Saturday 31 December 2016

Power Girl 40th Anniversary: JSA Classified #4 Review

Title: JSA Classified #4
Story: Power Trip
Characters: Power Girl (Kara Zor-L), Huntress (Helena Wayne), Robin (Dick Grayson), Mr. Terrific (Michael Holt), Psycho-Pirate (Roger Hayden)
Creators: Geoff Johns (writer), Amanda Conner (artist)
Publication Date: October 2005
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: The Psycho-Pirate has Power Girl in his possession, and he's more than happy to have her. But for what purpose? Power Girl is all but excited to be in his presence, but he does have the answers she seeks: why does Power Girl feel like a loner? Why does she constantly feel like an outsider? Could it be, perhaps, that she does not originate on the world she currently calls "home?"

Thursday 29 December 2016

2016 End of the Year Reflection

I wasn't sure I was going to do this again this year. In fact, I almost didn't if I am completely honest. This whole year has been one massive political assault on humanity--even the planet at large--and that has left me in a very bad mood. That in itself is an understatement because, in reality, what I feel is rage.

Rage at the fact that we--as human beings--collectively and persistently fail to learn from history. Rage at the fact we--as human beings--have so much hatred as a collective species that we persistently find new ways to hurt one another. And for what exactly? What is the benefit in keeping migrants out of the United Kingdom and the United States, for example?

What is this obsession white identity politics, white supremacy, and white nationalism? Other than the fight to protect our civil rights, what did women, people of colour, and queer people do to the "white race" to warrant political suicides like Brexit in the United Kingdom and Donald Trump's effortless usurpation of the American federal government? All of which secured their "victories" by assaulting democracy and stoking the fires of fear, bigotry, and white resentment of multiculuralism?

The entirety of this political shitstorm has been affecting my overall mood in a very profound way. So much to the point where it literally requires effort to read and review comics these days, even the ones I actually enjoy. It really is hard to think about anything else when the real world keeps reminding you that the very institutions that exist to protect you are corrupt and racist to start with. As a woman who is the daughter of Colombian immigrants and a member of the LGBTQA community, this reality was never easy to ignore in the past. Now? No one can even pretend that racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and racism are "things of the past" or things women, people of colour, and queer people make up to "shake things up." Nope. This is all happening in real time.

The sad part is I don't expect this to change in 2017 as we enter next stage of the modern Dark Age, or as media has come to call it "The Trump Apocalypse." With Trump's unlawful "inauguration" on the horizon and with British Prime Minister, Theresa May, looking to trigger Article 50 in March, there is literally nothing to be excited about in 2017. The only saving grace of 2016 that will continue to be a saving grace in 2017 is DC's Rebirth initiative.

Saturday 24 December 2016

Power Girl 40th Anniversary: JSA Classified #3 Review

Title: JSA Classified #3
Story: Power Trip
Characters: Power Girl (Kara Zor-L), Huntress (Helena Bertinelli), Flash (Jay Garrick), Mr. Terrific (Michael Holt), Psycho-Pirate (Roger Hayden)
Creators: Geoff Johns (writer), Amanda Conner (artist)
Publication Date: September 2005
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: Power Girl has been having a tough time. Between destroying half a city block in New York and nearly letting an aeroplane to crash in Metropolis, she's in desperate need of a friend. Specifically a friend who will listen to what she has to say and offer her the comfort she needs. She needs the Huntress!

Monday 19 December 2016

Earth-2: Society Cancelled Again. The End of the False Earth-2 Dick Grayson?

EARTH 2: SOCIETY #22
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by BRUNO REDONDO
In this series finale, a new dawn rises on Earth-2. After a terrible struggle, the Wonders have restored their world, better than ever. Can they become the new heroes and caretakers the reborn planet needs to protect it from future threats? And what of the price they paid for peace—what is the final fate of the Earth-2 Batman and his legacy?
On sale MARCH 8 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE

Apparently, Earth-2: Society #21 is not the final issue as originally solicited, but the March solicitation for #22 seems to be hinting at DC finally dropping the other problem Earth-2 and Justice Society fans have been having with this franchise since 2013:

Saturday 17 December 2016

Power Girl 40th Anniversary: JSA Classified #2 Review

Title: JSA Classified #2
Story: Power Trip
Characters: Power Girl (Kara Zor-L), Supergirl (Kara Zor-El), Superman (Clark Kent), Psycho-Pirate (Roger Hayden)
Creators: Geoff Johns (writer), Amanda Conner (artist)
Publication Date: August 2005
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: Following the confusing events in New York, Power Girl decides to look for Superman in Metropolis to talk to him about her power fluctuation problem. She doesn't find him at the Daily Planet but is met by Jimmy Olsen who decides to have lunch with her on the roof of the Planet building. They converse for a bit before Power Girl catches sight of an aeroplane crashing into Metropolis. She takes off to stop the plane from crashing but is prevented from doing so with the arrival of the Legion of Superheroes.

