#Geoff Johns & Peter Tomasi Writers

[keycomicbooks]

#BrightestDay #24 (2011) #GaryFrank & #RodReis #SwampThing  Cover / Various Artists / #GeoffJohns & #PeterTomasi Writers "Brightest Day" A new age for the DC Universe begins! https://www.rarecomicbooks.fashionablewebs.com/Misc_AC.html#BrightestDay Website Link In Bio Page If Applicable. SAVE ON SHIPPING COST - NOW AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL PICK UP IN DELTONA, FLORIDA

[dailycass-cain]

How I Came to Appreciate Batgirl: Redemption Road More...

Once upon a time, I wasn't really fond of this story. I hated and loathed it. Since 2020 however, I gained a greater appreciation for the mini-series. Now it isn't on the top tier of Cassandra Cain stories, but I don't see it lower tier list anymore.

Why?

Well, I'm going to tell you, and maybe you'll appreciate this story too.

I fully confess this story more as a "Schrödinger's Cassandra Cain" story. There is a lot of bad in it, and yet there is a lot of good in it. First off, the one element I do enjoy is the art by Jim Calafiore.

There's a grit Calafiore brings to this story. It helps balance the good and the bad. The good is that he draws a very scary Cass. That and I do enjoy the opening homage to a certain two-clawed Wolverine in the opening spread:

Now for the very title of the series, you can interpret "redemption road" as two-fold: in writer Adam Beechen redeeming not only Cassandra in the eyes of the Bat-Family but redeeming himself with readers for well turning her heel back in Robin #150 and "Titans East" (Teen Titans #42-47). Cause let's face it-- it was not a good story by any means and did neither Cass or Beechen any further favors (but I digress, Geoff Johns, plotted that all out and there are "reasons" for Slade getting away free).

You have those factors and this little tale. So at Wizardworld Chicago 2008 I attended a panel where the infamous Dan DiDio revealed that Beechen bugged him for pitches and the one of approved was this mini.

He also revealed Beechen was the only one pitching stories on Cass (which was a half-lie, if you've seen my "Lost Tales of Cass" post, you know Chuck Dixon had a fill-in issue of Detective Comics ready to go telling how Cass/Bruce mended).

Course, by this time period Dixon was exiting Robin and Batman & the Outsiders so, yeah it was a "half-truth".

That made me angry back then, but now I see the why, and I'm okay with it. In his original ways of writing Cass, Beechen's attempts were-- not good. This was his chance to show readers he had really looked into the character's history and fix these issues that he himself put in.

Think about it we came from this in Robin #152:

To this. Beechen calling out the grand problem within the Bat-books (even now it seems). Cass is important in the Bat-Family, SO TREAT HER AS SUCH. Which he does by having Alfred (of course) pointing these things out.

But Alfred isn't the only one being meta in this story. I didn't even realize it, until 2020, but there is one other character playing a meta part in this comic, Nightwing.

If there's one HUGE gripe with this particular volume it is the relationship of Cass/Dick in it. We went to them being brother/sister.. to well. We have Dick literally acting like a dick to her.

Then it hit me.

Who was writing Nightwing at the time period? Peter Tomasi. Who treated the character of Cassandra like what Alfred says? Then suddenly Dick's characterization here began making sense much more sense (when you have this going right after this series as if that writer was flipping off Beechen) in Tomasi's final page of Nightwing:

Cass was supposedly living in the Manor at this time (per this story). Funny how she was "forgotten" in Nightwing. I guess Tomasi was REALLY spiteful because he revisited this subplot during the New 52 Batman & Robin too with Bruce even twisting the knife further:

Though for Beechen's purposes he revisits on WHY Cassandra should be a key member of the Bat-Family. Not only that, but Cass goes thru a journey that explores the limits of the Bat-Family's underlying culture of vengeance. And she reaches a natural conclusion to this (more on that later).

So let's get to the real bad. No not the 90s designed goons of David Cain or Deathstroke. No not the David Cain characterization. I'm talking about #1's wall of text that would make even Brian Michael Bendis blush.

This is only one page of it in the issue. We got TWO.

Until this issue, we never really got a "defined" timeline of Cass's EVIL period. We just figured OYL, Supergirl #14, Robin #161-162, and Titans East was how it happened. Turns out we were WRONG. Did we really need to see these pages of text? Not really.

In all honesty, I think a simpler solution would have been just tiny panels of Cass seeing the various people she killed when drugged up. At the very least, it would put faces on those Cass was forced to do. You could feel her rage on why she's hunting Slade/David Cain then.

Plus it feels like we're missing something as Tim was basically like Dick in Titans East. But now he's changed. Why? There could have been panels of Tim showing care for Cass in this. Instead, he just feels muted throughout this mini.

The first issue ends with Cass confronting another mystery lady murdering some of Slade/David Cain's assassins. And again, a problem I have with this mini.

These "children of Cain" feel so nameless save for Marque, who is the opposite of Cass. She embraces the violence that she was taught and is David Cain's own Frankenstein Monster. Throughout the mini she just comes off as superfluous and edgy. Really edgy...

I really think Beechen missed a prime chance here in having Cass trying to save someone like herself. Someone unlike Cass, didn't realize life as much as she did. That finally, Cain cracked the code (with help from the Slade juice). And Cass could try to redeem her.

So this whole theme of redemption could be all over the place then. Marque throughout this just feels, meh. Speaking of meh say hello to meaningless male love interest #3 for Cass.

This subplot just feels pretty meh. I get the why Beechen tried it. The writer from Batman: City of Light attempted this. Dylan Horrocks with Black Wind during his run on Vol. 1, and Andersen Gabrych attempted this in his run with Zero (and let's face it we only remember his name because he died).

The whole love subplot just feels so unnecessary here. Again we could have more stuff with Tim helping her. Something. Instead, we get someone we care little about. Because A.) we've seen it before and are so over it.

B.) Compare it with Shadow of the Batgirl which did this right. It balanced everything by showing Cass being the focus here (you know the actual main character), and less on the intended male love interest (until later when she gets to know him, Erik, more as the reader does too)

Which leads to this positive in #2. In one page we are given Babs realizing what Cass has been up too and is all for her going on this quest (probably knowing where this will end). Which is again, a good contrast to where Babs and Cass are here. Babs knows Cass needs this.

Bruce doesn't. Dick SOOOOO doesn't. But Babs fully understands. And I do love me some Babs being a good mentor.

Another positive in this issue does is laying the groundwork on how David Cain/Deathstroke forged this partnership when Cass/Marque visit a former colleague of both men.

That these two knowing one another was hinted at in Batgirl Vol. 1 by Kelley Puckett himself when Cain told Bruce in #5 of a job that was beneath him, Slade, and Lawton's talents. So in that regard, that's a nice callback.

Speaking of callbacks, you can't have Cass hunting Slade and not have run into Ravager (who was also actively hunting her father too during this time period of DC). And here the two's interaction is hit or miss.

Rose equally has a grudge against Slade for pulling the same stuff that he did to Cass. So they can easily relate to the other. Also, you have a built-in Rose going to more extremes than Cass (thanks to Sean McKeever's underrated Teen Titans run character arc involving her).

This is why Marque again comes off as the third wheel in all of this. If you're reading DC Comics at the time (or even now). You want the Cass/Rose interactions here. You don't care about the gritty edgy third person who's ruining the antics between the other two.

