If You Can’t Say Something Nice…

…well, then write a blog entry, I suppose.

Quite frankly, I’m tired of reading new first issues. I long for the days of reading a good old issue twelve. Ahhhhh. But rather than make this a long entry about everything that is either boring me or annoying me, I’m just gonna give ya a few highlights of my favorite things I’m hating on and a few of the things I’m crushing on as well. And before anyone writes back, reminding me that superheroes are fictional and don’t have to follow the rules of the real world, I have the following to say to you: “Duh.” Now, here’s the list of things I’m hating:

1. Green Arrow’s bow. Through some advanced science, it springs forth from what looks like an old fashioned telephone receiver. Problem: how the #$@% does it string itself through all the pulleys in an instant?
2. Action Comics. Opens with Supes strapped to an electric chair. Throughout the first part of the book, Luthor and fellow meanies go on about how they can’t draw blood and that needles break, yada yada yada. Except, he’s bleeding in almost every friggin frame of the book! Want some blood, Lex? Try a cue tip.
3. Omac #2. Brother Eye. Super intelligent, sentient, machine-ish villain. And yet on the last page, he uses the word “insure” instead of “ensure.” I’d like to think that the writers were being witty using an “i” instead of an “e” for “insure,” but in my heart, I know that’s not the case.

And here are some things I’m digging:

1. Animal Man, still. Story is getting interesting while staying dark and macabre. And the art is cool. Check this out if you haven’t yet. I’m liking the integration of his daughter who seems to have more powerful…um…powers than Animal Man does himself. And the Red, being at the center of his connection with animals? Good story!
2. I, Vampire has some great, moody artwork, even if the back and forth of the narrative between present and past can be clunky at times. This feels like a real story that is being told and I’m liking it so far.
3. Finally, Aquaman. I have never liked Aquaman as a hero. He talks to fish, he swims, maybe he loses a hand and grows a beard and gets hair like Fabio. But he’s never been really all that interesting. Until now. DC has given him super strength (making him a bit more Namor-like) and a sense of humor about himself. The writers know that he hasn’t been that popular and it comes across through the characters’ dialogue as good natured self-ribbing. And the artwork is gorgeous, too! I can’t believe it, but I’m gonna buy this book for a bit and see where it goes.

So, there ya go. I think next week I will do something different than reviewing comics. I’m about half way through the Norwegian movie, “Troll.” Look for a review of that next week. ☺

Peace.