06 (as ironic as that may sound) and Marvel was torn apart by Civil War. These 2 events signaled the return of the company wide crossover that had been absent since the economic downturn the industry suffered a decade earlier. It's hard to believe now, but Marvel actually declared bankruptcy less than 20 years ago!

We also saw a new Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes) and a new Robin (Damian Wayne) emerge in '06. Both would amass a faithful following but the new Boy Wonder would meet his demise earlier this year to the dismay of his legion of fans. Think of him as the anti-Jason Todd.

Another huge story that crossed over into the mainstream was the unmasking of Spider-Man. Talk about a story that shook the foundation of comics! That single arc warped Spidey stories for the rest of the decade, even calling on the Devil himself to set things straight again!

When I look back on it, I did a ton of good reading 7 years ago, but what do I remember most about 2006?

The birth of my 1st child Savannah. Nothing changed my world they way she has and I suppose nothing ever will. As each year passes she still helps make me into the best father, teacher and mentor I can be for her and her baby sister. I love you Savanny, Happy Birthday!

We Want More, We Want More!

From the Golden Age of radio to modern day big screen blockbuster, comic strip and book characters have always found a way off of the 4 color page and into other forms of media. I think this fact above all is the reason for the survival of the comic book industry amid various scandals, witch hunts and periods of financial struggle it has seen over the last 80 or so years. The characters hold value even if some of the books they are featured in do not.

Hollywood and comics have always shared a symbiotic relationship. Some characters can seamlessly transition from the page to the radio to the big screen without pause, like Dick Tracy. Other times a character is created for the sole purpose of adding a story telling element to the TV show or movie that is not offered in the source material. The Batman family has most benefited from Tinsel-Towns contribution of characters.

If not for the Adam West Batman show (love it or hate it that show launched The Caped Crusader into the pop culture immortality!) we never would have received the “Girl Wonder”, Batgirl herself, Barbara Gordon. As the story goes, network execs were terrified that Bruce and Dick were being perceived as more than “chums”, so to quell the comments on their relationship status they brought in the Auburn haired angle Barbara Gordon. 50 years later Babs is still a pivotal part of the Bat-family and has been a part of some of Gotham City’s most important tales (see, Killing Joke).

You can add characters like Harley Quinn to the list of TV’s great contributions to comic book canon as well. Now while not all the media “crossovers” have ended well, I think we can all agree that every medium that touches comics and its characters benefit greatly. I love the fact that shows that may not have a big enough fan base to sustain a large budget TV show have been saved from the scrap heap and carried on in comics. Buffy, Angel, (just about every iteration of) Star Trek and Smallville are just a few of the shows given life after cancellation in print. More recently DC has been publishing a weekly digital release that acts as a companion to the freshman breakout hit Arrow.

But there is more that can be done! And this is what I see as the next step in the Print/Film relationship.

Network shows routinely run from September to May and then take a 2-3 month break in the summer. I would love to see more shows take to comics to act as a bridge in between seasons. Let’s get a miniseries of OGN (original graphic novel) that fleshes out the characters and back story in a way that TV just doesn’t have the time to do. You can beef up subplots and even lead in to next season! Obviously certain genre shows would get better results than others but this can work. I know that Once Upon a Time is doing an OGN to be released this fall that deals with backstory of a fallen character (The Huntsman), but I want a something that will bridge the gaps season to season! Give me a little inside info on what really went down in season 1 and a hit to what is to come in 2! It seems like a no brainer to me, but I’m only the guy who would gladly fork over my cash to have a more time with my favorite fictional people, my opinion doesn’t count.

Save Us Lex, You're Our Only Hope

 

With all the titles that are crashing and burning in the new52, the time has never been better for DC to think outside the box, take a chance and trust Lex Luthor. Yes you read that right. I want Dan, Jim and Geoff to walk across that invisible bridge Indiana Jones style and know that what lay on the other side, while potentially dangerous may also hold riches untold! Basically, I want a Lex Luthor ongoing series.

Just think of the buzz that would surround a monthly book that takes readers inside the mind of DC's Gold Standard of Truth, Justice and The American Way's greatest foe. Marvel has sort of done this with Superior Spider-Man but it is Otto in the guise of Spidey, so it is still technically a "Spider-Man" comic. DC also sort of did this with Lex Luthor in Action Comics a few years back, making Mr. Luthor the focus of the title briefly. Those two books are great, but I want more...I want a commitment DAMN IT! I want a book that is all Lex, all the time.

