GN REVIEW: Batman: The Court of Owls

The first of DC Comics New 52 graphic novels have started rolling out, a collaboration of DC's revamp/reboot/update on their titles, hoping to freshen things up and bring in new reader.  So far the titles I have enjoyed the most are the ones that have hardly changed; like Geoff Johns continuation of Green Lantern and the Batman books.  Barbara Gordon may have climbed out of her Oracle chair and back into her Batgirl costume, but not much else has changed in the Bat Family, except for everything Bruce Wayne he thought he knew was true. 

In Batman: The Court of Owls Volume 1 Bruce stumbles upon a secret society in Gotham City; the Court of Owls.  The Owls date all the way back to the founding of Gotham and has been pulling the strings ever since; even in Bruce's life.  The Talon, the Owls personal assassin, cages Batman in a maze for days, but Batman always has an escape plan.  Bruce soon discovers this Talon has somehow been dead for decades and is a descendant of his former ward, and brother-in-arms, Dick Grayson.  The deeper Bruce digs into the mystery of the Owls the more his life as Batman seems to unravel.  The book ends on a cliffhanger, promising that the Owls have a lot more trouble in store for the Dark Knight.  

 Writer Scott Snyder is most famous for his Vertigo title, American Vampire. Snyder has done a few Marvel one-shots and DC mini-series, but this is his first ongoing title tackle and I must say I'm impressed.  Speaking as a Superman fan, Snyder has captured what I enjoy in a Batman storyline; a great mystery with a dash of personal drama.  Batman stories that are all about catching the villain leaves me bored, but Snyder has made Bruce uncover something that has rocked his whole life's crusade.  

Aside from re-introducing readers to Batman's friends and foes Snyder also re-introduces Gotham to us from the words of it's citizens to Bruce talking about every part of Wayne Tower.  These descriptions really pull the story together as Batman and the Owls fight for the prize of Gotham City.

Artist Greg Capullo has been drawing Spawn for years, but now shows he's ready for the big time.  His art, mixed with Snyders words, go great together.  Cappullo knows how to keep the Dark Knight in the right shadows, help Sndyer bring Gotham to life, and does a great 2-page spread giving us a tour of the Batcave.  It's almost like I'm watching Batman: The Animated Series all over again.

It looks like the Owls aren't going anywhere, and hopefully neither is Snyder.  I haven't been this excited in reading a Batman title since Tony Daniel had Nightwing try to fill Bruce's cowl.  The team of Snyder and Capullo make Batman comics what they should be; a great detective tale with the colors to match.  If you enjoyed Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and are interested in reading Batman comics this is a great jump-off point.  Bring on Volume 2!           

Geoff Johns Finally Takes On The Dark Knight

     In less than two weeks Christopher Nolan's final installment of his Dark Knight trilogy will be released nation wide as thousands of "supposed" Batman fans wait in anticipation.  DC Comics is of coursing trying to cash in on every nugget of merchandise money they can gobble up during this frenzy with it's shining star being the newly released graphic novel, Batman: Earth One.  In 2010, DC came out with Superman: Earth One, a modern interpretation of the Man of Steel's origin by writer J. Michael Straczynski.  The one-shot was a huge success with a sequel on the way and DC is now hoping for the same success with this new take on how Batman begun.
    Anyone who is reading comics these days knows Geoff Johns.  He's responsible for reinvigorating Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman, and teamed up with artist Gary Frank before on Superman: Secret Origin.  Johns is known for his ability to create great dialogue and deep character layers but has had little chance to write the Caped Crusader aside from his run on Justice League and Infinite Crisis.  I'm a huge fan of Johns so I was interested to see what kind of spin Johns could give Batman that writers like Frank Miller and Grant Morrison haven't already done.

     Thomas and Martha Wayne are shot in an alley while their young son, Bruce watches in horror.  That part of the story hasn't changed.  But in the middle of his campaign for major Thomas calls for the man who saved his life years ago, Alfred Pennyworth.  Mr. Wayne needs Alfred's help in protecting him for traitors within his own camp.  When the Waynes are murdered Alfred reluctantly becomes Bruce's legal guardian and soon begins to train Bruce on everything he learned from his previous life as pretty much a British Navy Seal.
     Bruce dons the cape and cowl just as detective James Gordon gets a new partner, policeman/former reality TV star Harvey Bullock.  Bullock shows up in Gotham with the goal of solving the mysterious Wayne murders, but gets more than he bargained for when Gordon shows Bullock how the streets of Gotham really work.  Meanwhile Bruce is also working the case of his parents, and it all seems to lead back to his fathers political competitor, Major Oswald Cobblepot.  But Bruce's new bat costume isn't scaring anyone.  Alfred must try and convince Bruce to give up his pointless crusade or lose the boy he raised to Gotham's criminals and conspiracies. 
    I didn't know what to expect when I heard Johns was taking on Batman.  I always felt like Johns told deeper and happier tales than the Dark Knight should be, but I was pleasantly surprised by Geoff; again.  He wrote subtle differences into the story that did not make it seem like just another recycled version of Bob Kane's classic origin.  I loved how both Gordon and Bullock completely change who they are by the end of the book, and how Gordon's change mirrors that of Gary Oldman's character in Batman Begins. 

     Bruce's first attempts as Batman are so raw, undisciplined, and disastrous that is made me feel like this is how I would be if I tried to jump from tall buildings while chasing criminals my first time out.  That part really sucked me into the story and connected me to Bruce.  The biggest character change was Alfred. In most interpretations he's a den mother to Bruce, but Johns writes him as a rough and disapproving father who tries to dissuade his son's quest at every turn, but trying to keep him safe along the way.  It was a great change of pace, and mixed in with Gary Frank's terrific art I would swear the actor Sam Elliott was in mind when he drew Alfred.  Maybe Mr. Frank was watching Road House at the time.  That would make Bruce Patrick Swayze. 
    Overall I enjoyed this novel way more than the first Earth One tale, and I favor Superman way more than Batman.  But even I are not immune to a great story by Geoff Johns.  Especially when its topped off with Frank's great art.  I'm not sure how true Batman readers will feel about this lighter rendition of a detective comic, but I think it makes it very accessible to all who just love a good story with well developed characters. OMG! That means the Penguin is Brad Wesley!  It all fits into place!  I'm on to you Mr. Johns.  I'm on to you!

My 5 Rules For Keeping Up With Comics On A Budget

As a man who has read comic books longer than I can remember I’ve always had the same problem; too many comics, not enough money. In this economy it can be hard to buy all the comics you actually want to read. I mean there several titles for every character/team. I myself have a budget cap each month that I try to stick too. Sometimes I go a little over, sometimes a little under.