Friday 16 December 2016

Earth-2: Society 19 Review

Title: Earth-2: Society #19
Story: After the End: The Final Fate of Earth-2
Characters: Huntress (Helena Wayne), Power Girl (Kara Zor-L), Fury (Donna Troy), Hawkgirl (Kendra Muñoz-Saunders), Flash (Jay Garrick), Superman (Val-Zod), Commander Steel (Henry Heywood III)
Creators: Dan Abnett (writer), Bruno Redondo (artist)
Publication Date: December 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: The heroes of Earth-2 find themselves on a whole new world, but aren't sure of its authenticity. The new world looks real, feels real, and nothing appears out of the ordinary, but it also appears "too good to be true." Is the new Earth the world the heroes remember, or is it some kind of mutated rebirth of their original Earth? If the latter, who's the architect behind it? Did the heroes create this new world with their hopes, dreams, and memories, or is there a more sinister force lurking underneath the surface? While Power Girl, Fury, Hawkgirl, Flash, and Val-Zod try to make sense of their new world, Huntress and her team of two may have stumbled upon the first answer to that important question.

Wednesday 14 December 2016

Earth-2: Society #19 Preview

EARTH-2 SOCIETY #19
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by BRUNO REDONDO
Cover by BRUNO REDONDO
Fury’s gamble has paid off! Earth-2 is born again, but it’s not the world the heroes remember. As outsiders and the only people alive who know what existed before, they struggle to make sense of their new surroundings. On the surface, it seems to be a glorious new world-but from underneath, a hidden menace surfaces.
DECEMBER 14 | RATED T | $2.99 PRINT DIGITAL







Saturday 10 December 2016

Power Girl 40th Anniversary: JSA Classified #1 Review

Title: JSA Classified #1
Story: Power Trip
Characters: Power Girl (Kara Zor-L), Psycho-Pirate (Roger Hayden)
Creators: Geoff Johns (writer), Amanda Conner (artist)
Publication Date: July 2005
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: It's been 20 years since Crisis on Infinite Earths collapsed the multiverse into a single Earth with a single history. It seems that most of DC's heroes remained largely unaffected and some may have even benefitted from the cosmic reboot. But what about Power Girl? Is she the long lost cousin of Superman? The granddaughter of Arion? Or a future member of the Legion of Superheroes? Who is Power Girl and where does she fit into a world that seems to have a place for everyone except for her? These are the questions Power Girl seeks to answer as she begins to doubt her origins and her place on this different Earth.

Saturday 3 December 2016

The Best of the Huntress: Wonder Woman #298 Review


Title: Wonder Woman #298
Story: The Squeeze on Gotham!
Characters: Huntress (Helena Wayne), Blackwing (Charley Bullock)
Creators: Joey Cavalieri (writer), Joe Staton (artist)
Publication Date: December 1982
Available In: Unavailable :(

Summary: Gotham's newest protector, Blackwing, has been captured by Toro and the Huntress recognises the man in costume as her associate, Charles Bullock. Knowing the Huntress will avoid risking the life of an innocent, Toro decides to take Charley to his boss--the Boa--as "insurance" against the Huntress' capture. The Huntress must now race against the clock to not only capture Toro and the Boa, but to save the life of a dear old friend as well.

Sunday 27 November 2016

Was Earth-2: Society Supposed to be the Rebirth of Earth-2 Proper? If So, Where Did it All Go Wrong?

I've been thinking a lot about this lately, and especially Dan Abnett's confirmation that he was brought onto the Earth-2: Society title with the goal of saving the comic. Was Daniel H. Wilson originally supposed to revive the original Earth during his run, but failed to deliver on that promise? Was DC recognising their failure with Earth-2 the reason the proper Justice Society is being "rebirthed" on Prime Earth?

Thursday 24 November 2016

Better Ways to Reboot the Earth-2 Dick Grayson Without Erasing Helena Wayne's Story

Earth-2: Society has been a very controversial book ever since it got launched with the writer who gave us Earth-2: World's End, Daniel H. Wilson. Though DC had since replaced Wilson with another writer who is better oriented to Earth-2 lore and the Justice Society characters--Dan Abnett--the book remained controversial. Not because Abnett hadn't been telling more thoughtful stories with these characters since taking over the title, nor because he hadn't been handling the characters with the care and respect they deserve. He had actually been excelling on both of these fronts. Rather, the book remained controversial because the narrative kept centring on a new "Batman" DC kept trying to sell to Earth-2 and Justice Society readers as "Dick Grayson."

Tuesday 22 November 2016

Earth-2: Society Has Been Cancelled. What Now?

EARTH 2: SOCIETY #21
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by VICENTE CIFUENTES • Cover by BRUNO REDONDO
The Wonders battle the Sandmen army to free the new Earth 2 from a dystopian fate, but the new world Director has unleashed his terrifying secret weapon. Can Batman, Huntress and John, the weakest of the wonders, shut down the Director’s stronghold? It’s a dangerous, last-minute gamble…and the price may be too great to bear.
On sale FEBRUARY 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US RATED T • FINAL ISSUE

Wednesday 16 November 2016

Wonder Woman Wednesday: Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Special #1 Review

Title: Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Special #1
Story: Gives Us Strength, Predators, One Side Alone, Wonder Woman in Conversation, Oh Themyscira, The Age of Wonder, Wonder Woman 75 Song, Legend of Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman: The True Amazon, Democratic Design, Big Things One Day Come
Characters: Diana Prince (Wonder Woman), Etta Candy, Steve Trevor, Giganta, Lois Lane, Paula Von Gunther, Irena Sendler, Red Panzer,
Creators: Rafael Scavone, Rafael Albuquerque, Brendan Fletcher, Karl Kerschl, Michele Assarasakorn, Mairghread Scott, Riley Rossmo, Greg Rucka, Liam Sharp, Fábio Moon, Marguerite Bennett, Marguerite Sauvage, Jill Thompson, Hope Larson, Ramon Bachs, Gail Simone, Colleen Doran,
Publication Date: October 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: A compilation of artwork and short stories by all-star creators from Gail Simone, Greg Rucka, Rafael Albuquerque, Brian Bolland, Phil Jimenez, Renae De Liz, and Liam Sharp to Hope Larson, Marguerite Bennet, Jill Thompson, Colleen Doran, and more!