I truly believe that Lex Luthor is the only villain in comics that can carry his own title without ever compromising who the character is at the core. Everybody in the entire Universe thinks that Lex Luthor is a bad guy...except LEX LUTHOR! To Luthor he is humanity's, NO!, the Universes only hope at salvation. Lex is the smartest man on the planet and the only person who sees these vigilantes for what they really are. Criminals.

He's also the only person who sees past the facade that is Superman. When it comes to Big Blue, Luthor Corps. Head Honcho knows the truth. The Man of Steel is an alien invader, who is here to rule Earth and all the powerless humans that inhabit it. Supes may preach truth, justice and the American Way, but Luthor knows all to well what lies behind such false promises. He knows the greed and power that festers deep down in Superman's Exta-Terrestrial soul and when it all comes to a head (and it will!) Alexander Luthor will be our only hope.

Seeing the world from Lex's point of view would be a fascinating thrill ride through the DCU the likes of which we have never seen before and I want to go along for the ride while he schemes to mold Metropolis and then the World in his perfect image. Don't you?

Vintage Review

I had an hour to kill before work so I decided to dig in a long box and read the first book I pulled out. Luckily I pulled out a one-shot! I grabbed Amazing Spider-Man 362 from Oct 93 written by David Micheline and illustrated by Mark Bagley. The issue is titled "Emerald Rage" and guest stars Hulk and Doc Samson.

Right up front I will tell you that early 90's Spidey, X-Men and Image books captured my imagination like nothing else could as a kid, so there may be some nostalgic bias in my review.

First some background on Marvel circa fall of 93. Mary Jane became a chain smoker which inexplicably immediately sent her life in a downward spiral. (Marvel was a little preachy with this one) Richard and Mary Parker came back from the dead! (Or did they?) And Hulk was infected with a NEW Gamma virus that turned him, as Doc Samson put it, into Ultra Hulk. (How cool would an Ultra Hulk book be?)
The issue starts with off balls to the wall action and in true 90's fashion never really let's up. Spidey and Samsom are no match for this "Ultra Hulk" physically, he even ripped through 2 full containers of webbing in a matter of moments! So they decide to switch gears and out smart him. Now if I remember correctly Banner is a freakin' genius, even in Hulk form in the 90's he brilliant!

Plot holes be damned we carry on.
.
Next up, subplot # 1. I like to call it, "Hey, I thought you 2 were dead?"

Aunt May is talking to Richard and Mary Parker...wait, what? Yes good old Dick and Mary P are back but May ain't buying it so which leads us directly to the introduction of...Bernard Scudder, Private Eye! Will May get to the bottom of their reappearance? Not in this issue, sorry.

Meanwhile, Doc Samson searches for a cure while Spidey lures Hulk away from the masses to an already damaged ESU (Empire State University) site (courtesy of the Human Torch) to limit civilian and property loses. Spider-Man continues to take a beating at the hands of the Green Goliath until Docs Samson rejoins the fray with a NEW plan in hand.

Duh-Duh-Duh-Dah! Subplot # 2, "Smoking is evil and will ruin your promising soap opera career"

I mean I kinda just gave it away but, MJ becomes a soap star, starts smoking and is now suddenly getting her scenes cut and is super depressed. I wonder if smoking cigarettes is to blame? The director even yells at her for smoking on set. Like I said before, it gets a little preachy.

Back to our HEROES!

Doc and Web head are still in a brutal battle with "Ultra Hulk" but have decided the best course of action is to try and appeal to the Banner trapped inside and not bait the animal that Hulk has become because of the NEW Gamma virus he's be infected with! Now that the a fore mentioned plot hole has been filled, will our champions cure Hulk and save New York City?

I gotta say this book was fun pure and simple. It called back to my childhood with beautiful artwork and lots of action. Both sub plots were woven in and out of the action packed frames evenly and helped lay the groundwork for upcoming arcs. While this issue never won an Eisner and has probably been forgotten by many as a throw away transitional floppy it has good solid storytelling that is worth a second or first look depending on your history with 1990's ASM. So if you want to know how it ends go back bin diving, drop a quarter to the clerk and get ready for a true blast from the past!