With over half of the film blockbusters that come out now-a-days being based on comic books it’s hard not getting excited to read the material they’re based on. I know walking into a comic book store can be an overwhelming experience for some people who are not “in the game” but if you want to keep up with the titles you sort of enjoy but can’t afford to collect here a few rules that may help.

RULE #1- KNOW WHAT WRITERS YOU LIKE

Just like some people have favorite novel writers like John Grisham or Stephen King, you can follow whom you like. In 2004, Geoff Johns came onto Green Lantern and has made it DC’s biggest selling title ever since. When Johns was on Teen Titans I loved it, but once he left I dropped the book. Johns is currently writing Aquaman, which I have never read until now and I love it.

These days it’s almost better to follow a writer you like, such as Grant Morrison, Frank Miller, or Ed Brubaker because you can be 90% sure your money will be well spent based on the fact that you like the writers previous work. The only problem with this is a writer can take over a book on issue #225 and some readers feel like they need to get the first 224 issues just to understand what’s going on. In some cases this is true, but when a new writer jumps onto a title they try to keep it fresh for people who follow them and not the title. After collecting comics for 20 odd years I’m almost to this point.

RULE #2- THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

The other week I was watching Daredevil the director’s cut, which is way better than the theatrical version, and I decided I wanted to read more abut Daredevil. I had never really been a fan, but now I feel like at this point in my life he’s a character I can like/relate too. So I jumped online, got a list of what order Daredevil graphic novels should be read (you can find these for any character/title, trust me), and then I went to my local library’s website and reserved a bunch of Daredevil graphic novel’s starting with the first one on my list they had.

Public libraries have EVERYTHING today FOR FREE!! You can get CD’s, movies, TV series, audio books, and of course graphic novels. Every few weeks I jump on the library’s site and type in my favorite writers names, or characters I like. And when there is something I haven’t read I reserve it. Depending on how big your library is will determine their selection, and in a big city like Austin,TX that has several branches I can get quite a lot. I just have to wait for it. The library doesn’t have every Daredevil graphic novel, but enough for me to know the major events.

RULE #3- LEARN TO SKIM READ

If you want to keep up with a comic but can’t afford to buy it skim reading is my best advice. When I go to the comic book store I grab my pull list from the employee at the front and then I head back to the comics to see what I didn’t grab. I no longer collect Superman, but I want to see what’s going on. I flip through it, kind of get an idea of what is going on based on pictures, and if I see Lois and Clark/Superman talking I’ll quickly read the conversation. Not a lot of important info is said during action scenes, so know what relationships are important. But my key rule for this method is no matter how many comics I skim through I always walk out having bought something.

Once a month, I like to go to a book store chain that I know carries comic book issues. They don’t have them all, mainly DC and Marvel, but enough to where I can sit and read an issue somewhat quickly, and know what is going on. It’s not pretty, but beggers can’t be choosers.

RULE #4- THE BUDDY SYSTEM

When I was younger, my brother and I lived under one roof, and we both collected comic books. We would read each other’s comics and years later, whenever we text or got together, he would fill me in on Spider-man and Hulk while I filled him in on X-Men and Superman.

Now my brother and I live thousands of miles away and I want him to move to Austin so we can go back to the buddy system. He would collect certain books, and so would I, and the ones we both enjoyed we would swap. So if we both bought 12 comic books a month that’s really 24 comic books that we get to read a month. If only I could find someone in Austin I could trust, but like swimming, you have to be able to trust you buddy with you comic books, and your life.

RULE #5- KNOW WHEN TO LET GO OF A TITLE

The hardest part of being comic book collector in today’s world is staying faithful to a title. X-Men has been the one title that I’ve collected longer than any other. The most recent storyline of X-Men I bought the first two issues of and then dropped it because I wasn’t going to spend $3 a month for another four months on a story I didn’t like. I’ve dropped and picked up a lot of comic in my life. There are a dozen X-Men titles, but I’ve narrowed it down to two or three that I stick with. A person has to utilize the first four rules in order to make sure they’re not wasting their money.

I like Superman, but I hate the way the New 52 has gone with him. So I grabbed the first issues of Superman and Action Comics and haven’t bought another in months. Maybe one day I’ll pick it back up again, but until then my money should be spent on what I enjoy reading, not what I buy just out of habit.

I often think about going to my Emergency Comic Plan. It’s something I thought of just in case I had to stop collecting comics for economic purposes. I would no longer go to the comic book store, but instead wait for a graphic novel to come to the library, or I might skim through it at the bookstore. If I like it I would buy it. In this case I might only buy one graphic novel a month, which is about $20. But then I would be giving up the best part about collecting comics; the comic book store.

I like going to comic book store each week not only because I’m excited to read the next issue of Aquaman, but to see what else is happening in comics. I get to see what’s hot and what new t-shirts and action figures are being made. I get to talk about comics with other people, and maybe find out about a local convention or celebrity that may be coming to town. It’s the comic book culture that keeps me wanting to collect issues every week as opposed to just going to graphic novels. It’s one of the few things in this world I can say I truly love, but if I ever have to give it up there are ways to keep the love alive. One of the best pieces of advice I feel like I ever got was from Q in a James Bond movie, “always have an escape plan.” Which I took as “always have a plan B, for everything.”

Comic To Read This Week: X-Men: Second Coming #2

It's been a few weeks since I posted a "Comic To Read This Week." Several that I recommend would be Marvel's Shadowland #1, Batman Beyond #1, and even Hulk #23. All of these have some great stories and look to set-up some great things ahead, and that's what I want to tell you about; what's ahead. X-Men #1 came out last week, but the two issues fans should read before hand came out this week. Luckily I was able to fight the urge to take a peak into how Second Coming ended, but after reading the final chapter in this saga I realized it had already ended last week. X-Men: Second Coming #2 is not about what happened to the mutants, but what is ahead for them.

Chapter 13 saw Cable torn to pieces by keeping a gate from the future open and allowing X-Force to come home. After watching the man who raised her die before he eyes Hope turned on her mutant abilities for the first time, or rather everyone else's abilities. Hope showed the powers of several mutants and used them to destroy Bastion.

X-Men Second Coming #2 is broken into four parts, with five different writers, and four artists. The first part deals with the aftermath of the battle. We see the casualties, the broken limbs, and Magneto giving Hope word of encouragement. In part two we attend Cable's funeral, which to me wasn't nearly as touching as Nightcrawler's.

But what would an X-Men comic be without highlighting Wolverine? The third act explores Logan's emotions and issues with those closest to him. Storm looks down on Logan for his involvement in X-Force, and when Cyclops disbands the team Logan agrees it is what's best for his surrogate daughter and clone, Laura. What these three don't know is that Logan plans on continuing X-Force’s work, and you'll never guess who is on his roster. If you want to know you got to pick up the issue.