Saturday 12 November 2016

Earth-2: Society #18 Review

Title: Earth-2: Society #18
Story: After the End: The Final Fate of Earth-2
Characters: Huntress (Helena Wayne), Power Girl (Kara Zor-L), Fury (Donna Troy), Hawkgirl (Kendra Muñoz-Saunders), Flash (Jay Garrick), Superman (Val-Zod), Commander Steel (Henry Heywood III)
Creators: Dan Abnett (writer), Bruno Redondo (artist)
Publication Date: November 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: In the ghost world of Old Metropolis, Helena Wayne and her two companions are going for a stroll, trying to figure out where they are. Helena is upset that they're in limbo and doesn't believe there is anyone else around. That is until they are attacked by an army of Sandmen, which she and her companions effortlessly defeat.

On the other side of Metropolis, Val-Zod theorises that reality has been completely rebooted and that they've all been changed in subtle ways. He also thinks that the world does exist but is "out of phase" and is "waiting to catch up." Fury decides to test this theory by punching through an invisible wall, revealing a fully realised interior. This attracts the attention of the Sandmen who are still acting the heroes like antibodies attacking a virus that invaded a host body.

The heroes succeed in keeping the Sandmen at bay, but their surroundings go pitch black before revealing a fully realised living Metropolis with a modern retro aesthetic. There to greet the heroes is Henry Heywood III, the third Commander Steel.

Wednesday 9 November 2016

Earth-2: Society #18 Preview

EARTH-2 SOCIETY #18
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by BRUNO REDONDO
Cover by BRUNO REDONDO
Earth 2 as they knew it is gone, and a ghost world is all that remains. The surviving heroes have failed in their effort to save the world. As they struggle to accept the disaster they have caused, something in the phantom mist begins to hunt for them. In the Ghost World, no heroes can be allowed to exist.
NOVEMBER 09 | RATED T | $2.99 PRINT DIGITAL








Saturday 5 November 2016

The Best of the Huntress: Wonder Woman #297 Review

Title: Wonder Woman #297
Story: Go Save The World!
Characters: Huntress (Helena Wayne), Harry Sims, Blackwing (Charley Bullock)
Creators: Joey Cavalieri (writer), Joe Staton (artist)
Publication Date: November 1982
Available In: Unavailable :(

Summary: There is a new threat in Gotham, and for the first time since the Huntress took over protecting the city, an innocent civilian does not feel safe without Batman. As Charley Bullock steps up to protect a convenience store owner from a thug named Toro, Charley starts to think about whether or not Gotham has remained safe ever since the Batman died in 1979. Is the presence of the Huntress alone enough to protect Gotham, or is it time for a new hero to step up and continue what the Batman started?

Monday 31 October 2016

Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary: The Legend of Wonder Woman #9 Review

Title: The Legend of Wonder Woman #9
Story: The Legend of Wonder Woman Chapters 25-27
Characters: Diana Prince (Wonder Woman), Etta Candy, Steve Trevor, Queen Hippolyta, Gaea
Creators: Renae De Liz (writer/artist), Ray Dillon (artist)
Publication Date: August 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: The Titan has awoken and Diana must race against the clock to stop it from wreaking the deadly havoc she heard about in the stories of Themyscira. The Allied airforce pilots do their best to keep the Titan at bay, but their weapons are no match for the powerful giant.

Saturday 29 October 2016

Writer Dan Abnett Talks About the Future of Earth-2

Yesterday, writer Dan Abnett gave an interview with Newsarama discussing his current story arc for Earth-2: Society and the future of the series. From what I can gather, Earth-2: Society will not lead to the Justice Society's Rebirth, and I think it's safe to say that unless DC changes their mind at the last minute, the Earth-2 characters will remain a separate entity from the Prime Earth Justice Society.

Friday 21 October 2016

Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary: The Legend of Wonder Woman #8 Review

Title: The Legend of Wonder Woman #8
Story: The Legend of Wonder Woman Chapters 22-24
Characters: Diana Prince (Wonder Woman), Etta Candy, Steve Trevor, Thomas Byde (Duke of Deception)
Creators: Renae De Liz (writer/artist), Ray Dillon (artist)
Publication Date: July 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: Having lost her powers to Zeus following her fight with the Duke of Deception, Diana must now find a new purpose again. Accompanying Etta Candy and Steve Trevor to the Paris Opera House for a Holliday Girls performance, Diana decides to assist with their show, even allowing a 10-year-old Alfred Pennyworth to assist her. After the show, Steve and the other Allied pilots are called to initiate an attack against the Axis powers and seize a new atomic weapon in their possession known as 'the Titan.' Diana knows that if the Titan awakens, Steve and the rest of the Allied pilots' lives will be in danger.

Deciding not to leave anything to chance, Diana takes matters into her own hands by 'commandeering' the only plane available for her to fly. Using the skills and knowledge she acquired from Steve about aviation, Diana takes an experimental plane on its first flight, and together with the Holliday College girls, she goes to the aid of the allied forces. Once there, Diana finds the Duke of Deception one step closer to reviving the Titan by completing its heart with the Baelytus. Without the power of the gods to assist her in her mission, can Diana still be Wonder Woman and prevent the Duke of Deception from ending the world at the completion of a Titan's heart?