Like literally, the tension between Cass/Rose should be all that you need. There's history between them both. There are similar goals each wants. But it comes off as meh throughout this due to Marque. I mean look at this panel below and tell me who sticks out as the sore thumb?

Cause then you have panel later on in the book that makes you want to fist pump with these two now that are Marqueless. Who doesn't want to read THAT?!

Look, the idea of Marque is intriguing but there should have been a clear subject spawned from Deathstroke/David Cain's alliance. An assassin. A roadblock. A hurdle. Not nameless ninja assassins with badly designed outfits.

If this was just Marque fighting Rose/Cass then at least the fight could have meant more meaning. A face to go along with someone who's being down there as Rose/Cass got away from their murderdads.

Because there's no weight to any of these fights which should have more impact. Instead, they come off as weightless. And more blood spilled by Marque because the EDGE MUST FLOW!

But if #3 has another problem is Dick really being a bastard. Seriously, WHAT THE HELL DICK?! But then again, I get it now on why Dick is acting as such. Just that this bad characterization does come at the expense of Nightwing. Like WOW.

So here I am bashing the heck out of this third issue, with very little good finding in it. Well, there is one other additional good. That's the opening page/panel when Cass is out (due to Rose from last issue).

Where does this love of Cass/Shiva together come from? This comic! Beechen of all writers laid the seed that Bryan Edward Hill in Batman & the Outsiders and Michael Conrad & Becky Cloonan on Batgirls would use. The hidden desire Cass has: she wants Shiva to be a mother to her. Yes, Barbara is a good mother too (and dammit where is she in this panel above?!)

Regardless, Beechen does understand a want Cass has that James Tynion opened (and failed at) while Hill fleshed out WAAAAAAY more. So much more that now this has to be the standard of their relationship now. Literally, this is just gold between the two of them now.

But if you want to know where this hunger for Cass/Shiva to have an actual daughter/mother relationship came? You can thank Adam Beechen for that!

#4 finally has the long-awaited fight between Cass and Slade with it well being quite lackluster thanks in due part to Marque and the nameless daughters of Cain.

But I do confess there are a few dialogue pieces in #4 I do enjoy. Like Slade twisting the mental knife to get the better of Cass here.

We get no cathartic scenes for either Rose or Cass here (everyone seems to get robbed of having them with Slade at this time period in DC). Just a rushed end to a rushed subplot.

Again, this could have been the point where Cass was reaching to Marque and that could have been the point for Slade to decide, "WHELP TIME TO EXPLODE AND RUN!" Setting up the next issue. Instead, these nameless kids all die and we the reader feel nothing for them.

When in fact we should feel more. But so it is comics and we get the abrupt ending of the Cass/Rose union. Because this is all we get of Slade and her after this issue. Which is a pity.

Again given how both have similarities with horrible fathers. There should be much pathos here between Cass/Rose. How Cass sees going down this path of vengeance can poison you still (as it is doing to Rose). With Marque being.. ugh.

If that wasn't enough we get again nameless male love interest and ugh. Yeah, I'm just not gonna post more of that. Other than Cass realizes just who Slade and her pop would target to announce their alliance but also hurt the heroes: Oracle.

Which makes complete sense. I just wish the comic did a better job with it like Bruce Wayne: Murderer did only now David Cain this time going after Barbara (as he went after Bruce in that event story). There's a lot of things this comic could have done better at.

#5 opens with Dick, Bruce, and Tim fighting Cass due to the former ratting out her plans to kill David Cain to the latter two. Still, it is kind of cathartic Dick getting punted.

...

I hate myself for enjoying that.

If you're expecting any sort of closure between Dick/Cass here you aren't going to get any in this series. Dick continues to be a dick to Cassandra in Frank Tieri's fill-in arc of Batman & the Outsiders #13-14. After that, Dick FINALLY stops acting so OOC.

Here we go back into the positives of this series. I do enjoy Cass scoping the eventual scene of the crime out. She looks at the evidence she's got and with her skills predicts how and where her father will try to take the shot at Babs.

These pages come to show that Cass indeed can be a fine detective on her own right (thanks to Babs, Bruce, and Tim teaching her). Knowing how and when the crime could occur before it even does with what she knows.

And so we get probably the second-best part of this series. These next two pages.

I mean it's not Damion Scott, but Calafiore does have the nice little details here and there. Also nice of Beechen to use TWO homages of Cass here. From this set-up shot from Vol. 1 from above too…

To Cain about to strike a Gordon down and once again, his daughter stops him from taking the killshot. There's a bit of poetry there.

So in some callbacks, the creative team does nail them. I have to confess other than Marque, #5 is probably the portion of the story where it actually gets good. Even if it does come at the small price of David Cain's characterization.

Look, yes David Cain is a monster, but there's a difference between monsters who aren't portrayed as human and the ones who are. Cain had a perfect balance of this in Vol. 1 The stuff in this volume (and until again Shadow of the Batgirl) David just is a complete monster.

In that regard, the pathos of the villain just feels more hollow. If save Slade talked to him while in prison. Told him he could perfect and deliver that perfect child soldier. Bring a reason for his life again. I'd buy that more than what we got here in Vol. 2.

Why going into the final issue why I go into that mindset. It helps the reasons flow better for the character then what we actually got. And the ultimate fight between the two is handled well.

I also love that both Babs/Bruce are doing crowd control here (both at this point knowing this is something Cass NEEDS). I love that Charlie sees what is going on and her first instinct is to help Cass.

It's a pity we never got more interactions between Charlie/Cass. If only there were some subplots that could have been dropped so we could have got that.

While we don't get the cathartic stuff with Slade we do get it with Cass going up against her father. Just unloading the life he never gave her with a fury.

It's an almost Return of the Jedi moment of Vader/Luke's final duel with Cass just unleashing it all on her own father who cannot defend himself against the rage of his child. And much like Vader/Luke there's that moment when the later realized what will happen if he continues.

Like Luke, Cass has that realization too. That if she has her vengeance what will it solve? All this pain. All this suffering that's she has dealt with these last few months. Will killing him solve it? Of course, we know the answer cause it's Cass.

No. Being a killer is not who she is. She is a hero. So she attempts to save her father, but well as we find out this is where Bruce and Tim were hiding. Waiting and watching to see if Cass would come to this realization.

And we come to the best moment of this comic where Bruce puts his batdad side full-on. I love that the focus is on Cass here. Hearing what Bruce is saying and you just see the raw emotion of her just cracking up wanting this so bad until...

The hug from her true dad with a proud brother looking on. If only you know a stupid tie-in didn't have to ruin the good moment making any readers go, "What the hell is R.I.P.?!"

Like seriously, I'm surprised no one has photoshopped that R.I.P. out of the panel. If you take it out. Damn does this work more. But by putting it in there. "Oh yeah, Bruce is about to die. ...." And that emotion just leaves you to do this.

So if any of you great Photoshoppers out there can take that R.I.P. out? That'd be just great.

So Batgirl vol. 2 looking under this lens isn't the worst Cass story, nor does have enough good to be amazing to recommend. It's just there with both good and bad. It's average.

Hence it is Schrödinger's Cass. It is exactly this. But it was worth talking about. Because it is a period of Cass that should be talked of more. Because it does redeem Adam Beechen with the character.