The last installment of this issue may just be the juiciest of all as the X-Men gather by a bonfire to reflect the events of the last few days. Emma see's a twinkle in Hope's eyes, but that twinkle comes with some fire in the form of a phoenix in Hope's hand. Hope looks at Emma and says two sentences in a different voice, "Well then, little spirit. Prepare."

Emma runs to tell Scott what she has just seen, but Scott is too busy looking at something else; five new mutant signature lights that Cerebro has located. Looks like mutants may not be done for after all.

The first two parts were kind of snore fests but the last two parts more than made up for it. Wolverine making his own secret team, Hope may be able to be possessed by the Phoenix force, and five new mutants have just been born. As an X-Men fan this issue gave me goose bumps.

Uncanny X-Men: The Heroic Age also came out this week and is really the next issue to read after Second Coming #2. Steve Rogers finds Cyclops in The Savage Land and ask him to bring the X-Men back into the spotlight as world heroes. He even gets the president to award Scott a medal for all he has done for humanity. Meanwhile Hope decides to begin her journey to find out who her biological parents were.

These issues are peaks into what is to come for the X-Men, and I hope what is to come next helps bring the X-Men not only back into the spotlight as heroes, but as major contenders in the Marvel Universe. With new mutants finally being born, but also what seems like new troubles ahead, the future for the X-Men seems bright; time to go searching for those five lights.

My Top 12 X-Men Storylines

I have always been an X-Men fan. I was there when the Fox Saturday morning cartoon brought out the best in the X-Men, and when The WB's cartoon put Marvel's mighty mutants in one giant episode of 90210. Bryan Singer's X-Men films were close to perfection, while after watching Brett Ratner's film I wanted to vomit more than when I drank an entire bottle of vodka.

I've been with the X-Men through all their struggles and my own. They are a group of superheroes that is sworn to protect a world that fears and hates them. On July 8 the first X-Men #1 in almost 20 years is being published, while other Marvel heroes like Iron Man or the Fantastic Four have had about eight #1's in that time. The X-Men have endured a lot in their 47 years of publishing, and with Second Coming about to end (the last part will go on sale a week after X-Men #1 comes out, damn publishing delays) I look back at some of my favorite X-Men storylines that keep me loving the students from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

12) The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix #1-4)

Writer: Scott Lobdell

Artist: Gene Ha

In the storyline Inferno Cyclop's baby son, Nathan, had been infected with the techno virus with no hope of a cure. Then a woman from the future offers to take Nathan into the future to save his life. In doing so she later brought Scott and Jean to the future in order to raise Nathan and help him suppress the virus that was slowly killing him. During their years in the future Scott and Jean went under the alias's Slym and Red Dayspring and tried to raise Nathan while leading the resistance against Apocalypse.

Sometime after Scott and Jean returned to the present a man named Cable came from the future to stop Apocalypse from ruling his future. This man was using his telekinetic abilities to stop the techno virus from killing him. His real name is Nathan Summers.

11) Angels and Demons (X-Force #1-6)

Writers: Craig Kyle & Chris Yost

Artist: Clayton Crain

At long last Wolverine is leading his own team! Cyclops has put together the X-Men’s best hunters and trackers to take down their enemies before they strike first. While on their first mission to take out a Purifier base Wolfbane is captured and brainwashed. Once returning to base she attacks Warren and brings back Archangel, which is good because the Purifers just found a way to make their own army of archangels.  This series is unlike any X-Men series before it. It’s hard hitting, gritty, and has lot of violence. Bring on the bad guys!

10) The Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire (Uncanny X-Men #475-486)

Writer: Ed Brubaker

Artists: Billy Tan and Clayton Henry

Finally, after years of rumors, the third Summers brother had been found in Deadly Genesis, and he was pissed. Vulcan had been a slave to the Shi'ar Empire his entire childhood, and when he returned to Earth to find Charles Xavier and his brother Cyclops his happiness was short lived with the supposed death of himself and his team mates. Vulcan was hidden for years, plotting his revenge on Xavier and the X-Men and he finally got it, revealing that Xavier blocked Vulcan from Scott's mind to save him the pain of losing his brother.

Now that Vulcan had gotten justice with Xavier he journeyed to space take down the beings who tore him from his mother’s womb, killed her, and then enslaved him for years; the Shi'ar. When Xavier, Nightcrawler, Marvel Girl, Havok, and Polaris find the Shi'ar Empire Vulcan had already established himself ruler, and by trying to kill Xavier in the M'kraan crystal Vulcan accidentally brought back Charles powers that had been missing since M-Day. Vulcan also ended up killing his own father, Corsair, and spent the next few years in space trying to rule it all. Havok stayed in space to try and defeat his younger brother by leading the resistance. Star Wars indeed.

9) Messiah Complex (January 2007-March 2008)

Only 198 mutants survived after the events of M-day. And the ones that still had their abilities could only wait for their own extinction. But in Alaska the first mutant birth in two years had arrived and everybody was after it. Mr. Sinister wanted to study it, Purifiers wanted to sacrifice it, the X-Men wanted to protect it, while Bishop feared this child would be the true end to mutant kind and wished to kill it. This event saw the formation of a new X-Force team, and saw Cyclops for the first time step up to lead his dying species. It's the first story in an epic trilogy that is followed by Messiah War and Second Coming.

8) Unstoppable (Astonishing X-Men #19-24, Giant Size Astonishing X-Men #1)

Writer: Joss Whedon

Artist: John Cassaday

Throughout Whedon’s take on X-Men he gave the fans the gifts of Colossus and Kitty doing it for the first time, Cyclops wiping out a sentinel on the front lawn, and even Wolverine drinking lots of beer. In his final storyline Whedon took the characters off world to see if the prophecy about Colossus being the destroyer of Breakworld is true. But the bad guys didn’t want to take the chance by building a giant bullet and sent it straight for Earth. In an act of heroism Kitty ends up sacrificing herself to save the planet. This is classic Whedon writing and I loved how each part of his X-Men tale kept getting bigger and bigger.

7) The Age of Apocalypse (1995-96)

What would the world be like if Charles Xavier never formed the X-Men? That simple question sparked a summer of excitement for every X-Men fan. Charles's son went to the past to kill Magneto so that his father's dream would prevail, but in doing so killed his own father. The present was re-written to a world where Apocalypse ruled and Magneto led the X-Men against the evil oppressor, and in honor of his old friend.