Wednesday 12 October 2016

Earth-2: Society #17 Review

Title: Earth-2: Society #17
Story: After the End: The Final Fate of Earth-2
Characters: Fury (Donna Troy), Power Girl (Kara Zor-L), Hawkgirl (Kendra Muñoz-Saunders), Flash (Jay Garrick), Val-Zod
Creators: Dan Abnett (writer), Bruno Redondo (artist)
Publication Date: October 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: Earth-2 has been erased from existence. The Flash, Hawkgirl, Power Girl, Fury, and Red Tornado all find themselves in a ghost world that resembles the Metropolis of their old Earth, but nothing concrete. No where in sight are the Huntress, Green Lantern, Sonia Sato, or even the Ultra-Humanite. As the heroes try to figure out where they are, how they got there, and where the rest of their friends are, a new menace appears ready to exterminate them. No it isn't the Daleks, but an army of Sandmen who look like the newly deceased Wesley Dodds.

Earth-2: Society #17 Preview

EARTH-2 SOCIETY #17
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by BRUNO REDONDO
Cover by BRUNO REDONDO
Earth-2 is dead! Following the climactic battle with Ultra-Humanite and his super-powered army, a handful of the Wonders awaken in a twilight limbo. Are they the only ones to have survived? Has their desperate gambit to save their world ended in total disaster?
OCTOBER 12 | RATED T | $2.99 | PRINT | DIGITAL








Wednesday 5 October 2016

Five Reasons Huntress, Power Girl, and Fury Deserve a Rebirth

Today is the 5th anniversary of Huntress #1 from 2011, which reintroduced Helena Wayne back into mainstream continuity. Her reintroduction even led to the reintroduction of Earth-2 and the Justice Society for the New 52. While it's been nice to see the character re-acknowledged as a canonical character by DC Comics once again, her narrative, unfortunately, is still not where it is supposed to be. In fact, she's still too far removed from the Batman legacy character she's meant to exist as--a situation not helped by DC's obsession with wanting multiple "legacy Batmen" who are not legitimate successors to the cowl.

Saturday 1 October 2016

The Best of the Huntress: Wonder Woman #296 Review

Title: Wonder Woman #296
Story: The Huntress is Back in Town
Characters: Huntress (Helena Wayne), Harry Sims, Arthur Cranston
Creators: Joey Cavalieri (writer), Joe Staton (artist)
Publication Date: October 1982
Available In: Unavailable :(

Summary: Some time has passed since the Huntress' deadly confrontation with the Crime Lord and has more or less resumed her life. She's back with her boyfriend, Harry Sims, and has decided to take 'time off' from work, presumably to recuperate from that aforementioned confrontation.

Wednesday 14 September 2016

Earth-2: Society #16 Review

Title: Earth-2: Society #16
Story: A Whole New World
Characters: Fury (Donna Troy), Huntress (Helena Wayne), Power Girl (Kara Zor-L), Hawkgirl (Kendra Muñoz-Saunders), Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Flash (Jay Garrick), Val-Zod, Sandman (Wesley Dodds), Sonia Sato, Doctor Fate (Khalid Ben-Hassin), Captain Steel (Henry Heywood Jr.)
Creators: Dan Abnett (writer), Angel Hernandez (artist)
Publication Date: September 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: The Ultra-Humanite has taken control of the Green Lantern and begins to move in on the Justice Society in order to recover Fury's Pandora casket. He wastes no time using the Green Lantern's immense power to take out the four most powerful members of the team: the Flash, Power Girl, Val-Zod, and Red Tornado. Fury takes on the mind-controlled Green Lantern next, but is unsuccessful at stopping him as he overpowers her.

Earth-2: Society #16 Preview

EARTH-2 SOCIETY #16
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by ANGEL HERNANDEZ
Cover by BRUNO REDONDO
The Amazonian casket has the potential to remake Earth-2 and end the years of struggle and survival, but is using it too great a risk? The Ultrahumanite doesn’t care. In a last stand, the heroes must stop him from using it to shape a new reality where he is in control-or annihilate Earth-2 entirely. Don’t miss this turning point in Earth-2 history!
SEPTEMBER 14 | RATED T | $2.99 PRINT | DIGITAL







Wednesday 7 September 2016

The Best of Huntress and Power Girl: All-Star Comics #74

Title: All-Star Comics #74
Story: World on the Edge of Ending
Characters: Power Girl (Kara Zor-L), Huntress (Helena Wayne), Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson), Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Flash (Jay Garrick), Hawkman (Carter Hall)
Creators: Paul Levitz (writer), Joe Staton (artist)
Publication Date: September 1978
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: Doctor Fate and Hawkman are summoned to another dimension by a mysterious powerful being who calls himself 'Master Summoner.' The Master Summoner warns the two heroes of an impending danger that could result in the destruction of Earth-2 if they don't 'act wisely' before the 'critical hour' ends. The Master Summoner is very vague about what he means by all this and Doctor Fate and Hawkman don't ask for clarity. At least, we are not shown this on panel.

