Greenmantle, 1988, Charles de Lint
This time last year I was sitting in our apartment, trying to think of something to do as a regular feature for the site, since I was finding myself with decreasing amounts of motivation to post over the weekend. I briefly considered doing a series of reviews of older and concluded in the US manga titles, but then realized that the only possible name for a feature like that would require that the posts go up on Mondays, and I had no plan to give up my Sundays. And then, I noticed the large and conspicuous piles of my books and Pete’s books in the bedroom. And I was inspired.
Unfortunately, the book I wanted to feature, an early example of the urban fantasy genre with an uncomfortably sexy illustration of Oberon on the cover, was nowhere to be found.
So you all got a chosen at random vintage paperback instead.
And now, for the one year anniversary, here’s the book that should have started the feature off all along.

• In a particularly stunning display of how the vast majority of comic book nerds, no matter how patiently you explain it to them, actively refuse to get it, at the now no longer worth reading (now that all the good writers have left for Robot 6), Blog@Newsarama, writer J. Caleb Mozzocco engaged in a rather sad bit of gay-baiting in aid of a joke that, frankly, wasn’t the slightest bit funny in the first place.

  The real fun starts when readers point out what an incredibly stupid, not to mention potentially offensive move Caleb’s little joke was, prompting increasingly hysterical and defensive reactions from both Caleb and fellow Blog@ writer Troy Brownfield. For Christ’s sake, they even pull out a sad variation of the “I can’t be homophobic, I have gay friends” defense.

  It was the most pathetisad spectacle of the week. At least until the New York Comic-Con started.

• I thought the dumbest thing I’d ever heard of was the latest revival of the New Mutants comic, the fourth for those of you keeping count. It’s always sort of sad to see Marvel wallowing in shitty 80s nostalgia like this. It’s so contrary to the image they like to present of themselves as a corporation that it almost feels like a betrayal of their core principles. I mean, DC has been publishing Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman comics for 70-plus years; I expect them to look to their past for inspiration from time to time (though, honestly guys, bringing Barry Allen back? There’s a limit, you know?). Marvel is supposed to be the hipper, younger, forward-looking company.

  I suppose this is just them finally admitting that their core audience is man-children unwilling to let go of their childhoods.

• Of course, the absolute stupidest thing I’ve heard so far (non-politically) this week was the annoucement of the Dark Wolverine series. I’ll let you all take a laugh break now.

  …

  Got it out of your system? Good.

  I mean, really? Dark Wolverine? That’s what you think the comic industry needs? A “darker, grittier, edgier” version of Wolver-frickin-ine? And then, to top it all off, the series stars, not Logan, but Poochie Daken, Wolverine Jr.? If X-23 was created to make a certain segment of fandom feel better about their masturbatory fantasies, what audience is Daken created to satisfy? Fangirls who didn’t have quite enough people to pair Logan up with in their slash stories?

• Of course, some of this makes sense when you consider that the man in charge had this to say about fan complaints about the number of cross-overs in Marvel books these days:
  

  “We’re going to do Marvel Slumber Party,” Quesada joked in response to a question about the pattern of crossovers. He said “giving the characters a rest,” as the fan had suggested, would mean “a bunch of books where nothing happens.”

  Either he’s being disingenuous and deliberately misrepresenting the people who think there are too many event books coming out from Marvel too close together, or he genuinely thinks that not having a book tie-in to some larger story means “nothing happens.” I’m not sure which position should insult Marvel fans more.

• Of course, the real tragedy of all this is, that while discussing how face-palmingly stupid all the above is with friends, I was suddenly struck with a really good idea for a Marvel book. Too bad I’d never actually get into a pitch meeting with the company.

  I don’t bash DC enough for that.

Yes, it is time once again for our occasional look into the stunning, the saddening, and the inscrutable in Previews.

Dark Horse is bringing the Aliens series back to comics, with a Previews cover and all. It’s not surprising; in times of economic uncertainty, the masses take comfort in nostalgia. It’s a strange urge towards sympathetic magic.

That still doesn’t excuse the existence of yet another Who Wants to be a Superhero comic, though.

What’s the over-under on when we find out what kind of giant space animal possessed Barry Allen in The Flash: Rebirth? I say three issues.

Issue 14 of Super Friends is going to be even better than the one with Mxy, Bat-Mite and Mopee.

I’m tempted to pick up the trade collection of Bayou, because it has lovely art and an intriguing story premise. Shame I can’t friggin’ stand the Zuda comics web-page for reading comics.

The anticipation for the return of Seaguy makes me slightly dizzy. I can’t wait to see what new and creative ways that people with agendas and axes to grind find to complain about it without bothering to read it!

I would like to say just one word to the people who have complained about the solicitations for the new Green Lantern action figures spoiling the returns of the Earth-2 Superman and Martian Manhunter as Black Lanterns: Duh.

Smash! From the unique and creative voices that brought you Supreme and Blob eating the Wasp!
Christ on a crutch…

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