This alternate reality had some great joy treats, such as Wolverine and Jean as a couple, Nathan Summers without the techno virus and fulfilling his destiny of destroying Apocalypse, and Rogue married to Magneto; and they have a son named Charles. Some characters like Blink and Holocaust were so great the even carried them over to the regular Marvel U. This is a must read for any X-Men fan.

6) End of the Greys (Uncanny X-Men #466-471)

Writer: Chris Claremont

Artist: Chris Bachalo

Rachel Summers came from the future to stop her world from ever existing, and when she arrived she found something she never had; a family. But unfortunately for her she is her mother's daughter and in her DNA, along with all of Jean Grey's relatives, is the ability for the Phoenix to come alive in them. So during a Grey family get together to welcome Rachel the Shi'ar sent their death squad to kill everyone who shared a chromosome with Jean.

The Grey family deaths were narrated with Rachel telling a little about each family member as we see them die; one of the most tragic and well done scenes in comics I've ever read. The end of the storyline is the X-Men trying to save Rachel from herself as she tried to lure every Shi'ar assassin to her that killed the only family she ever had.

5) Operation: Zero Tolerance (Summer 1997)

After Onslaught Bastion had enough evidence he needed to start his mission to kill every mutant on Earth. He captured Cyclops, Jean, Storm and Wolverine, tortured them, and then put a bomb in Cyclop's stomach. Meanwhile Iceman has the distinct pleasure or putting together team of X-Men newbie’s to try and take down Bastion and his whole operation.

He is accompanied by a reluctant doctor, a bitter Morlock, and an Israel spy. Bobby Drake has always been the funny guy of the X-Men, but in this storyline he has to step up and be the leader because the fate of mutants everywhere is resting on his shoulders. "Maybe you should go back to school Bobby."

4) E for Extinction (New X-Men #114-116)

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artist: Frank Quitely

Grant Morrison is known for his complex and sometimes over saturated writing style; at least he is to me. But after X-Men hit it big at the box office Marvel trusted him to take the X-Men comic series and make it his own. The result was the death of Jean Grey, again, but at the start of his run we were introduced to Xavier's evil twin sister who is looking to kill a lot of mutants. And she succeeds with the death of millions of mutants on Genosha, and the White Queen being the only survivor.

Morrison also simplified his team with core characters; put the X-Men in cool outfits, and showed Scott and Jean's marriage on the rocks. I'm not a huge fan of Quitely's art, but Morrison's plot more than held my attention. To this day I still want one of those black and yellow leather jackets.

3) House of M (House of M #1-8)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Olivier Coipel

This story involves more than just the X-Men, but at the end of this mini-series the X-Men have never been the same. Magneto's daughter, the Scarlet Witch, is going crazy, and has killed several members of the Avengers. Now Charles Xavier has lost hope for salvation and brings the two teams together to contemplate Wanda's possible death.

Before they can reach an agreement though the Scarlet Witch changes reality to give every hero the perfect happiness they desire. But Wolverine is on to this and has to find the rest of the Marvel heroes to put the world back the way it was. But when they accomplish their goal Wanda disappears, and so do the abilities of almost every mutant on the planet. Only 198 mutants retain their powers, and mutants go from the next stage in human evolution to an endangered species.

2) Gifted (Astonishing X-Men #1-6)

Writer: Joss Whedon

Artist: John Cassaday

For years Grant Morrison turned the X-Men on its side with lots of drama and depressing moments. But who better to bring the fun back in X-Men than Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator, Joss Whedon's. Whedon brought Kitty Pryde back into the mix and had Scott and Logan duking out on the front lawn in front of the students. The team held meetings in a nursery and the Hawaiian Islands. The dialogue alone was classic Whedon making these characters quirky and fun, despite the events around them.

An alien from another world has helped develop a cure for mutant kind, and he did it by bringing Colossus back from the dead. Now the Russian mutant has come back to his first love, Kitty, and the X-Men. This is a great starts to a great run. I swear, anything Joss Whedon does is just awesome. Except, Dollhouse; I mean what was that?

1) The Dark Phoniex Saga (X-Men #129-138)

Writer: Chris Claremont

Artist: John Bryne

Obviously the most famous X-Men storyline, and by far the best in almost everyone's eyes. Jean Grey first came to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in the very first issue of X-Men and over the years she grew not only as a hero and young woman, but in her relationship with Scott Summers as well.

After saving the M'Kraan crystal and the Shi'ar Empire the Phoenix still resides within Jean. The Hellfire Club tried manipulating her into being their puppet, and in doing so unleashed The Dark Phoenix; who travels to a far off galaxy and destroys and entire solar system. The Shi'ar have no choice but to fight the X-Men for the life of Jean Grey. After the loss Jean sacrifices herself in hopes of never harming another being ever again. Scott and Jean's relationship make Romeo and Juliet look like a Disney fairy tale.

My Top 12 Saddest Moments in Comic Book History

Every Wednesday I go into my local comic book store to pick up the newest issues that our dear publishers have put out. Most weeks it is the highlight of my day. I get excited to see what adventures or troubles my favorite heroes are getting into. Sometime though, I get something I didn’t expect; a death in the family. The best comic deaths have a great impact on a book and the characters, and other times it’s a character I love dying heroically that makes me lose it. All of these may not be deaths, but after reading comic books for over 20 years these are my top 12 saddest moments in comic book history.

12) Ralph Dibny Finds Sue’s Body: Identity Crisis #1

Sure the cute couple sometimes make you sick with how great they are together, but secretly you wish it was you. And behind every great hero there is a great spouse, and none was better than Sue Dibny and her support for her husband, Elongated Man. But in the first issue of Brad Meltzer’s masterpiece Ralph finds his wife burnt to death after Jean Loring (The Atom’s wife) tried to merely knock Sue out to create a crisis and get her husband to come back to her. But the worst part of it all; at the time of her death Sue was pregnant. Unfortunely this wouldn’t be the only death before Identity Crisis was over.

11) The Death of Harry Osborn: The Spectacular Spider-Man #200

Every hero has tragedy in their background, but Peter Parker has more than most. His best friend’s dad, Norman Osborn, has been making Peter’s life miserable to quite some time, and after he was thought dead Harry took up the role of The Green Goblin, vowing revenge against his best friend for his father’s death. One night Harry invited all of his father’s enemies to a party in hopes of blowing up the building with them in it. Spider-Man comes in to save the day, but soon he is the one that need rescuing, and at the last second his saved by Harry. Moments after the miraculous save, Harry collapse and dies due to the Green Goblin serum in his blood. But with his last words he lets Peter know that he is, and will always be, his best friend.