Saturday 3 September 2016

The Best of the Huntress: Wonder Woman #295 Review

Title: Wonder Woman #295
Story: Out of the Darkness
Characters: Huntress (Helena Wayne), Alfred Beagle, Harry Sims
Creators: Paul Levitz (writer), Joe Staton (artist)
Publication Date: August 1982
Available In: Print

Summary: Time is running out and Alfred Beagle's life is barely hanging on a thread. Worse yet, Helena Wayne has no idea how to save him because she doesn't know what Alfred's been poisoned with, and neither does the thug who fed him the poison. With anger and anxiety clouding Helena's thoughts, she does the one thing she never thought herself capable of: doing what's easy. Without time to investigate, Helena resorts to forcing the thug (identified as Fred) to tell her about the pill he gave to Alfred by threatening to kill him if he doesn't. With a very firm grasp on his throat, Helena begins to gradually block his breathing by putting pressure on his windpipe, which forces Fred to describe the pill to her in between chokes.

Wednesday 31 August 2016

Earth-2: Society Annual #1 Review

Title: Earth-2: Society Annual #1
Story: Legacy
Characters: Huntress (Helena Wayne), "Dick Grayson," John Grayson
Publication Date: August 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: Helena Wayne has rescued John Grayson from Grief, the Ultra-Humanite's deadliest assassin. As John recalls the Huntress' fierce fight to liberate him from the Ultra-Humanite's control, he details to his father how the Ultra-Humanite exploited his fears and loss of family to turn him into one of his destructive agents. "Dick Grayson" then reflects on Earth-2's past battles and how they particularly resulted in the deaths of two Batmen: Bruce Wayne, the original, and his father Thomas. He also thinks about his place in that legacy and whether or not he actually deserves it.

"Dick" thinks about how all the Waynes have a natural skill and ability to them that he lacks, and questions whether or not he has what it takes to succeed them. He even thinks about whether or not he still needs Batman now that he has his son to live for again, and is no longer driven by rage or loss. Through words of encouragement from his son, "Dick" finds a new reason to continue on as Batman. If he no longer needs rage and loss to motivate him, desire to keep his son safe from harm is all that he needs to keep going. Deciding to put on the costume one last time, he joins the Huntress to attend an emergency Justice Society meeting to protect the fate of the world against the Ultra-Humanite. He doesn't know if he'll die in the process, but he knows he'll try to stay alive for his son.

Earth-2: Society Annual #1 Preview

EARTH-2 SOCIETY ANNUAL #1
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by BRUNO REDONDO & DIOGENES NEVES
Cover by BRUNO REDONDO
Earth-2’s Batman is Dick Grayson. Does he have what it takes to be a true Batman and follow in the legacy of Bruce and Thomas Wayne before him? Or will he only ever be a stand-in? Beyond anything else, he has one overriding goal...to find his missing son. Is that a job for the Batman...or is it something only Dick Grayson can do? The Wayne legacy is at stake. This is an epic turning point in the history of Earth-2’s Batman.
AUGUST 31 | RATED T | $4.99 PRINT | DIGITAL

NOTE: Despite what the solicitation says, the Dick Grayson fronting this story is not the character who started out as Bruce Wayne's Robin and continued his legacy alongside Helena Wayne like in the pre-Crisis Earth-2 continuity. The character fronting this story is a brand new character all together who has no history with the Wayne family. For more details on what the annual story entails, see my review for this annual.

Wednesday 10 August 2016

Earth-2: Society #15 Review

Title: Earth-2: Society #15
Story: A Whole New World
Characters: Fury (Donna Troy), Huntress (Helena Wayne), Power Girl (Kara Zor-L), Hawkgirl (Kendra Muñoz-Saunders), Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Flash (Jay Garrick), Val-Zod, Sandman (Wesley Dodds), Sonia Sato, Doctor Fate (Khalid Ben-Hassin), Captain Steel (Henry Heywood Jr.)
Creators: Dan Abnett (writer), Angel Hernandez (artist), Tony Harris (artist)
Publication Date: August 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: "Dick Grayson" has reunited with his son, John, but John is under the control of the Ultra-Humanite. John recognises his father's face and wants to be back at his side, but the Ultra-Humanite will not accept betrayal and seeks to destroy John. "Grayson" is powerless to run after his son and capture his abductor and pleads with Helena Wayne to recover his son.

Earth-2: Society #15 Preview

EARTH-2 SOCIETY #15
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by TONY HARRIS & ANGEL HERNANDEZ
Cover by JORGE JIMÉNEZ
A new menace rises to threaten the fragile order the Wonders struggle to maintain. Emboldened by Green Lantern’s loss of power, the Ultrahumanite emerges from the shadows with an army of super-powered slaves. His goal is nothing less than reforming Earth-2 in his vision, utilizing the Amazonian technology that Fury had hoped to use to rebuild a better world.
AUGUST 10 | RATED T | $2.99 PRINT | DIGITAL







Friday 5 August 2016

The Best of the Huntress: Wonder Woman #294 Review

Title: Wonder Woman #294
Story: By Dusk's Dying Light...
Characters: Huntress (Helena Wayne), Alfred Beagle, Harry Sims
Creators: Paul Levitz (writer), Joe Staton (artist)
Publication Date: July 1982
Available In: Print

Summary: Edgar Stenville is dead and Helena Wayne is racing against the clock to save the life of a man who's been a part of her life since birth: the family butler, Alfred Beagle. Speeding through Gotham's interstate roads on her way to the New Stratford Repertory Theatre (where Alfred is being held captive), Helena thinks about what she feels like doing to the thugs who are holding Alfred hostage.