Along with redeeming Cass with the Bat-Family. It's just a pity only Frank Tieri decided to follow on this and NO OTHER WRITER. Sadly not soon after we'd be getting the teases that Babs would be back as Batgirl from the Blackest Night mini caps at the end of BoP and Nightwing.

For certain folk at DC already made up their mind with the character, and she wouldn't be Batgirl or apart of the Bat-Family that much longer. I guess they assumed this Volume would be considered a "gift". That Cass got closure... Ugh.

If you want to know more about DC meddling. Then see here when I go more into detail on that.

That said, Batgirl Vol. 2 gets a lot of bad rap, but it isn't all bad. It's highly flawed, but there is some good in it. … And here's me going all RoTJ fully with it. 😋

With that, I'm gonna call it a night. Because tomorrow there are things I hope for tomorrow. REALLY AMAZING THINGS for us Cass fans tomorrow at long last.

But not freaking Batman/Catwoman: Gotham War. That can go to hell...

[luthwhore]

please keep in mind that this is a superman-specific poll! you can vote based on your opinions of these writers based on other superfam books as well (like supergirl, superboy, etc), but please keep it to superman-adjacent canon only!

[zahri-melitor]

Dick's memories:

I've been working on this part for 6 months. I wrote a lot of it from memory and then went to find the panels and check I was characterising them correctly (and add the attribution).

There are some big moments in Dick and Tim's relationship referenced here, of course. But wherever possible, I tried to choose slightly less well known moments, or an alternate panel from the main one pointed to in that issue.

Some fun facts:

38 footnotes, referencing 34 separate comics (I use two scenes from the same issue for 4 comics: Batman, Nightwing, Robin, and Gotham Knights)

15 different comic runs are referenced (Batman, Detective Comics, Azrael, Birds of Prey, Nightwing, Robin, Red Robin, Batman: Shadow of the Bat, Gotham Knights, New Titans, Showcase '93, Joker: Last Laugh, Identity Crisis, Infinite Crisis, and Blackest Night: Batman)

The years covered by the comics are the following: 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.

The years missed are the following: 1989 and 1991.

1989: I skipped because I really, really wanted to open with Tim's first actual team up with Dick after A Lonely Place of Dying. Plus, Dick didn't really look and see Tim until after ALPoD. That's why no circus, no baby Tim, no origin story.

1991: Dick and Tim do not interact in any comic labelled 1991. They do appear in a single splash panel together.

I struggled with myself over whether to include 2009 or not, because I wanted moments of brotherhood between Tim and Dick, where they clearly cared for each other, and I didn't want to include any of Battle for the Cowl or the Red Robin fight. There were in the end only three stories that really qualified: The end of Heart of Hush; the 2008 Holiday Special (which has a Feb 2009 cover date); and Blackest Night: Batman. The only issue of Heart of Hush with a 2009 coverdate simply doesn't have any conversation BETWEEN Dick and Tim to use (they're too busy explaining to Tommy how much he screwed up); while I do like the Wonderful Life story, the costume handover was a bit too twee to fit anywhere into the flow of memories plus Owen Mercer's there; and in the end, I used the panel AFTER the panel of Blackest Night. This was a slight cop out in terms of the whole 'avoid the Red Robin fight' aim, but it's the one big moment that shows Dick and Tim were still in sync during that time, and in terms of the scene build it slotted quite nicely into the explosions-building-to-dead-Tim run of memories.

14 different writers created the comics (Marv Wolfman, Alan Grant, Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Dennis O'Neil, Devin Grayson, Scott Beatty, Brad Meltzer, Geoff Johns, Adam Beechen, Fabian Nicieza, Peter Tomasi, Christopher Yost, and Scott Snyder)

The most common writer was of course Chuck Dixon, who wrote 10 of the issues; Devin Grayson was in second with 6 issues.

The comic that appears the most often is Nightwing, with 6 issues; Gotham Knights has 5 issues appear.

I had great fun constructing this; I hope while you were reading it many of the scenes also played in your head.

[kriosv]

Know My Interests

Favorite Movies

Oscar(1991)

Everything Everywhere All At Once

Godzilla Minus One

A Goofy Movie

Shazam!

50 1st Dates

Jingle All The Way

Missing

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

Kung Fu Panda

Favorite Video Games

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Mortal Kombat(2011)

Saints Row IV

Luigi's Manion

F Zero GX

Star Fox 64

Tekken 7

Injustice

Skyrim

Marvel Ultimate Alliance

Favorite Superheroes

Superman(Clark Kent)

Green Lantern(Jessica Cruz)

Robin(Damian Wayne)

Superman(Jon Kent)

Spider-man(Peter Parker)

Nightwing(Dick Grayson)

Ms. Marvel(Kamala Khan)

Blue Beetle(Jaime Reyes)

Wonder Woman(Diana Prince)

Flash(Barry Allen)

Favorite Visual Novel/Adjacent Categories

13 Sentinels

Steins;Gate

Danganronpa

Zero Escape

Persona 5

Favorite Anime

Akudama Drive

Kaguya-sama: Love is War

Mob Psycho 100

Assassination Classroom

My Love Story!!

Spy x Family

Angel Beats!

Chio's School Road

My Hero Academia

Black Clover

Favorite TV Shows

Game of Thrones

Smallville

Agents of Shield

Star Trek Enterprise

Once Upon A Time

Last of Us

Dr. Who

Legends of Tomorrow

Hercules The Legendary Journies

Firefly

Favorite Songs

Keep You To Myself

In The End

Every Storm

Stupid Cupid

Dream of the Sky

Comic Book Writers

Tom Taylor

Ryan North

Peter J Tomasi

Brian Buccellato

John Byrne

Geoff Johns

Comic Book Artists

Dan Mora

Jim Lee

Jorge Jimenez

Iban Coello

Neal Adams

Francesco Mortarino

[comicweek]

Brad Meltzer has experience with ownership in publishing. “As a novelist, I own my characters. I always have,” he said.

Mr. Meltzer has written dozens of thrillers, including “The Escape Artist” and “The Book of Lies,” as well as books for children and comic books. He’s also no stranger to television: He was a creator of the series “Jack & Bobby” and the host of “Brad Meltzer’s Decoded,” which examined historical mysteries.

“The entertainment industry is an ecosystem, and it is ever changing,” Mr. Meltzer said.

Now he is trying to use his knowledge to help some like-minded writers and artists reshape the comic book industry. They have formed Ghost Machine, a media company that is being announced on Thursday, the first day of New York Comic Con, the pop culture convention. One of the principal tenets of the new company is creator ownership.

...

The founding writers and artists of Ghost Machine will be exclusive to the company and will jointly own, operate and profit from it. In addition to Mr. Meltzer, they are Jason Fabok, Gary Frank, Bryan Hitch, Geoff Johns, Lamont Magee, Francis Manapul, Peter J. Tomasi and Maytal Zchut. Other creators will be named after they fulfill their commitments to other publishers.

...

Because “Geiger” is creator-owned, the team received the majority of the profits earned by the comic and had full control of media rights. Mr. Johns will write the pilot and be the showrunner. Both men will be executive producers.

Ghost Machine will publish its comics through Image Comics, which itself was established by top-selling artists who had grown frustrated with their lack of editorial control and the limited financial rewards from working on characters owned by media corporations.