10) Superboy Dies: Infinite Crisis #6

After The Death of Superman in 1992 four heroes arouse from the ashes claiming to be Superman except for one. Kon-El was a clone of Superman and Lex Luthor, and by far my favorite in The Reign of Supermen. After the true man of steel returned Superboy went on to have his own adventures in Hawaii, eventually joining the Teen Titans along with his girlfriend, Wonder Girl, and best friends Robin and Impulse.

In 2006’s Infinite Crisis Superboy faced off against a Superboy from another dimension looking to destroy Earth. Kon-El sacrificed himself to stop Superboy Prime and save Earth. This was a pivotal moment in Infinite Crisis as all the heroes decided that Superboy’s sacrifice would not be in vain, and that they must save Earth.

Years later Superboy was resurrected in the miniseries, Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds to take down Superboy Prime once again. After the victory Conner Kent returned to the present to his friends and a new life, but I will never forget the image of the heroes surrounding Superboy’s dead body.

9) Gwen Stacy Dies: The Amazing Spider-Man #121

Peter Parker has had a slew of women after him over the years, but before Mary Jane the love of his life was Gwen Stacy. Some fans say Gwen is Spider-Man’s true love, and after a bumpy relationship they were close to being married. But Norman Osborn had other plans. In a roof top scene, similar to the one in the first Spider-Man movie, The Green Goblin captures Gwen Stacy and throws her off the George Washington Bridge. Spider-Man shoots a web to save her, but the whiplash effect accidentally snaps her neck and kills her.

This was huge moment in comics, and in Spider-Man’s life. Peter has never forgiven himself for this error in judgement, and even though he ended up marrying Mary Jane he will never forget Gwen Stacy, his first love.

8) Artist Michael Turner Dies of Cancer: June 27, 2008

As a comic book fan I have my favorite writers & artist and Michael Turner was my favorite artist of years. He started out on comics like Witchblade and Soulfire; then eventually moving on to draw some of his childhood heroes like Batman, Superman, The Avengers, and Spider-Man.

At the Chicago Comic-Con in 2008 I arrived to find out my favorite artist had died the night before of bone cancer. In August 2008 a memorial issue of Fathom was done in Turner’s honor. To this day Turner’s death is felt in the comic book world, and will always be remembered.

7) Tony Stark’s Confession: Civil War: The Confession

Civil War was a four issue miniseries that rocked the Marvel Universe in 2006, putting hero against hero for the Superhero Registration Act. Captain America led the rebellion while Iron Man was for the act. The ending result was the death of Captain America. In this single issue Tony breaks down about the events that led to his best friend’s death and how he feels responsible.

Some of my favorite comic book issues are ones that don’t have a lot of action, but plenty of good dialogue. This issue lets you into the psyche of Tony Stark and how he felt about being pinned as the bad guy during Civil War. This issue will touch you right down to the center of your iron heart.

6) Peter Parker Gives up Mary Jane for Aunt May’s Life: The Amazing Spider-Man #545

Peter has done some stupid things over the years, but this to me seems like his biggest mistake yet. After revealing his identity to the world in Civil War everyone begins hunting him, and when they find him they’re out for blood; which they get. Unfortunately it’s Aunt May’s body that catches the bullet. Peter spends four issues trying to save the women who raised him in One More Day. He goes to Iron Man, Doctor Strange, even Doctor Doom to try and save May. But when all hope seemed lost the demon Mephisto makes a deal with Peter. He will save Aunt May;s life in exchange for his and Mary Jane’s marriage. After hours of talking and a sneak peak at the daughter they’ll never have, they agree to the terms and Mephisto erases any memories Peter and Mary Jane have of each other, bringing about the storyline known as Brand New Day.

Why Peter would sacrifice his young wife for his old aunt is beyond me. May lived a long life, I think she’d understand. In any event, this brought back to life Harry Osborn and erased 20 years of Spider-Man history. Some fans liked it, others thought it spat on every person who worked on Spider-Man in the last 20 years. I agree with the spatters.

5) Kitty Pryde’s Sacrifice: Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1

When you look back and read Joss Whedon ‘s entire run of Astonishing X-Men you realize it was all about Kitty Pryde. Kitty returns in the first issue to teach at the Xavier’s Institute. Through twenty-four issues Kitty is reunited with her love, Colossus, is the only X-men to escape when the Hellfire Club invades the mansion, and is the only person who can save the world when a giant bullet is heading towards Earth.

The rulers of Breakworld are hoping that in destroying Earth they’ll save their own planet, so they launch a bullet that Kitty Pryde hitches a ride on. Using all of her power and strength, she phases the massive bullet all the way through the planet, but can’t escape it as it continues through space in hopes of saving other planets as well.

This is a huge sacrifice and heroic act by a character most people look over when the tough gets going. Recently in X-Men, Magneto over used his powers to bring the bullet back to Earth and returning Kitty Pryde home. It is still unclear what the long-term affects of this will be, but at least the X-Men have their little Shadowcat back.

4) Jean Grey's 1st Death: Uncanny X-Men #137

In 1963 X-Men #1 was published and we were introduced to a little red-headed girl who was scared to find out she was a mutant in a world that hated her just for being born. Through the years Jean grew into a young women, and found love with Scott Summers, otherwise known in Cyclops. But in a return mission from space Jean could have never dreamed what her sacrifice would mean to the rest of her life and the X-Men. Jean arose from the Hudson River as the Phoenix and slowly became more unstable as time went on. Soon she become The Dark Phoenix and destroyed an entire solar system using her awesome powers. In a final act to save her soul and galaxy Jean killed herself in front of her friends and man she loves. “She could have lived as a god, but she chose to die a human.”

In 1986 Jean returned to the Marvel U. after the Fantastic Four discovered an egg at the bottom of the Hudson. It turns out the phoenix force had replicated Jean’s DNA and placed Jean in a safe cacoon at the bottom of the river. Jean returned to the X-Men to find Scott married to her clone, but eventually the two got back together.  They married only to part years later; first in Cyclop's supposed death, and then Jean’s death at the hands of Magneto. “Live Scott. Live. All I ever did was die on you.”

3)Superman’s Funeral: Superman: The Man of Steel #20

The man of tomorrow fell defending his city from Doomsday in Superman #75, and when it came time for the funeral everyone cried, including me. In this issue we see the worlds heroes, and his best friends, carrying the man of steel to his memorial. Batman and Robin aren’t in the crowd, nor are Clark Kent’s parents, Jonathan and Martha. To me this issue hit several emotional cord; as picturing my friends carrying my coffin, and also the tragedy of the Kent’s not going to their own son’s funeral for fear of exposing his identity. But of course Superman returns to reclaim his spot as Earth’s greatest hero. He wasn’t dead, just taking a little nap.