Sunday 31 July 2016

The Best of the Huntress: Wonder Woman #290 Review

Title: Wonder Woman #290
Story: Death Atop Its High Tower Calls!
Characters: Huntress (Helena Wayne), Charlie Bullock, Arthur Cranston, Edgar Stenville
Creators: Paul Levitz (writer), Joe Staton (artist)
Publication Date: March 1982
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: Following his capture of the Huntress, the Crime Lord provides further details of his plan. The first is the most obvious: he plans to kill her. However, he also knows who the Huntress' allies are and knows what she is capable of doing. Rather than risk losing to her in a fight to the death, the Crime Lord secures his 'final victory' against the Huntress by using Alfred Beagle's life as his insurance against his own death, effectively making the fight personal to the heroine.

Monday 18 July 2016

Earth-2 Gets Destroyed Again in Earth-2: Society #17: Is There Hope for the Future of the Earth-2 Characters?

EARTH 2 SOCIETY #17
(W) Abnett (A/CA) Bruno Redondo (CA) Tony Harris
Earth-2 is dead! Following the climactic battle with Ultra-Humanite and his super-powered army, a handful of the Wonders awaken in a twilight limbo. Are they the only ones to have survived? Has their desperate gambit to save their world ended in total disaster?
In Shops: Oct 12, 2016
SRP: $2.99

It goes without saying DC has made a lot of real wrong turns with the Huntress, Power Girl, Fury, and the Justice Society in the current continuity, with both Earth-2: World's End and Earth-2: Society epitomising the lowest points of these characters' publication history. Today, DC spoils in their October solicitations that the current Earth-2 is set to be destroyed once again with only a 'handful' of the Justice Society characters surviving in a limbo dimension. Exactly what this means, no one knows, but one can speculate based on the information we already know.

Sunday 17 July 2016

Earth-2: Society #14 Review

Title: Earth-2: Society #14
Story: A Whole New World
Characters: Fury (Donna Troy), Huntress (Helena Wayne), Power Girl (Kara Zor-L), Hawkgirl (Kendra Muñoz-Saunders), Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Flash (Jay Garrick), Val-Zod, Sandman (Wesley Dodds), Sonia Sato, Doctor Fate (Khalid Ben-Hassin), Captain Steel (Henry Heywood Jr.)
Creators: Dan Abnett (writer), Federico Dallocchio (artist)
Publication Date: July 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: At Justice Society headquarters in Neotropolis, Huntress, Power Girl, Khalid Ben-Hassin, and "Dick Grayson" propose to Fury and Hawkgirl that they use the Pandora Vessel to revive the previous world that they lost. Fury is against the idea because the vessel has never been used at such a capacity and worries about what could go wrong. This angers "Grayson" who then starts to argue with Fury, though the situation is quickly defused by the intervention of Huntress, Power Girl, and Fury.

Wednesday 13 July 2016

Wonder Woman Wednesday: The Legend of Wonder Woman #7

Title: The Legend of Wonder Woman #7
Story: The Legend of Wonder Woman Chapters 19-21
Characters: Diana Prince (Wonder Woman), Etta Candy, Steve Trevor, Thomas Byde (Duke of Deception)
Creators: Renae De Liz (writer/artist), Ray Dillon (artist)
Publication Date: June 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: In Europe, Diana has made her choice to fight publicly for truth and justice by assisting the Allied forces as Wonder Woman. All over Europe, Diana helps Allied countries to defeat the Axis powers and liberate as many civilians as possible from their tyrannical rule. Along the way, Diana continues to build relationships with Etta Candy and the Holliday Girls, as well as celebrity pilot, Steve Trevor, who has romantic interest in her.

Earth-2: Society #14 Preview

EARTH-2 SOCIETY #14
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by FEDERICO DALLOCCHIO & ANGEL HERNANDEZ
Cover by JORGE JIMÉNEZ
It’s Wonder against Wonder with the fate of Earth-2 in the balance. The world is barely holding on by its fingertips. Do they dare risk an attempt to reboot their planet with the mysterious Amazonian device? Meanwhile, a new enemy is on the move behind the scenes, attempting to take advantage of situation.
JULY 13 | RATED T | $2.99 PRINT | DIGITAL








Sunday 3 July 2016

Yay or Nay? My Thoughts on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Readers have been asking me for my opinion on this film for quite some time, even before the movie made its theatrical debut. Originally, I had no plans to see the film since nothing about the premise or marketing enticed me to go see it, and I didn't feel like I would gain anything meaningful from the experience. What ultimately got me to see the film was the opening of a brand new cinema down the street from where I live, plus I had a movie pass to go see it. I found myself liking the new cinema (they have comfy recliner chairs!), but I didn't care for the movie at all.

Even though I didn't go to this film expecting to like it and went in with very low expectations, even as a story, very little made sense and felt creatively bankrupt. I walked out of the cinema thinking too much story was missing and the theatrical version provided very little context to justify what was an otherwise stupid brawl between two of DC's iconic heroes. As it was, there was really nothing to talk about.

Last week, the Ultimate Edition of the film was released on Digital HD. The thirty minutes that were cut from the theatrical version? Those scenes were actually crucial to the story the film was trying to tell. I don't understand why Warner Bros. decided to cut those thirty minutes from the film, but I'm assuming it was to keep it from being three hours long and to avoid the R-rating. However, I would've preferred getting the three hour film that was saved for the Blu-Ray over the hack job that was the PG-13 theatrical cut because it tells a more complete story even if it wasn't the story I would've liked for these characters.