[theultimatefan]

Kubert, Johns, Fabok, Hitch Headline Talented Comic Creators Attending FAN EXPO Philadelphia

Batman/Superman #8 - Andy Kubert and Ghost Machine #1 - Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok, Bryan Hitch

A vast array of talented comics artists and writers, spanning more than a half century of work and encompassing dozens of the most popular franchises in the history of the medium through the present, will be on hand as FAN EXPO Philadelphia today announced the Artist Alley headliners for the convention, set for May 3-5 at the Pennsyvlavnia Convention Center. Among the superstar writers and artists are Andy Kubert (“Batman: The Dark Knight III,” “X-Men”), Geoff Johns (“Geiger,” “Junkyard Joe”), Jason Fabok (“Rook: Exodus,” “Batman: Three Jokers”), Bryan Hitch (“Redcoat,” “The Ultimates”), Francis Manapul (“The Rocketfellers,” “The Flash”), Peter Tomasi (“The Rocketfellers,” “Hornsby and Halo”), Ryan Ottley (“Invincible,” “Amazing Spider-Man"), Frank Cho (“Liberty Meadows," “Wolverine"), Jae Lee (“Seven Sons,” “Stephen King’s Dark Tower”), Stephen Platt (“Moon Knight,” “Wolverine”), and Joe Wos (“Mazetoons,” “Charlie the Tuna”).

Just about every franchise imaginable will be well represented, and comics fans will revel in meeting the creators who have made them possible. Q&A’s, interactive demonstration sessions, autographs, commission opportunities, and more make the experience a can’t-miss for comics lovers.

The FAN EXPO Philadelphia field of creators also includes talents such as Rodney Barnes (“The Boondocks,” “Killadelphia”), Yanick Paquette (“Wonder Woman,” “The Incal”), Tom Grummett (“Thunderbolts”, “Superman”), Brad Anderson (“Geiger,” “The Rook: Exodus”), Heather Antos (Group Editor Licensing/IDW Publishing), Russ Braun (“The Boys,” “Jimmy’s Bastards”), Hailey Brown (Dark Horse Comics, Brink Literacy Project), Chris Burnham (“Unstoppable Doom Patrol,” “Batman, Inc.”), Jim Calafiore (“Exiles,” “Aquaman”), Joe Corroney (“Star Wars,” Lucasfilm), Mike DeCarlo (“The Simpsons,” “Archie”), Guy Gilchrist (“The Muppets,” “Nancy”), Jonathan Glapion (“Batman,” “King Spawn”), Scott Hanna (“Amazing Spider-Man,” “Superman: Lois and Clark”), Ben Harvey (“Star Wars: Darth Maul,” “X-Men”), Mike Hawthorne (“Batman,” “Deadpool”), Tim Jacobus (“Goosebumps,” “Spinetinglers”), Bob McLeod (“New Mutants,” “Superman”), Jonboy Meyers (“Venom,” “The Inhumans”), Rags Morales (“Identity Crisis,” “Batman Confidential”), Carl Potts (“Alien Legion,” “Punisher War Journal”), Aaron Reynolds (“Effin’ Birds”), Alex Saviuk (“Spider-Man,” “The Phantom”), Keith Williams (“The Hulk,” “Action Comics”), Ron Wilson (“The Thing,” “Marvel Two-in-One") and many others.

See the full list at https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpophiladelphia/comic-creators/.

The quality of the creators in Artist Alley mirrors that of the FAN EXPO Philadelphia celebrity roster, which features a first-rate list that includes the National Lampoon’s Vacation foursome of Chevy Chase (“Clark Griswald”), Beverly D’Angelo (“Ellen”), Randy Quaid (“Cousin Eddie”) and Dana Barron (“Audrey”), Hayden Christensen (Star Wars franchise), Rosario Dawson (“Ahsoka,” Rent), Rainn Wilson (“The Office,” “Lessons in Chemistry”), Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny, The Wrestler), Adam Savage (“MythBusters”), Danny Trejo (Machete, The Book of Boba Fett), Alan Tudyk (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,”), Mario Lopez (“Saved by the Bell,” “Access Hollywood”), Natasha Liu Bordizzo (“Ahsoka”), Kate Mulgrew (“Star Trek: Voyager,” “Orange is the New Black”), Rose McGowan (“Charmed,” Scream), Holly Marie Combs (“Charmed,” “Picket Fences”), Felicia Day (“The Guild,” “Dragon Age: Redemption”), Emily Swallow and Gina Carano (“The Mandalorian”), and more.

FAN EXPO Philadelphia will also feature a variety of comics creators who have written and drawn many favorite stories over the past half century, exhibitors featuring classic and unique pieces from the thousands of memorable characters and scenes that Star Wars and all of its offshoots have produced, and programming panels and special events to help fans across any empire show their love of one of pop culture’s most enduring series.

Single-Day Tickets, Three-Day Passes, and Ultimate Fan Packages for FAN EXPO Philadelphia are available now. Advance pricing is available until April 18. More guest news will be released in the following weeks, including line-up reveals for additional headline celebrities, comic creator guests, voice actors and cosplayers.

Philadelphia is the eighth event on the 2024 FAN EXPO HQ calendar; the full schedule is available at fanexpohq.com/home/events/.

[gorogues]

Spoilers for comics in April!

These are from the official solicits for that month, which you can see at CBR.

The Black Label Rogues series continues that month, and Girder will appear in a Flash movie prequel comic.

ROGUES #2 Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON Art by LEOMACS Cover by SAM WOLFE CONNELLY Variant cover by LEOMACS 1:25 variant cover by JORGE FORNÉS $6.99 US | 48 pages | 2 of 4 | Prestige Plus | 8 1/2" x 10 7/8" ON SALE 4/26/22 17+ You might think you know Gorilla City, but you don't. Not a soul who has gone looking for the secret kingdom has ever returned. You'd think the Rogues would know better than to go searching…but they either don't know or just don't care. The down-on-their-luck ex-cons are back together for the heist of a lifetime, but every time Captain Cold thinks he's got things all figured out, the rug is pulled out from under him. And even if they make it to Gorilla City alive, they have a version of Gorilla Grodd unlike anything you've ever seen waiting for them…Continuing this groundbreaking neo-noir take on some of the DCU's greatest villains!

The cover makes it difficult to figure out who’s going on the mission, assuming the lineup is actually representative of the story.  Len is obvious and so is Lisa (third from the left), but who are the others?  The guy in front might be a Mirror Master and maybe the guy with energy in his hand could be Weather Wizard or Kadabra, but that’s just spitballing.  And those appear to be Trickster pants on the second person.

Looks like Digger’s in for a rough time in the continuation of this Black Label series.

SUICIDE SQUAD: BLAZE #2 Written by SIMON SPURRIER Art and cover by AARON CAMPBELL Variant cover by QISTINA KHALIDAH $6.99 US | 48 pages | 2 of 3 | Prestige Plus | 8 ½" x 10 7/8" ON SALE 4/12/22 17+ The inmates who volunteered for the Blaze program are discovering fascinating things about their newfound powers—and about the best ways to torment their Suicide Squad watchdogs. Are they discovering anything about their core mission of stopping the cannibalistic metahuman who's terrorizing the planet and who, uh…might have just defeated Superman…? Well, slightly less so. But they're all going to be dead in three months. Or a lot less. Let them have fun, eh?

As you can see on the cover, Len appears in the New 52 omnibus.

JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW 52 OMNIBUS VOL. 2 Written by GEOFF JOHNS, PETER J. TOMASI, TOM KING, and others Art by JASON FABOK, IVAN REIS, and others Cover by JASON FABOK $150.00 US | 1,256 pages | 7 1/16" x 10 7/8" | Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-77951-558-2 ON SALE 6/21/22 One of the boldest eras in Justice League history continues in this massive collection, featuring the second half of superstar writer Geoff Johns's run on DC's premier super-team. Volume two collects the rest of Johns' Justice League issues plus the Forever Evil and Darkseid War story lines, all leading up to DC's Rebirth event.

I sure wasn’t expecting Girder in a movie prequel...

THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #1 Written by KENNY PORTER Art by RICARDO LÓPEZ ORTIZ Cover by MAX FIUMARA Variant cover by ANDY MUSCHIETTI $5.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $6.99 US ON SALE 4/26/22 Race through the streets of Central City in this lead-up to the hotly anticipated blockbuster The Flash! After Barry's adventure with the Justice League, he's determined to become a truly skilled and inspirational hero. As a new threat emerges in Central City going by the name of Girder, Barry turns to Batman for advice on training to master his powers. Can the Dark Knight help show the Scarlet Speedster a way to defeat this metallic menace, or will the Flash be crushed by Girder's strength?

THE FLASH #781 Written by JEREMY ADAMS   Art by FERNANDO PASARIN and MATT RYAN Cover by BRANDON PETERSON and MICHAEL ATIYEH Variant cover by NIKOLA ČIŽMEŠIJA $3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock) ON SALE 4/19/22 The Eclipso War left Wally West stopped dead in his tracks…but a brand-new villain has emerged to wreak havoc on the Scarlet Speedster! An exciting new story arc begins here!

[stxleslyds]

It seems like you have a negative opinion on all non-Winick characterizations of Jason in the comics. But do you hate them all equally? Could you rank all non-Winick comic depictions of Jason from best to worst characterization? Or maybe give them a letter grade?

Hi friend! This is a bit funny to me because I really didn’t expect people to be so vocal about me being such an annoying person when it comes to Jason’s characterizations. I can’t promise that I won’t complain anymore but I will try to be kinder.

But I won’t start right now, because I really want to make this ranking, it will go from best to absolute worst! I bet you guys won’t know who is in the deepest circle in hell! Place your bets everyone!

This is the level that gives me joy! (Yup, I put a writer that only wrote ten pages of Jason content as the best, please don’t call me out on it).

Matthew Rosenberg: I love him and I love what he has done with Jason, I have only read ten pages of his work while writing Jason and he already has me hooked. Like I said in that one ask/post, I think he will make some amazing things with the Jason that we have now and I still believe that. Little shit and competent Jason Todd, I am glad you are here.

Peter Tomasi: This one is a little checky because his run is out of comics canon, but his Arkham Knight Jason Todd and the way he wrote his origin are absolutely stunning.

Marv Wolfman: His Robin Jason was really good and I am really glad that we had those comics in which we could see Jason in an environment that didn’t include Batman. I was like looking at what Jason could have been if he had stayed with the Titans’ instead of keep on being Robin in Gotham with Batman.

This is the level in which I can still like some things about the story even though in general I didn’t enjoy the book.

Joshua Williamson: Yeah, but he is only here because his story seemed interesting, my issue as I have said before is his subplot “romance” and the fact that he seems to be the kind of writer that wants to push the “Batfamily” dynamic. Otherwise, his Jason characterization when it came to him not liking working for the Magistrate was really good, sadly it was overshadowed by all the bad that I just really didn’t enjoy at all

Chip Zdarsky: Tyler (Blue Hood) and Jason working to rid Gotham of a drug really brought me back to the good old days. I also really liked seeing the parallels between Jason and his mom with Tyler and his own mother, it felt like a good way to start a connection and develop a Red Hood story. Sadly, the book as a whole was shit and it ended horribly but there were some interesting moments.

Now we are looking at the level where I just wonder: Why?

Paul Dini: Why? His Jason really did a 360, and I meant it, I really don’t know what the point of Jason taking the mantle of another dead Jason was. His Red Robin was just a Red Hood in a different suit and that was that. I understand that they wanted to kill him because he was an anomaly and all that but, he just really felt out of place in that event. This was the first warning: Jason Todd/Red Hood only works on a street-level, stop trying to make everyone dimension jump and all that DC.

Bruce Jones: Hey! I forgot about this guy in the last post! He sucks! And his arc in Nightwing is the epitome of the question: Why? I get it, DiDio wanted to kill Dick and then have Jason take over as Nightwing but Dick didn’t die at the end of Infinite Crisis, he was still alive there was no reason to have Jason dress up as Nightwing and going on a killing spree, also, the tentacles? Really? Annoying and weird.

Scott Snyder and Tim Seeley: I ask why but I know why. This was a desperate attempt to use Jason in stories because they couldn’t use Dick Grayson. It was also weird because being there only pushed him more towards the Bat-Clan even though he had his Outlaws team going on. It was just weird and they were also big on unnecessary “romances”.

This is the Skrull Jason level. Here I see, hear and feel no Jason Todd.

Grant Morrison: Grant needed a villain and all they could come up with was this weird as red-haired-pill-headed-Red Hood and DC said “sure, why not?”. There is no real way to find UtRH Jason in this version of Jason and that for me is a little bit better than still seeing the Jason that I loved in whatever this was.

Tony S. Daniel: This one sucks the most because it isn’t that Jason is unrecognizable its just that Jason is the exact opposite of who he would have become. Everything about this Jason seems to come from the Upside Down. Him saying that Gotham needs Batman so he will be Batman and he needs a Robin was the wildest take that I have seen about Jason. I have no other words for it.

Hell.

James Tynion IV: whoever invited this man to this party needs to understand that they made a big mistake. All Tynion did was overpower the living hell out of Jason for a fight that wasn’t big enough to become a Batman/Red Hood event. The fight was so lame and so stupid, if Jason had learned the ancient martial arts move in the All-Castle and the used that and the All-Blades to defeat Ra’s it would have been more than enough, but in New 52 writers really wanted to make Jason look like the most experienced and best at being a hero when Kory and Roy were standing next to him.

Scott Lobdell: He sucks, New 52 was just terrible, there was nothing that I liked from it, character assassination for everyone, nobody was treated well there. He wrote a self-insert version of Jason and it was noticeable because Jason was trash in New 52. Rebirth was better but that didn’t make things better for Jason because Lobdell started to fuel the “Jason was guilty for his own death” and “Jason was a reckless Robin” narratives and here we are today. Lobdell danced around his own stories, his characterization of Jason and he never gave a fulfilling ending to any of his arcs. Some characters we only saw once some others simply disappeared. Nothing ever truly started or ended when it came to his writing.

Ginnungagap.

Geoff Johns: to him all I will say is: comprate un bosque y perdete.

Thank you for the ask! I had fun doing this! I wish you have an excellent day!

[outoftheframework]

the ultimate list of comic book recommendations

Hello and welcome everyone! So if you don’t know, my name is Meg, and I happen to be an avid comic book/graphic novel reader and collector (even though I often write in a more fanon universe). So I thought for this post I would compile some of my favorite books for y’all. 

