Friday – 24 July 2009
It’s my 9/80 Friday.
It’s not even 8:30.
So, why am I wide awake? (written when it was still “morning” in Utah.)

Oh, well.

Last night, SaraRules and I had dinner with OnlyAly, , Stephanie and Jason at MacCool’s, an Irish(-style) pub, in Foothill Village. I had been there once before, but not for dinner. I ordered the Finn’s Fries (think “nachos,” then take a left – it’s made with potatoes, rather than tortillas) for an appetizer. Holy cow… They were incredible. I had the Pub Steak for my entree. I was a bit more disappointed here: I asked for it “medium-well,” it came out “medium-rare,” or as might say: “They threatened it with the flame.” They took it back and recooked it; while it did cook through, it made the outer layers a tad tougher. All-in-all, it was a good experience and I’d definitely go back again.

The evening was spent lazily lounging around. Nothing wrong with that.

Today is also Pioneer Day in Utah. (And Missouri and California, according to one joke I’ve heard.)

Stray Toasters
Stray Toasters are preceding Four-Color Coverage today. Why? Because I think that FCC may get to be “a bit” lengthy and I’m going to try using the never-seen-in-this-blog “MORE” tag. Or, for a shorter answer: “Because I can.” So, without further ado:

Namaste.

Four-Color Coverage
 It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these; hopefully, I remember how it goes. Since it’s been so long, I’m also going to cover some of the highlights from the past weeks, as well. With that in mind, I’m going to use the “MORE” tag to cut the bulk of the text. Hopefully, it will work as expected…

  • Astonishing X-Men #30 – The end of  the Ghost Boxes saga. It seems that Forge has been making long distance phone calls. Very long distance. And the answers that came back were not all that friendly. It’s up to the X-Men to break the connection. I’ve been… on-the-fence about Warren Ellis’ handling of the X-Men for the past few issues, but this issue shows that he really does have a handle on the characters. It would also seem that he’s keeping in mind that the characters have other things to worry about than just what’s happening in this book. Nice touch.
  • Batman #688 – The mantle of The Bat weighs heavily the new Batman. He’s adjusting to the role, but it’s difficult adjustment.
  • Batman and Robin #1 and #2 – Introducing the new Dynamic Duo: Batman and Robin. What?  What’s that you say? “What’s so new about Batman and Robin being the Dynamic Duo?” Nothing… and everything. The names may not have changed, but the faces have. In light of DC’s Final Crisis, Bruce Wayne is no longer the Dark Knight. In fact, the Dark Knight doesn’t seem to be quite so “dark” anymore. And with the new Dark Knight, who’s the new Boy Wonder? Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely bring about a fresh new take on the war in crime in Gotham City.
  • Blackest Night #1 – The War of Light has come. William Hand, the villain known as Black Hand, has become the Herald of the Black Lantern Corps. And his Corps needs members. He dispatches black rings to find the dead of the DCU to fill the ranks. Heroes. Villains. One Corps… devoted to Death.
  • Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 (of 3) – Readers learn the origins of Blue Lantern Saint Walker, the Sinestro Corps’ Mongul and are treated to a tale of the here-to-fore unseen Indigo Tribe.
  • Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #2 (of 3) – Readers learn the origin of Red Lantern Bleez and begin to learn what role Carol Ferris – Hal Jordan’s ex-girlfriend, ex-boss and former Star Sapphire – will play in Blackest Night. In a backup feature, Ethan Van Sciver explains how he came up with the various symbols used by each Corps.
  • Buck Rogers #2 – Captain Rogers wakes up to realize that he’s not in Kansas anymore. Nor is he in Wonderland. He’s not even dreaming. He’s been flung 500 years into the future. But, what role did he play in shaping this future? And, the last two pages have an excellent nod to the past, as well.
  • Captain America: Reborn #1 (of 5) – What happens when you cross Captain America with Quantum Leap? I don’t know, either, but this issue is about as close to an answer as you’ll get.  All that… and it’s still a good read.
  • Fantastic 4 #568 – Ben tries to make amends, but is it too little, too late? The Marquis of Death and his Apprentice decide to stretch their legs and see what Earth has to offer. And, when he runs into the FF, he gives them a small sample of his power.
  • Green Lantern #42 – Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Sector 2814 has three problems:
    1. He’s been captured by Larfleeze, Agent Orange, of the Orange Lantern Corps.
    2. He’s been saddled with a ring from the Blue Lantern Corps. A ring he neither wants nor knows how to use.
    3. Larfleeze wants the blue ring… by any means necessary.

    The Guardians of Oa make a deal; one that has dire ramifications for the Green Lantern Corps… and another Corps.