Additionally, there was very little in the Ultimate cut that justified the R rating. For the most part, the additional sequences of violence that were reinstated for the Ultimate release were not as intense or graphic as described in the description for the R. I have seen far more triggering depictions of violence in DC comics that were rated T for teen than anything that was shown in this film. Even the brief blood splatters that were shown from people getting shot were pretty tame compared to what you see depicted in mainstream superhero comics, or even the R-rated Deadpool film that came out earlier this year.

If those brief blood splatters were the 'intense sequences of violence' that triggered the R for the MPAA, those blood splatters could've been easily edited out and no one would've noticed. Not even (spoiler alert) Jimmy Olsen's execution scene was actually shown on camera in the R-rated film, and that was the scene that I was expecting to trigger the R. Other deaths that were depicted in this film were also, again, not graphic or triggering, nor anything different from what was shown in the PG-13 theatrical version.

Other things that could've potentially triggered the R that were still not intense enough for an R were (spoiler alert) Ben Affleck's brief nude scene in the shower in which his full back was shown, and the one F bomb that was dropped. That was it. PG-13 films tend to have those too, which makes the R rating for this film all the more baffling. James Cameron's Titanic from 1997 had more swearing and graphic depictions of nudity than anything that was shown in this film and that still made the PG-13 rating. So I don't understand why the more complete version of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was considered an R movie by the MPAA. I guess Warner Bros. decided to experiment with the idea of an R-rated DC film to see how many people would buy the Blu-Ray and inform their decisions for future films?

Either way, my thoughts on this film will be based on the R-rated Ultimate cut since it, once again, tells a more complete story from what was shown to us in the cinemas. If you haven't seen either version of the film and don't want to be spoiled, now is your chance to exit this page until you do see it. I will be talking about the scenes that did get cut from the theatrical version because those scenes are what's going to inform my opinion on the overall film, which is considerably different from my initial thoughts on the theatrical version. You have been warned!

Saturday 25 June 2016

Thoughts about Earth-2, Helena Wayne, and the Justice Society in Rebirth: An Open Letter to Geoff Johns

Dear Geoff Johns,

Happy Saturday! I hope all is well with you and that you are in good health. I'm writing to you today because I've been thinking a lot about Rebirth this past month, and especially where my favourite characters Helena Wayne, Kara Zor-L, and Hippolyta Trevor fit into a Prime Earth Justice Society. I must warn you though, this letter is very long because it is a lot to unpack. I didn't just address what happened in the last 5 years, but also in the last 30 (since the Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot), resulting in the problems with representation we still have today. I also couldn't address the problems I experienced with DC within this timeframe without addressing the larger real world context that influenced many of the problems I experienced. So bear with me. I don't blame you if you take breaks in between paragraphs, because as I said, it's a lot to talk about.

Friday 10 June 2016

Earth-2: Society #13 Review

Title: Earth-2: Society #13
Story: A Whole New World
Characters: Fury, Hawkgirl (Kendra Muñoz-Saunders), Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Flash (Jay Garrick), Huntress (Helena Wayne), Power Girl (Kara Zor-L), Val-Zod, Sandman (Wesley Dodds), Sonia Sato, Doctor Fate (Khalid Ben-Hassin)
Creators: Dan Abnett (writer), Federico Dallocchio (artist)
Publication Date: June 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: Hawkgirl returns to Neotropolis after spending months venturing into the wilderness, looking for any signs of life. There to greet her are the Flash and Power Girl who tell her that she 'sounded off' alarms with her arrival. Hawkgirl confirms that she didn't arrive alone and introduced her friends to Fury.

Wednesday 8 June 2016

Earth-2: Society #13 Preview

EARTH-2 SOCIETY #13
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by FEDERICO DALLOCCHIO
Cover by JORGE JIMÉNEZ
Can the device that Fury used to bring back the Amazons also provide the means to power up the new Earth-2, a world without natural resources? Hawkgirl thinks so, but given Fury's background and history, can she convince the other Wonders and the rest of the world? Sides will be chosen as the future of the entire world may very well hang in the balance.
JUNE 08 | RATED T | $2.99 PRINT | DIGITAL







Friday 3 June 2016

The Best of the Huntress: Wonder Woman #289 Review

Title: Wonder Woman #289
Story: Walls of Stone, Chains of Steel!
Characters: Huntress (Helena Wayne), Charlie Bullock, Arthur Cranston, Edgar Stenville
Creators: Paul Levitz (writer), Joe Staton (artist)
Publication Date: February 1982
Available In: Print | Digital
Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault

Summary: It's an ordinary day in Gotham and Helena Wayne is just getting ready for work. The moment she makes it out the door, she is attacked by someone she has seemingly met before and is knocked unconscious by a chain that produces electrical shocks. By the time she wakes up hours later, she finds herself bound to a wall with medieval manacles and her shirt ripped open. Her captor is none other than Edgar Stenville, a crime boss she has run into twice on two back-to-back cases.