2) Betty Banner Dies: The Incredible Hulk # 466

For years Bruce Banner was on the run for his alter-ego, and although he was perceived as a monster there was one woman who always loved him no matter what everyone else thought. Betty and Bruce were living on a military base, General Ross had quit hunting the Hulk, and Bruce was on the verge of curing himself when tragedy struck.

The Hulk’s long time rival, the Abomination, used the Hulk’s blood against Betty making it look like her exposure to the Hulk all these years gave her gamma poisoning. Bruce’s last effort to save his wife failed and General Ross put her body in cyrogenitc freezing in hopes of reviving her one day.

This event tore Bruce up and was again on the run from General Ross. After many adventures, one that took him into space, the Hulk now has Betty back, he just doesn’t know it yet. Good job Mr. Joeb!

1)Jack Drake Dies: Identity Crisis #4

Every time I read this scene I tear up. This is the beginning of a very long year for Time Drake.  Tim has revealed to his dad that he is Batman’s sideckick, Robin. His fathe Jack accepts it, but fears for his son’s life after the death of Sue Dibny. As Tim goes out on patrol an intruder enters the Drake home and Jack is left to defend himself, making one last phone call to his son.

Jack tells Batman to look after his son, Batman steps on the Batmobile’s peddle, refusing to let another boy’s childhood end, and Tim cries out to his dad in tears. The end of the issue is a great full page spread that will leave you weaping like a baby. I guarantee it.

Comic To Read This Week: Superman/Batman Annual #4

Due to the holiday weekend this week’s comics came a day late, and even though these occasions mess with a fans schedule it’s easy to avoid if you’re a veteran collector and know it’s coming. This week I was excited to get to my local comic shop because one of my favorite childhood characters has risen from the dead, and I'm not talking about one of the Brightest Day twelve. Terry McGuiness has returned as Batman! From 1999-2001 the cartoon, Batman Beyond, starred a teenage Terry McGuiness as the Batman of the future with cooler gadgets than the original Batman and sarcastic puns that would make Spider-Man jealous. Mentored by an elderly Bruce Wayne, Terry took on the bad guys of Gotham’s future, and now he is getting his own 6 issue mini-series this year.

Superman/Batman Annual #4 helps re-introduce fans who may have forgotten about Terry, or perhaps need a fresh recap of what his Batman style is like. Drugs are being smuggled into Gotham that have traces of kryptonite in them, which leads Batman to Metropolis to find the man of steel, to and see what’s going on. Metropolis now looks a lot like Gotham; it’s run over with crime and Luthor is serving a lifetime term as mayor. Turns out Lex has been passing out this drug so that Superman can’t get close enough to the criminals to catch them, and he’s about to implement his final attack to get rid of Superman for good. It’s up to Terry to try and help the man of tomorrow re-claim his city from Luthor’s evil paws.

I like futuristic stories, especially dystopian ones. We find Superman without his city, and without Lois, who died years ago. He’s more brooding character now, like Bruce used to be, and it’s different to see him not so hopeful. Seeing characters shaken to their core is always nice for fans, because rarely do you see any actual change from the status quo. This stories takes place after the Batman Beyond series because they reference villains and storylines that were in the old cartoon.

Paul Levitz is best known for his writing on The Legion of Superheroes, which he just took up writing again. I think Levitz has a great sense for writing young heroes, which is why I hope he’ll do well writing the Batman Beyond mini-series as well. When I was reading this issue I could hear Will Friedle(Boy Meets World) talking as Terry once again. Renato Guedes’s art helps show the maturity of not only Terry, but also in the future. Everything just seems old, like it’s been there a while. This could seem odd considering it’s the future, but it’s a broken future, and it’s up to Batman and Superman to fix it.

To me this issue is about Superman accepting Terry as the new Batman, and knowing he’s the right guy for the job. I look forward in a few weeks to see what Levitz has in store for the young dark knight. If we’re all lucky his little mini-series could be Batman Beyond being reborn.

The Star Wars Legacy Ends

It was the kind of day that makes me happy.  I went out to breakfast, came back home, put on my sweat pants, and watched the Star Wars trilogy on my LCD television.  Like any purest, I only watch the original versions and not the special editions that have tainted “The Trilogy.”  Having watched all three films about a billion times I can’t help but mimic each line while I cruise the web for Star Wars products, downloads, and etc.  What I came across was news that the only Star Wars comic book I deem worthy of spending money on is targeted for Order 66. 

Star Wars: Legacy was released in 2006, and is set 125 years after Return of the Jedi.  After The Yuuzhan Vong War, the New Republic that Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia helped build has become an Empire.  Civil war was upon the galaxy once again and the Jedi Order had to choose a side.  Unfortunately the Sith re-appeared siding with the Empire first.  The rule of two was longer in play so the Sith has become a small army.  Together with the Empire they all but destroyed the Jedi.  Kol Skywalker, Luke’s descendent, sacrificed his life to save his son, Cade.  As Cade escaped his ship was hit and was thought dead. 

Years later the galaxy finds out Cade was picked up by bounty hunters, raised to be one of them, and tried to forget he was ever a Jedi.  Now everyone is after the heir to the Skywalker legacy.  The Jedi hope he can save them, the Sith wish to bring him to the dark side, and the Empire wants to use him against the Sith.  But all Cade want to do is be left alone.  Ever since this series started Cade has been trying to escape his destiny.  Now, in the final issue, #50, Cade is tired of running and hopes to be the one man that can destroy the Sith for good.

 I was shocked to hear this series was ending.  Star Wars: Legacy is Dark Horse Comics best selling title behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Why is it being cancelled?  I hit the web to see if I could figure out why the best Star Wars series ever was joining with the Force, but I couldn’t find anything conclusive.  Series creator, John Ostrander, said that the comic looks like it’s ending, “from a certain point of view.”  Could this mean the series will continue under a new name?  Dark Horse editor Randy Stradley used the company’s website messaging board to assure Legacy fans that their loyalty will be rewarded.  Will there be further adventures with Cade Skywalker, or further adventures into a future past ROTJ? 

In February another Star Wars comic book, Knight of the Old Republic was cancelled.  I don’t know what is going to happen to Star Wars comics now since the only remaining titles (Dark Times, Invasion, and The Clone Wars) are in my professional opinion, crap.  Not one of them has the complexity of characters and storytelling Legacy has. It’s hard to find a good Star Wars book, let alone comic series. 

When the series does end in July I hope it goes out with an ending worthy of Ewok guest appearances.  In four years Cade has hallucinated his ancestors while being hooked on death sticks, tried to fool the Sith by pretending to succumb to the dark side, and gotten his childhood sweetheart turned into the next General Grievous.  As I look back at the series it reads very much like an epic Star Wars trilogy, but can it finish strong with the Force?