  • Green Lantern #43 -How did William Hand become the villain known as Black Hand? How did he become the Herald of the Black Lantern Corps? Those answers are revealed in this prologue to Blackest Night.
  • Green Lantern #44 – Formerly deceased Justice League members Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) and The Flash (Barry Allen) are investigating the apparent grave-robbing of recently-deceased member Batman (Bruce Wayne). So, why is it that they don’t seem all that happy to see the recently-revived Martian Manhunter? Could it be because he’s sporting a new Black Lantern ring and costume? Maybe. And John Stewart gets to witness the… rebirth, of sorts… of a world.
  • Green Lantern Corps #38 – Soranik Natu confronts her newly-discovered heritage. Arisia and the Daxamites fight back against Mongul and his branch of the Sinestro Corps. Guy and Kyle get some… rather unexpected leave.
  • Justice League: Cry for Justice #1 (of 7) – Hal Jordan has finally had enough of being “reactive” and wants to be “pro-active.” Unfortunately, not too many others in the JLA agree with him. His answer: Start his own offshoot League. From glimpses around the DCU, it would seem that he might not have too hard a time finding others to join him. This issue was a bit of a slow-starter, but it will be interesting to see where it goes.
  • The Last Days of Animal Man #2 (of 6) – Last issue, Animal Man – finding that his powers were fading – took on Bloodrage, a new villain looking to make a name for himself. The fight closed with Bloodrage tossing Animal Man high into the air. Very high. This issue opens with AM falling like a brick. Ground approaching. Quickly. Out of nowhere comes Green Lantern.  But, not any of the GLs you’d expect to be in Sector 2814.

    That’s right. A whale. A Green Lantern whale. Boo-yah!

    And, as if that wasn’t enough, there’s another new villain, Prismatik, waiting in the wings. Let’s just say that she caught him on a bad day.

  • Legion of 3 Worlds #5 (of 5) – Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Cosmic Boy and Superman take on the Time Trapper at Vanishing Point, while the Legions of three universes – along with Sodam Yat – takes on Superboy-Prime and the new Legion of Super-Villains. A new discovery about the Time Trapper is made. Additionally, Geoff Johns did a good job of resolving/defining which LSH belonged to which Earth. I wasn’t overly thrilled about the resolution of Prime’s story… until I talked with MarknTyme and he reminded me of Prime’s origins. After that, things fell into place a little more easily. Now, all I can do is wait for 12 August 2009, when Adventure Comics #1 hits the stands.
  • Ms. Marvel #41 – Spider-Man and Wolverine have been contacted by luminous beings and led to a shipyard. The collective beings claim to be Ms. Marvel. Unfortunately, that name has been co-opted by the former Moonstone… and she’s none to happy about the idea of the original Ms. Marvel putting in an appearance.
  • Ms Marvel #42 – Ms. Marvel (Karla Sofen, formerly known as the villain, Moonstone) vs. Ms. Marvel (the thought-to-be-deceased Carol Danvers). In Los Angeles. On TV. As… Carol Danvers… watches? Huh, what?!
  • Power Girl #3 – Though she’s not “a dumb blonde victim,” Power Girl is, by her own admission, a “punch first, ask questions later” kind of hero. As evidenced in this issue, that’s not always a “good” thing, especially when millions of lives hang in the balance. Literally.
  • R.E.B.E.L.S. #6 – The armies of the Star Conqueror move through the galaxy. While the races of the galaxy determine their courses of action, Vril Dox considers his next moves. “Considers?” No… Dox has plans and contingencies. Here he executes one. And sends a challenge.
  • Red Robin #2 – Red Robin’s quest for Batman continues. It also seems as though others are looking for Red Robin. “Wheels within wheels…” Red Robin also makes a deal with [SPOILER DELETED].
  • Supergirl #43 – Kara writes a letter to her late father on her birthday, which is also her Guilding Day – the day when a Kryptonian chooses to which craft guild she or he will belong. Readers also get a little – very little – insight into how Alura Zor-El’s mind works.
  • Superman #689 – Mon-El’s lead poisoning has kicked in again. Rather than wallow in it, he decides to live. To fulfill this, he goes on a world tour. Meets other heroes (and villains). Takes in some local flavor. Meanwhile, back in Metropolis, John Henry Irons takes on a new employee.
  • Superman: World of New Krypton #5 (of 12) – Kal-El is on trial for treason. He stands before the Council of Arbitrators for his crime… of disobeying a direct order from General Zod. The punishment: Death. His defense: “…I would not hesitate to do it again.”
  • Superman/Batman #62 – This book features neither Superman nor Batman. Instead, it showcases their junior partners Supergirl and Robin (Tim Drake). Superman takes Supergirl to the Batcave to train with Robin, while Batman and Superman attend to grown-up stuff Justice League business. Perfect time for a riot at Arkham Asylum, wouldn’t you say? Both young heroes learn that there’s quite a bit they can learn from each other as they work their way through the madhouse.
  • Tiny Titans #18 – Robin gets detention… with The Monitor as, um, well… the monitor. Darkseid becomes the janitor maintenance engineer. And they even manage to throw in a couple “Blackest Night” jokes.
  • “Utopia” (Dark Avengers #6 and #7, Uncanny X-Men #513) – Norman Osborne and H.A.M.M.E.R. (along with the Dark Avengers) have descended upon San Francisco. He also sets up his Dark X-Men, with Emma Frost at the helm. With all of his goon squads, Osborne institutes martial law. But what happens when people “on the same side” don’t get along? You get the Dark Avengers vs. the Dark X-Men. And it’s pretty much a free-for-all. And what’s really going on at Alcatraz?
  • Wonder Woman #33 – How do Amazons wage war? Readers are given a glimpse in this issue, as Hippolyta and the Themyscirans defend their island against Ares and Euphemus’ not-so-subtle attack. Achilles and his army show up to lend a hand.  And Diana turns her back on [SPOILER DELETED].

And that’s that.