I’ll categorize these, but don’t be afraid to try something completely different that what you’ve read before! And for new readers, this list can be a great way to find out where to start. So with that in mind, here’s the list!

DC COMICS

“So I like Batman but I don’t know where to start!”

Batman: Year One by Frank Miller - A classic detective Batman Story; a great starting off point for the character and comic books as a whole.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller - Another classic, highly rated comic. Features an older Batman and introduces Carrie as Robin.

Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb - My brother’s favorite. Gripping from start to end. More detective Bats.

For fans of darker/more artistic/”different” Batman stories

Batman: White Knight by Sean Murphy - Batman “bad”. Joker “good”. 

Batman: The Black Mirror by Scott Snyder - Bats and Joker in an unlikely, drug-induced team up. Some of the best art in Batman.

Batman: Hush by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee - Big fan of both writers. Very popular book in the fandom, but I’ve never personally read it (recommended by my brother).

For fans of Robins 

A Death in the Family by Jim Starlin and Under the Red Hood by Judd Winick - pinnacle Jason stories; also for those looking for Tim Drake’s introduction.

Robin: Reborn by Chuck Dixon - Ignore the awful cover art; this is Tim Drake done right.

Red Robin by Christopher Yost - Hard to find this series in a physical copy so just read it online. Defining Tim Drake in one series *chef’s kiss* beautiful.

Super Sons by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason - The best Damian out there in my opinion, plus the addition of the always adorable Jon Kent

Ensemble

Justice League by Geoff Johns - Say what you want about n52, but this is the best JL out there (don’t fight me on this). Great for beginning readers.

Kingdom Come by Mark Waid - Alex Ross is simply the best comic artist out there. This one is a classic, but probably shouldn’t be your first rodeo with DC.

Brightest Day by Geoff Johns - Again, not for beginning readers; requires A LOT of background knowledge. But amazing characterization despite the hoard of characters it features.

Justice League Dark by James Tynion IV - Ugh I just love Zatanna.

DC Bombshells by Marguerite Bennett - The best damn DC AU ever made

MARVEL COMICS

Must Read!!

Vision by Tom King - Quite literally a modern masterpiece. Just, ugh, if you take anything away from this list, it’s go pick up Tom King’s Vision. Don’t like Vision? Doesn’t matter go pick up Tom King’s Vision-

Street-level heroes just trying their best (my favorite kind of comics)

Hawkeye by Matt Fraction - Hands down my favorite comic series of all time. Perfect characterization of Clint and Kate. Pick these up before the Disney+ series comes out :) Cannot recommend this enough.

Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson - Actual ray of sunshine Kamala Khan will take over your life. Follows her coming to grips with her powers as a POC teen who needs to balance school, home, and hero life.

Let’s hear it for the ladies!

Captain Marvel by Kelly Deconnick - Liked the movie? You’ll love this. So much heart and humor.

Dark Phoenix Saga by Chris Claremont - I got my copy signed by Claremont and almost cried. First comic I bought with my own money; has a special place in my heart.

Jean Grey by Dennis Hopeless - What can I say? I’m a Jean stan forever. A nice pick-me-up after DPS. Features a young Jean in the wrong universe.

Spider-Gwen by Jason Latour - Liked Spiderverse? Boy, do I have the comic for you.

Misc and Third Party

Watchmen by Alan Moore - Simply a masterpiece

Space Riders by Fabian Jr. Rangel - A fever dream from start to finish, in space. Amazing artistry.

Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way - Speaks for itself. The show is too damn good.

WHAT I’M READING NOW!

The New Teen Titans by Maru Wolfman and George Perez

Batman: Last Knight on Earth by Scott Snyder

DCEASED

Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia

Hope these help!! Let me know what you think if you pick any of these up. Feel free to message me for more recs or information on any of these. Also, feel free to reblog with your favorite comics!! Lmk if you want to see more rec lists like these or even comic reviews :) Thanks!

[keycomicbooks]

Ghost Machine #1 (2024) Ivan Reis Variant / Geoff Johns, Peter J. Tomasi, Francis Manapul & Gary Frank & Other Writers / Gary Frank, Francis Manapul, Ivan Reis & Other Artists / 1st Appearance of Rook, Dire Wolf, Swine, The Rocketfellers & Hornsby and Halo

#GhostMachine #1 (2024) #IvanReis Variant / #GeoffJohns, #PeterJTomasi, #FrancisManapul & #GaryFrank & Other Writers / Gary Frank, Francis Manapul, Ivan Reis & Other Artists / 1st Appearance of #Rook, #DireWolf & #Swine , #TheRocketfellers & #Hornsby and #Halo "Welcome to the First Fully Shared Creator-Owned Universes!" A GROUNDBREAKING NEW ERA FOR COMICS, CHARACTERS AND CREATORS LAUNCHES NOW! SAVE ON SHIPPING COST - NOW AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL PICK UP IN DELTONA, FLORIDA https://rarecomicbooks.fashionablewebs.com/Ghost%20Machine.html  #KeyComicBooks #ImageComics #ImageUniverse #image #ComicBooks

[dccomicsnews]

Review: Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super-Spectacular

Review: Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super-Spectacular #1 [Editor’s Note: This review DEFINITELY contains spoilers]

Writers: James Tynion IV, Geoff Johns, Cullen Bunn, Dennis O’Neil, Ron Marz, Peter J. Tomasi, Charlotte (Fullerton) McDuffie, Chriscross, Robert Venditti, Mariko Tamaki, Sina Grace Art: Gary Frank, Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert, Doug Mahnke, Mike Grell, Daryl Banks, Fernando…

[shadowwingtronix]

"Yesterday's" Comic> Green Lantern: Rebirth #1

BW's "Yesterday's" Comic> Green Lantern: Rebirth #1

“Just change the darn light bulb! Our arms are getting tired!”

Green Lantern: Rebirth #1

DC Comics (2014? the “DC Comics Essentials” version on comiXology version is “chapter 1 of the trade” and no longer available)

“Blackest Night”

WRITER: Geoff Johns

ARTIST: Evan Van Sciver

COLORIST: Moose Baumann

LETTERER: Rob Leigh

ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Steve Wacker

EDITOR: Peter Tomasi

(more…)

[heroicadventurists]

Detective Comics 1000 6-11

Detective 1000 was comprised of eleven short stories written by some of the biggest names in comics.  All of the stories were really good (as expected) and 1000 was definitely worth the read.  Below is my 6-11 ranking.

11. Heretic

Writer: Christopher Priest

This story takes place years ago when Bruce was training in Lhasa. Bruce is fighting off several thugs who are trying to rob him for his money.  He is eventually taken down. 3 kids find Bruce laid out in some trash and takes his wallet.

We move back to the present time in Gotham.  A young man is dead in an alley.  Commissioner Gordan called Bruce Wayne to the scene because an old "Thomas and Martha Wayne Foundation" card is found in the victim’s possession. Batman shows up and questions Jim about the card before effectively disappearing while Jim is still talking.

Back in the batcave, we learned that the Batman was actually Dick covering for Bruce.  Based on the evidence, Dick believes Ra’s Al Ghul is behind the murder.  Bruce disagrees however he confronts Ra’s about it anyway. Ra’s denies wrongdoing and places the blame directly on Bruce.

“I am not responsible for the boy’s death….you are.  An infection you fostered as a youth, all those years ago…in Tibet.”-Ra’s Al Ghul.