In the first part, issues #1-19, the galaxy finds out that Cade is alive and working as a bounty hunter.  He owns a ship called the Mynock and his friends, Jariah and Deliah, have no idea he was ever a Jedi.  But when everyone comes looking for him Cade finds himself in the Sith’s clutches as Darth Krayt needs Cade’s powers to heal himself.  Along the way we meet Cade’s mom, who is a double-faced assassin, and see Cade try to take down the Sith from the inside; but not before getting some nookie from a red-skinned dark lord.  Eat your heart out Han Solo.

The saga continues in issues #20-35 as Cade has escaped the Sith and is looking to rally the remaining Jedi to take down their enemies.  Jariah finds himself face-to-face with the Jedi that killed his father, and Deliah finds herself jealous after Cade hooks up with his old friend, Azlyn.  When the ending battle goes wrong Azlyn is on the brink of death and wishes to join the Force, but Cade won’t let her.  This decision turns her into a half woman-half droid walking disaster. 

The trilogy ends with issues #37-50.  Cade has retreated to Tatooine for solitude, but ends up finding his mother and half sister looking to set him straight.  Cade must clean up a mess his father left before going to kick some Sith ass!  I’m anxious to see how these episodes turn out.  

Needless to say I’ve enjoyed watching this Skywalker make a mess of his life, as opposed to Anakin and Luke’s whining.  Two Star Wars comics are now cancelled with only a few to face off against the imperial walkers of time.  Whatever the future holds for Star Wars comics Legacy will be a treasure for fans as long as Star Wars last.

Free Comic Book Day Brings the War of the Supermen

Three years ago Superman director, Richard Donner, and DC Comics messiah, Geoff Johns, released a Superman story called “Last Son.”  It involved a Kryptonian boy coming mysteriously to Earth.  Lois & Clark adopted the boy and gave him the name Chris.  Soon they find out he is the son of General Zod and Ursa, and Zod has come out of the Phantom Zone to reclaim him and destroy the Man of Steel.  Johns continued his crusade into Superman with “New Krypton,” in which Superman rescues the bottled city of Kandor from Brainiac, and it opens right next to the Fortress of Solitude.  This sets free Zod, Ursa, Supergirl’s parents, and 100,000 Kryptonians. 

Ever since then the Superman world has been on full speed leading to the beginning of “The War of the Supermen” which starts on May 1, a.k.a, FREE COMIC BOOK DAY.  Each year comic book stores around the U.S. shine their windows and sweep under the rug in hopes of luring in new customers with FREE COMIC BOOKS.  The comic companies usually donate to the retailers some big comic event to give out for free on this day.  Marvel has got some Iron Man comics they're supplying stores with and this year DC has its War of the Supermen #0.  In this issue Lois Lane will recap what’s been going on in Superman comics for the last two or three years, so that new readers can jump right into War of the Supermen #1 the following Wednesday.  This is also being called the100-Minute-War because with 100,000 beings that can move faster than a speeding bullet it can’t possibly last too long.

Now for your pleasure I’m going to give a little break down on some of the key players in the Superman world, and who may play a role in the War of the Supermen.  Hopefully this will also entice you to find your nearest comic book store on Saturday and pick up A FREE SUPERMAN COMIC!!!

Superman:  Clark Kent; the Man of Steel; the Man of Tomorrow; Earth’s Greatest Hero; and no longer the Last Son of Krypton.  Now there are 100,000 Kryptonians all with his abilities currently residing on the other side of the sun, on a place called New Krypton.  Kal-El has spent the last year off of Earth trying to learn more about his people and why they love the villainous Zod so much.  After helping train the New Krypton military to use their new powers he also helped to defend New Krypton when Brainiac returned to re-capture the Kryptonians.  Clark is right in the middle of a 100-Minute-War as Zod makes his move to attack Earth.  Can the Man of Steel save Earth from 100,000 supermen?

General Zod:  New Krypton general; and now the savoir of his people.  All the Kryptonians saw him take down Brainiac without using any super powers and they love him for it.  With Ursa and Non at is side, Zod looks towards his next mission; having all of planet Earth kneel before Zod. 

General Lane:  Lois Lane’s father; military general; the guy who has been pulling the strings in secret for the last few years by trying to turn all humans against Kryptonians.  General Lane was assumed dead in “Our Worlds at War” but he has teamed up with Lex Luthor to try and take out the Kryptonians before they attack first.  He’s got Luthor to help him scheme, along with super villains Metallo and Reactron as muscle.  Don’t assume 100,000 supermen can take over the planet so easily.  Lane’s also got all of Earth’s super heroes to help him out.

Supergirl:  daughter of Alura; cousin of Kal-El.  She is child of two worlds.  She was raised on Krypton, but has come to call Earth her home.  When her family and friends of Kandor returned she was torn between her old life and her new duties.  With her father dead at the hands of Reactron Kara must choose between sticking with her mother, who is the last living member of the New Krypton council, or helping her cousin defend Earth from her people.

Nightwing & Flamebird: Chris Kent & Thara Ak-Var; Mythological heroes from Krypton legend come to life.  At the end of “Last Son” Chris Kent was pulled back into the Phantom Zone where he was born.  There he aged unnaturally fast and was rescued from the Phantom Zone by a young woman claiming to be possessed by the Kryptonian religious figure, Flamebird.  Since then they have been hunting Kryptonian fugitives on Earth while General Lane hunts them.  They have teamed up with Thara’s childhood best friend, Supergirl, to try and take down Reactron.  Recently they encounter a being claiming to be Rao, The god of Krypton, and had to embrace the full power of Nightwing and Flamebird to stop it. 

Superboy:  Kon-El; Connor Kent; the Boy of Steel.  He’s got half the DNA of Superman, and half the DNA of Lex Luthor, and he’s recently come back from dead to find everything different.  To the Kryptonians he’s an abomination, but he swears to help uphold the values Superman has set for him.  Superboy is the third part of the super-trio, along with Superman and Supergirl; one that I hope to see throw down with Zod, Ursa, and Non in the 100-Minute-War.

Lex Luthor:  He’s the ultimate Superman villain who has dedicated his life to bringing down The Man of Steel.  He’s broken a deal with General Lane to help take down the Kryptonians in exchange for a presidential pardon on every bad thing he’s ever done, and that’s just the first part of their plan.  Toy Man designed Lex a robot look-a-like that set one of Brainiac’s bottled cities free, hoping it destroyed New Krypton as it enlarged.  He was last seen standing over Rao’s body with a smile on his face.  That’s never a good sign.