Wednesday 25 May 2016

Wonder Woman Wednesday: The Legend of Wonder Woman #6

Title: The Legend of Wonder Woman #6
Story: The Legend of Wonder Woman Chapters 16-18
Characters: Diana Prince, Etta Candy, Steve Trevor, Duke of Deception
Creators: Renae De Liz (writer/artist), Ray Dillon (artist)
Publication Date: May 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: In Normandy, France, Princess Diana (now going by the name Diana Prince) volunteers as a nurse for the US military to gain information about the Duke of Deception. Accompanying Diana is Etta Candy of Holliday College who looks to dazzle US soldiers with her singing talent, while at the same time functioning as Diana's guide to the outside world. Death and destruction follow the Duke of Deception wherever he sets foot, effectively plaguing the shores of Normandy with armies of undead soldiers that cannot be defeated with mortal weapons.

Saturday 21 May 2016

DC's Rebirth Is Leaving Me Weirdly Optimistic--Some Spoilers Ahead

When I first heard of DC's Rebirth initiative earlier this year, I was cautiously optimistic especially with chief creative officer Geoff Johns overseeing the project. When we officially learned the details of the initiative in a live press conference in March, I was quickly bummed out by the lack of Earth-2 and Justice Society news, effectively leaving me with the impression that DC had decided to abandon the concept all together.

Johns had later confirmed that the Justice Society was 'still out there somewhere,' but without any details of the team's status, I couldn't bring myself to feel excited for that rather ambiguous confirmation, especially given DC's history with the Justice Society. Now that some very spoilery details have been leaked, I feel my optimism rising again and hoping for a better future. Since there are two major spoilers mentioned in this post, I highly recommend that you turn away now and come back to this post on Wednesday after you've already read the one-shot.

Thursday 19 May 2016

Legend of Wonder Woman Gets Volume 2 by DC

It's been known for quite some time that writer and artist Renae De Liz had a sequel planned for her hit miniseries Legend of Wonder Woman, and even pitched another comic that explored the history of the Amazons in depth.

For a while, De Liz was uncertain of the status of her new projects at DC, even with an Eisner nomination for Legend of Wonder Woman for the best digital comic category. Well yesterday, De Liz confirmed and happily announced on Twitter that the second volume of her hit miniseries was greenlit by DC:
I'm so excited to announce that @DCcomics has officially green lit LEGEND OF WONDER WOMAN - Volume 2!!! 
— Renae De Liz (@RenaeDeLiz) May 18, 2016

Wednesday 18 May 2016

Wonder Woman Wednesday: The Legend of Wonder Woman #5 Review

Title: The Legend of Wonder Woman #5
Story: The Legend of Wonder Woman Chapters 13-15
Characters: Diana Prince, Etta Candy, Steve Trevor, Perry White
Creators: Renae De Liz (writer/artist), Ray Dillon (artist)
Publication Date: May 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: Princess Diana has spent a few weeks in man's world, and is still pretty disoriented by all the stark differences between the world she knows and the one that exists just outside of it. She doesn't want to get too assimilated into this world feeling a staunch loyalty to her mother and people of Themyscira, but she's also curious about all of the things this new world has to offer.

Monday 16 May 2016

Dear DC Comics, Stop Being Sexist, Stop Pretending That Helena Wayne Doesn't Exist To Continue Her Own Family's Legacy

I am seriously getting tired of constantly addressing DC's problems with sexism. We're sixteen years into the 21st century, and we still have to have this conversation. We're especially five years into a relatively new DC continuity, and amidst all of the scandal and controversy surrounding DC's questionable hiring practises (practises where they find reasons to fire women from positions of power while coddling well known sexual harassers with a history), DC continues to demonstrate how little they regard women as both customers and as people.

What is the latest DC fuck-up that has me addressing this problem all over again, for the umpteenth time, on the fifth year that I've been addressing this same problem? Look no further than DC's latest solicitations for August, especially for Earth-2:

Saturday 14 May 2016

Earth-2: Society #12 Review

Title: Earth-2: Society #12
Story: One Nation Indivisible
Characters: Fury, Hawkgirl (Kendra Muñoz-Saunders), Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Flash (Jay Garrick), Huntress (Helena Wayne), Kara Zor-L (Power Girl), Val-Zod, Sandman (Wesley Dodds), Sonia Sato, Captain Steel (Henry Heywood Jr)
Creators: Dan Abnett (writer), Iban Coello (artist)
Publication Date: May 2016
Available In: Print | Digital

Summary: Ark Home Colony and Erebus City are on the brink of war, and the World Army moves in on both cities prepared to take any measures necessary to keep civilians safe from hostile combatants. Huntress, Power Girl, and the Flash are against killing their own people (including the combatants) which puts them at odds with Captain Steel who is very prepared to kill if necessary. Huntress, Power Girl, and Flash only agree to help out with the war on the condition that they resort to killing only as a last ditch resort.

Wednesday 11 May 2016

Earth-2: Society #12 Preview

EARTH-2 SOCIETY #12
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by IBAN COELLO
Cover by JORGE JIMÉNEZ
What role do superheroes play on a new world where society has to rebuild itself from the ground up? Two cities are about to go to war over limited resources and this new Earth-2 is beginning to look as familiar as the old one. Can Captain Steel and Power Girl stop the fighting before it starts?
MAY 11 | RATED T | $2.99 PRINT | DIGITAL








Tuesday 10 May 2016

Earth-2 Has A New Group Editor: Jim Chadwick!

I noticed last month that a new group editor was credited on Earth-2: Society #11, but didn't know at the time if this was a permanent change or if this new editor was only temporarily filling in for editors Eddie Berganza and Michael Cotton. Now that the preview for Earth-2: Society #12 is available, it looks like the new group editor, Jim Chadwick, is here to stay.