Batman learns from Ra’s that Tan’s killer was his sister.

“Bruce Wayne’s capitalist values corrupted Tan…made him a subversive…a betrayer of the faith.”

Batman declares that he will carry on Tan’s mission and he is there for anyone desiring to leave the league.  She responds, very well Heretic, so will we.

10. The Last Crime in Gotham

Writer: Geoff Johns

First off let me say that it was completely nuts seeing Damian dressed up like Robin as a grown man.  He still had the same design from when he was 10. I just had to get that off my chest.  On to the story.

This story begins with a future Batman and his family (Catwoman, Robin and Echo (Helena)) investigating a murder.  12 people were killed at a birthday party.  The family starts discussing who the killer could be considering the majority of Batman’s rogues are dead and crime has been extremely low in Gotham City.

Batman surmises that someone wanted to re-create all of Gotham’s greatest crimes in one night. The killer was………the son of Joker……..who is also among the 12 dead.

“The same chemicals that created my father took his life.  Those same chemicals are taking mine, too.  I am sick, as he was.  I am grateful for that, because without family……what are we?”-The son of Joker

With the demise of the son of Joker, the streets of Gotham are safe. Batman tells Jim that they’ve done enough and to go spend some time with Barbara, Jason and the kids. He proclaims it’s family time as he unplugs the batsignal.

The end of this story offers a sad twist.  It’s Bruce’s birthday and he’s actually in the batcave with Alfred wishing for a crime free Gotham and a family to spend his time with.

09. The Batman’s Design

Writer: Warren Ellis

Batman was absolutely brutal in this story.  The story began with a high speed chase. Some goons tried to take a hospital hostage and thought they were escaping The Batman.  Little did they know they were walking into a trap.

Batman caused the goons to crash their car outside of a warehouse. The entire warehouse was rigged like it was a game of Battleship. Once inside, Batman took them all down one-by-one, dishing out a considerable amount of pain in the process.

In the end, the ring leader surrendered after Batman had strategically taken out his entire crew.

08. Return To Crime Alley

Writer: Denny O’Neil

This story focuses on Leslie Thompkins and her opinion of Bruce Wayne becoming Batman.  It’s fair to say that she is not thrilled.

“…You could have lessened the world’s misery.  Instead, you let the tragedy consume you.  You chose the guise of a monster and my fear is that you are becoming what you pretend to be.  You tell yourself you’re serving justice, but what you’re really serving is cruelty. What happened to your parents does not excuse that” -Leslie Thompkins

No one can lay into Bruce quite like Leslie.

07. Medieval

Writer: Peter J Tomasi

Like “Manufactured for Use” and “The Legend of Knute Brody”, this story features a who’s who of Batman’s villains (including the introduction of The Arkham Knight).  The Arkham Knight weaves an elaborate tale of how Batman abuses his power.

“The Batman is a creature of the night who preys on the weak…..and the broken.  The broken who lash out, and beg for help the only way they know how…” -The Arkham Knight

In The Arkham Knight’s opinion, Batman has darkened Gotham City.  The only thing Batman respects is control and adhering to his rules.  The Batman doesn’t offer hope, only hoplessness. Batman is really a BADman and the people of Gotham deserve better. They deserve someone fair and true.  And they will bear witness to the Arkham Knight finally delivering justice to Batman.

06. Manufactured for Use

Writer: Kevin Smith

This story features a who’s who of Batman’s villains and begins with Batman fighting Joker in the center ring of a circus.  During the fight, Joker sprays Batman in the chest with acid. 

The scene switches to Matches Malone entering a store after hours.  The shop keep was waiting for him.  The owner takes Malone to the Gotham Gift Shop, a store housing all of the goods the bad guys leave behind in Gotham. The majority of the clientele includes wealthy soccer moms and day trader dads.

“You were looking for Gotham guns, right? Oh, I got Gotham guns.  Some of the most famous guns in the history of Gotham City crime” -Shady shop keep

Malone is only interested in the gun from the Wayne murders. The shop keep is asking $1,000 for the gun but Malone pays $1,500.

When Bruce returns to the Batcave with the gun, Alfred expresses his worry.

“I grew up broken and sad after this hunk of metal took everything from me. And who knows how many other lives it’s ruined? Or ended. But after tonight…….It’s never going to hurt anyone again." -Bruce Wayne

With that, Bruce melts down the gun that killed his parents and makes it into something useful, a chest plate for his uniform.  How fitting.

[aion-rsa]

Why Batman Still Matters: DC on 80 Years of the Dark Knight

https://ift.tt/2HWmob3

Detective Comics hits #1000 as Batman turns 80. We talked to Kevin Conroy, Bruce Timm, Scott Snyder, and more about the hero's legacy!

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John Saavedra

Batman

Mar 27, 2019

DC Entertainment

Scott Snyder

Kevin Conroy

Bruce Timm

This Batman article contains spoilers for Detective Comics #1000. 

It all began with two shots in the dark, pearls spilling onto the blood-soaked cement. No, it all started when the bat crashed through the window. Actually, it was when the boy fell into the cave. Maybe it was that hostile takeover at Apex Chemicals? Dozens of stories have shaped the legend of the Batman over his 80-year history, tales that have made the Caped Crusader arguably the most iconic character in comic book history, rivaled only by Superman.

When Bill Finger and Bob Kane put pen and pencils to paper for 1939's Detective Comics #27, they had no way of knowing that they were creating a new American myth that would captivate readers and movie audiences for decades to come. They certainly didn't expect their first Batman adventure, "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate," to spawn 973 more issues of Detective Comics, let alone become a blockbuster franchise of movies, TV series, video games, and McDonald's Happy Meals. 

But here we are: this week sees the release of Detective Comics #1000, written and drawn by some of the best creators in the business. The giant-sized, 96-page issue features stories by legends such as Dennis O'Neil, Neal Adams, Steve Epting, Christopher Priest, Jim Lee, Kelley Jones, Paul Dini, Brian Michael Bendis, Warren Ellis, and Geoff Johns as well as the current custodians of the Bat-mythos -- Tom King, Tony S. Daniel, Peter J. Tomasi, Doug Mahnke, Joelle Jones, Scott Snyder, and Greg Capullo. And that's not even including the excellent covers by Jim Steranko, Bernie Wrightson, Bruce Timm, Frank Miller, Jock, Tim Sale, and more. 

Batman is only the second DC A-list superhero to reach such a massive milestone, the other being the Man of Steel, who celebrated his own 80th last year with the release of Action Comics #1000, and the company is celebrating every era of the character in this Bat-themed anniversary issue, from one of his very first (and longest) cases as a young vigilante to his very last on the eve of a lonely birthday. 

In one story, we see Bruce struggling with a fateful decision that will change his young ward Dick Grayson's life forever, while in another, Batman's extended family of heroes gets together for a hilarious reunion on a rooftop. There's also Bruce getting some much-needed guidance from Leslie Thompkins as well as a story about the worst henchmen in Batman's rogues gallery that perfectly recreates the tone of Batman: The Animated Series. The issue's most poignant tale is about Bruce's search for the gun that killed his mother and father in a ghastly scene that's been retold through every generation of the character. All of these excellent stories are meant to explore both Batman's growth, from pulpy masked vigilante to modern symbol of hope (Zack Snyder movies notwithstanding), as well as the nature of the legend itself.