I didn’t find “Last Stand of New Krypton” to exciting.  I think a lot of it had to do with all the characters in it, but at I think it ended well enough to be a great lead into “War of the Supermen”.  Now the final chapter of this epic Superman saga is about to conclude; one where we’ll see the fate of Superman and the rest of Kryptonians.  In May none of the regular Superman titles will be released, and instead you will get one part of the War of the Supermen each week.  So head towards your nearest comic book store for some FREE COMIC BOOKS, pick up a graphic novel while you’re there, and enjoy the 100-Minute-War.

Comic To Read This Week: X-Force #26

If you haven’t picked up an issue of Craig Kyle and Chris Yost’s X-Force then you’ve been missing the best X-Men title since Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men run.  Cyclops has assembled a secret team of the X-Men’s best hunters and killers to take out their enemies before they strike first.  None of the other X-Men knows about this team, and since they started X-Force has slaughtered anti-mutant groups, gone to the future to try and help Cable and Hope, and also brought back the Archangel in Warren Worthington III. 

Now Cable has returned to the present with Hope, the only mutant born since M-Day.  She left a baby and has returned a teenager with great survival skills.  No one knows what Hope’s return means to mutant kind, but Cyclops think she’s their last chance to survive.  Bastion, a super-sentinel from the future knows where to find Cable and has sent his forces out to seal the fate of mutants forever.  While trying to retrieve Cable and Hope, X-23 sticks a claw right through a man’s head, and makes the other X-Men start ask questions as to what her and Wolverine have been up too lately.

Issue #26 is chapter 5 in the “Second Coming” story line.  Nightcrawler and Rogue have teleported Hope out of harms way and trying to return to their mutant sanctuary just off of San Francisco.  The other X-Men are trying to lead Bastion off their trail, but he finds Hope and swoops in for the kill like a terminator on steroids.  Bastion makes short work of Rogue and all her powers; then moves in to finish off Hope.  But Nightcrawler gets between them and makes one great jump back to Utopia that cost him his life.  The X-Men return home to find Hope kneeling over Kurt Wagner’s body. 

Although I’m sure Nightcrawler will return some day this is a heroic death for one of the best X-Men ever.  Kurt has always been the spiritual one of the X-Men, and tried to keep things lighthearted.  His last words to Hope were, “I..I believe in you.”  Now the X-Men will have to wonder if Kurt’s death was in vain. 

Hope doesn’t even know what she is supposed to do, but everyone is looking to her to solve their problem.  In the middle of the battle Bastion says to Hope, “We have seen what you become, what the world becomes because of you.”  Is he referring to the end of the world or a new beginning for mutants?  “Second Coming” so far has been anti-climatic, but now I’m drooling to see what comes next.

Kyle and Yost have made X-Force a must read for any X-Men fan.  Its dark edge is taking the X-Men over a line they thought they would never cross.  Mike Choi’s artwork in this issue adds to the story with some great page filled panels that include Wolverine leaping (and on fire), Bastion smashing into his meeting with Hope, and Hope crying over Nightcrawler’s body on Utopia’s shore.  

I’ve always enjoyed that the X-Men storylines usually have nothing to do with the rest of the Marvel Universe; so I don’t have to collect twelve comics to figure out what’s going on.  I can’t wait to see what happens to X-Force after “Second Coming.”  Serve me up another fastball special!

Comic To Read This Week: Buffy The Vampire Slayer #34

This weeks comic to read was a tough choice.  As I was on my way to the cbs (comic book store) I knew I had a lot of comics to pick up, but I didn’t know how good they were all going to be.  With Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton in full swing and X-Men: Second Coming just starting I was sure I was going to pick one of them.  However thanks to writer Brad Meltzer, this weeks comic to read is a comic that a year ago I had stopped reading.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was created by Joss Whedon, and has turned it into a campy 90’s film, an award-winning television series that spawned it’s own spin-off, and lots of comic books.  The current Buffy comic series is a continuation of where the TV series left off entitled, Season 8.  The comic started with Buffy and her army of slayers trying to rid the world of vampires and all things evil.  As the series continues the world has turned against them, old villains have resurfaced, and romances have come and gone.  Oh, and Buffy had a few lesbian experiences.  Nice eh?  All the while writers have tried to hold on to the mixture of drama, humor, and horror that made the TV series so great.   

Around issue #20 I realized that Buffy had become a comic I picked up out of habit and didn’t really enjoy reading, and I already collected enough comics for my wife to give me a hard time about.  A few months ago I heard rumors that Angel may be making an appearance in the comic series.  I found this odd since Angel has his own comic series, and although it is also executive produced by Joss Whedon, it is made by a completely different publishing house.

So last month I picked up Buffy and came to find out with the rest of its readers that the uber-villian Twilight, who has been giving Buffy so much trouble in the series, is none other than her former lover, and vampire with a soul, Angel.  He had been working is secret to try and limit the fall-out in the battle between the slayers and their nemesis’s.  After a little explanation as to why he was leading the forces against Buffy, and why Buffy has developed extraordinary superpowers, the two ended the issue with a kiss.

Now the last time the Buffy and Angel bumped uglies Angel lost his soul in a moment of true happiness, turned evil, and tortured Buffy until she had to stick a sword in him and send him to hell.  But doesn’t every relationship end in some form of that?  Issue #34 has Buffy and Angel all powered up and doing the nasty all over the world, literally.  They are doing it while they are float, crashing through mountains, flying at warp speed, and even when they are in earth’s stratosphere.  Meanwhile the rest of the scubbies are listening to Giles explain what is happening to Buffy and watching the destruction Buffy and Angel's fun time is having on the world.  All they can do is wait for them to stop.  As for me I’m still waiting for an explanation as to why Dawn and Xander are now a couple.  I mean for god sakes he used to babysit her!

As for Buffy and Angel, if this issue doesn’t win Wizard Magazine’s "Best Love Scene In A Comic Book" I’m just going to have to stop reading comics books all together.  I mean just think if David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar played out this scene?  That'd be pretty hot no matter what gender you prefer.  I think it’s just nice that these two characters can finally get back together and work out years of frustration.  I’m just curious as to why Angel hasn’t lost his soul, because that kinda lovin would drive any man insane.  

At the end of the issue more questions are raised about just what is going on with these two superheroes.  Rumors have also swirled that IDW, the company that publishes Angel, is pissed at Whedon because he didn't give them a heads up about this story line involving their current character.  For now though I’m just going to enjoy my time back in the Buffyverse (I didn’t make it up, I just know the lingo) because as we all know in this world, the happier a character is now the sadder they are going to be when it all goes down hill.