What is it about this story of a boy who suffers a terrible tragedy and grows up to avenge the death of his parents night after night that has kept it at the forefront of our pop culture? Batman has been able to outlive or overshadow many of the characters that inspired his own creation -- Zorro, The Shadow, Doc Savage, Sherlock Holmes, The Phantom Detective, Dracula, among others -- but what makes him so special?

I was fortunate enough to speak to Batman writers Scott Snyder and Peter J. Tomasi, artists Bruce Timm and Jock, and the Caped Crusader himself, Batman: The Animated Series' Kevin Conroy, about why Batman still matters after all this time. Their answers showcase different aspects of the Dark Knight, from his flexibility as a character to just how damn good he looks in that costume.

But according to Conroy, who I spoke to at New York Comic Con in 2017 and 2018, Batman's continued popularity goes back to something way more primal than form and function. To the classically-trained actor who was immortalized as THE voice of Batman in the '90s cartoon, the Caped Crusader is a modern retelling of myths and stories humans have been passing down for thousands of years. 

"He's such a theatrical character," Conroy says, speaking of his initial hesitance to audition for the role. At the time, he was a theater actor who'd never done an animated role. But when he began reading the script, the character clicked. Conroy recognized this story. "They were absolutely right to cast a theater actor, especially one with a classical background, because this is Shakespeare. They're doing high drama. Batman is Achilles. He's Orestes. He's Hamlet."

The tragic Greek character Orestes is particularly on Conroy's mind when playing Batman. He's performed several plays as Orestes, a son who avenges his father's murder and goes mad because of it. By the end of the story cycle, Orestes has gone through hell and back because of his thirst for vengeance. Naturally, Conroy brought that familiarity with Orestes to his portrayal of Batman.

"He's a Homeric hero," Conroy says of the Caped Crusader. "I think of it often when I'm doing Batman because Orestes is haunted by the Furies. He descends into hell. He comes back. He's resurrected at the end. And I think so often, this is a very Orestial-like journey that Bruce Wayne goes on. His Furies are the memory of his parents' murder. It haunts him through his life. It's transformed him."

Conroy calls Batman a "classic character." Like Orestes before him, Batman has become the protagonist of our very own mythology, according to the actor.

"He's come out of such a fire and instead of letting life crush him, he turns that metamorphosis into something even greater than himself. He overcomes the tragedy that is his childhood to help heal the world...They've been telling that story for thousands of years, in different cultures and this is our culture's way of telling those stories, and I think they're just as valid."

"I think what makes him deeply enduring is that it's a really primal folk tale," Snyder, who's been writing Batman stories since 2011, says on the phone. "It's a story about a boy who loses everything and turns that loss into fuel to make sure that what happened to him never happens to anybody else."

While most of us aren't billionaire playboys with the resources to fight crime on a global (and sometimes cosmic) level, we understand pain, both emotional and physical, and a need to rise above it, even if we can't always do that. And we sympathize with Bruce's biggest regret -- if only he hadn't made his parents take him to see that Zorro movie, if only he hadn't been scared at the opera, if only he'd been braver and faster as the thug pulled the trigger, things might have been different. For Bruce, his crusade to stop evildoers comes down to replaying that single fateful moment over and over again. If only he'd done something...

Yet, Batman perseveres despite all of this pain, which is why people flock to the character, according to Snyder. 

"It's a story of triumph over your worst fears, worst tragedy, and about taking your loss and turning it into a win," the writer says. "There's just this kind of power to him that speaks to our own potential, the human potential, even when we're challenged by things that seem insurmountably horrible." 

Snyder has spent the better part of a decade showcasing Batman as a symbol of hope for the citizens of Gotham, putting him through the ringer, reopening old wounds while also making new ones -- the writer even killed the hero off at one point -- just so that he can pick himself up again and keep fighting. 

But the character isn't all tragedy, death, and knightmares. Who could hang with a downer like that for 80 years? 

"There are the fun elements, of course, that are similar to James Bond, like the gadgets, and the cars, and the planes, and just the cool factor of his costume."

Timm, who co-created Batman: The Animated Series and designed the show's iconic Art Deco aesthetic, is unsurprisingly most taken by Batman's look. 

"I just think Batman looks great," Timm says during our chat at NYCC in 2018. "He's got the best costume motif in comics. Nothing comes close. He's dark and sexy and broody. It's really intoxicating and compelling in a way that almost no other in comics can come close to it."

He also admires the durability of the character through the different eras of comics, from the Golden Age, to the sillier '50s and '60s stories of the Comics Code era, to the darker takes we're more accustomed to today. 

"It is amazing to me how flexible he is as a character. That you could have something as silly as the Adam West show or the old '50s comics, and then you have stuff like Neal Adams and Frank Miller and what we did. And you know, even more extreme, [Grant Morrison and Dave McKean's graphic novel] Arkham Asylum and things like that. And yet their all kind of the same character. It's like that character can encompass all of those different things. He can do space aliens and serial killers, you know? Yet, it kind of works."

This flexibility has allowed plenty of writers and artists to experiment with the Dark Knight, creating different versions of the character over the years. There really isn't a definitive take on Batman. Undoubtedly, one of the big reasons he's still so popular and speaks to so many people is that there's a Bat story for everybody. You can love the Batusi, Bat-Mite, or Mr. Freeze's cool party and still be right on the money about the Caped Crusader. You'd be remiss to call the character stale. The guy has done it all.

"It's almost like he's a force of nature, in which stories can happen around him, and there's something primordial, maybe, about the character and the way he looks, as well," veteran Batman artist Jock, who is currently working on a six-part miniseries with Snyder called The Batman Who Laughs, says on the phone. "You could put Batman in a new pose, and he'd still flourish, and I think those kinds of characters are very rare."

Tomasi, who has the huge responsibility of ushering in Detective Comics #1000 as the current writer on the series, puts it best in our email exchange:

"He's a character who can work across all genres. Somehow, someway, he can simply fit into every story, be it a war story, a western, a love story, a comedic angle, sci-fi, horror, fantasy, you name it, and of course any detective story you can possibly imagine."

Detective Comics #1000 closes with a prologue to Tomasi's next arc on the series, which will be drawn by Brad Walker (The Demon: Hell Is Earth) and introduce the Arkham Knight character from the recent Batman video game to DC continuity. While Tomasi can't say much about the story, especially when it comes to who is underneath the imposing Arkham Knight armor, he did share that the villain "looks at Batman as a curse on Gotham City and will do whatever it takes to destroy Batman and bring light to a city drowning in darkness."

Tomasi previously wrote the Batman: Arkham Knight tie-in series that acted as a prequel to the game, so he knows this rogue better than anyone. It's very fitting that he's using a new villain to begin Detective's run to another 1000 issues and a new era of Batman.

Will we still be talking about Batman in another 80 years? Sure, superhero stories are enjoying a second golden age, but tastes change and trends eventually end. Superheroes won't always be at the top of our pop culture food chain. It's inevitable that many of the characters we love today will fade with future generations, just as the Shadow, Doc Savage, and the Scarlet Pimpernel did. We may eventually embrace new forms of familiar myths, becoming obsessed with new idols. But only a fool would bet against a character who's survived as long as Batman has. Remember, the Batman always wins.

John Saavedra is an associate editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

from Books https://ift.tt/2CHhHP1

[deviantfunbiz]

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