"Agents of S.H,I.E.L.D"

This is an open letter to anybody who wants read my rambling, geeky thoughts on comics and televised versions regarding Marvel Comics. The new show "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" (for simplicity, "AoS") will be coming to TV soon and I believe that this show is going to be a success. But this show should also be a launching pad to introduce other characters within the Marvel Universe. Examples like Echo, Morbius, White Tiger, Cage and Iron Fist, Daredevil and The Punisher just as examples. What you could potentially have with this series acting as a launchpad for a street version of "The Avengers" based on the "Marvel Knights" formula. It doesn't have to be a big deal with big budgets, but if Marvel Television, Disney, ABC, and the powers that be could work out the logistics of this multi character idea I'm spewing out by the second season or so of AoS, the live action Marvel U just got that much better than DC (which is losing points based on the New 52 reboot).

The "Justice League" movie in 2017- Success in Four Steps

Hi all,

  With the revelation of a "Justice League" movie by 2017, I've been thinking how this could work and it boils down to COHESIVE RELATIVITY; Marvel proved that this indeed works and now I see what DC Comics need to do to get to "Justice League" in the drool zone as being real!

1) 2015 pt. 1: Batman/ Superman

Let these two get their hands dirty at the start because we all know it will end with the two respecting each other. But to make this epic in leading to "Justice League" , you introduce Col. Steve Trevor who will introduce us to Wonder Woman (At the end of the credits). We all know of the DCU trinity, so we also know that her appearance will guarantee a film by 2016.

2) 2015 pt 2: Green Lantern movie

This is my favorite logical thought because we all know who is Green Lantern's best friend.This movie introduces Iris West and... BARRY ALLEN. He too should get his own movie by 2016. GL gets The Hulk and The Incredible Hulk treatment, and also brings in Parademons, and maybe STARRO. By end of his movie, we get Barry caught up in a lab mishap and the Guardians putting Jordan's Sector on watch at the release of something malevolent, thus guaranteeing a 2016 release of three other heroes.

PARADEMONS... Boom Tube

3) 2016: Oreo Cookies, Tiaras, lightning, and... Arthur Curry

The Flash movie will feature either a cameo or mention of Lois and Clark, while Wonder Woman doing the  same for Bruce Wayne. Why? COHESIVE RELATIVITY! These cameos will importantly establish the DCU, as well as hint at the lead-in of "Justice League"

Aquaman has to have his own movie- no ifs, ands, or buts about it. A highly established character like him should be in this incarnation of the League. We need him and John Jones... J'onn J'onzz... Martian Manhunter (lover of all things Oreo), who at the end of Aquman, we see him struggling with a a strong, powerful force affecting his telepathy... and physical state. 

Count 'em... how many heroes is that? SEVEN and that leads to 2017. Seven for 2017.

4) The Justice League Movie

The Guardians, the reporters, the military, the enemies will come after the seven and all the movies leading to this moment will be cohesive in relation to it. And why...? Because they were smart in relating everything together with cameos, casual mentions, and Easter eggs!

I'm excited, but these are my thoughts getting me smiling from ear to ear. What do you think?

The Man of Steel

Potential Spoilers Ahead... 

I loved the movie. Honestly. Truly loved "Man of Steel" and for me there was no comparison to any other versions at all. A spectacular stand alone vision that had me glued to its kinetic action and magnetic visuals. I clearly remember critics in 1978 split on "Superman: The Movie". Some didn't care for the acting, lovey dovey storyline, improbable time paradox action for the lovey dovey storyline... but it didn't matter

It was Superman. The Man of Steel.

Now for the 21st century, with movie technology caught up to finally give us a truly great and deserved Superman story worthy of the franchises in rebooting, but also one that could easily fit into a comic book issue, I have to say I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Nitpickers also had their day with Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy... we fans finally got the bad taste of Joel Schumacher's dismal and colorfully unbalanced direction of George Clooney in the batsuit. "Man of Steel" cleaned our pallates after the acrid directorial love letter to Richard Donner with Brandon Routh from Bryan Singer's command.

For what we Superman fans have been waiting for finally happened: the alien side of an American icon was shown and a universal hero was reforged- all in a battle of might and strength to showcase his incredible powers and to remind us that he's not only a "Strange Visitor from another planet", but also why he's nicknamed "The Man of Steel"- his resolve in protecting this planet is very much pun intended; "steely". Clearly David Goyer wrote a story that could easily translate into a comic book storyline, but he also made it translatable for casual fans.

"Superman: Birthright" and "Superman: Earth One" are indicative influences seen in this movie (read the books if you care to know my references). And strongly there's a moral question of action in the movie... as a fan, we know this very act was done in an issue written and drawn by John Byrne with Superman doing the unthinkable. As a fan, I see what Goyer did and I applaud his efforts and delivery. Also treating Lois as smart and respecting her enough to create an issue of trust and guardianship means no dumbing down of a character that for years had many question "A Pulutzer award winning reporter- how could she not know...?"

As a fan I love this movie as much as I adored the Nolan Batman trilogy. We're in the 21st century and the world is a dark, different place than what it was in 1978. Men still wore fedoras and women wore evening gowns. Dates were over candlelight, smoking was allowed indoors. Gas was under a dollar, typewriters were used, and you dressed professionally for work. Now baseball caps replace fedoras, jeans are the norm for dates, sportsbars beat candlelight, designated smoking sections exist, gas is at times almost $5, smartphones trump the classic writing tool, and dress down day is everyday for most places of employment

My point? We're in the 21st century!!! And we need a hero reflective of these often dark times to instill hope. That is super in train of thought. To be optimistic and have that about you 24/7 is superhuman. But that's why he's called "Superman". From his very first illustrated afventure of clearing a convict's name and saving him from execution, he has done just that- instilled hope. So yes, things were thrown about, it may have reminded some of a "Transformer" movie. The storyline may have lacked humor and the soft light adrenaline swooning flirty love scenes. This is a Superman for us hardcore fans, but it also allows the casual fan to sit next to us. Together we watch, seperately our reactions vary, but unified we can say this- that's Superman on the big screen.

We agree to disagree, but for me in 2013, I was that little boy in a darkened theater in 1978 all over again. And with hope, I saw a man fly and do really incredible, super things. His face and costume are different from back then, but the core of the character is still there.I didn't mind that there weren't red trunks or a yellow belt. That there was no "S forelock". I saw a man do super things and it looked very real! He fought for Truth. He stood for Justice and he proclaimed he was American. And he wore that "S" on his chest well. Today- I reaffirmed my belief in Superman- his ideals and his determination made me stare at the screen in awe, never changing my gaze. This was Superman- the Man of Steel.

I await the sequel.

Infatuation

So... I realize that I've taken a break from actively wanting to pursue anybody or date anyone. But now I think I'm ready to be serious in dating again and it turns out that I do have my eye on someone. I'm excited because there is somebody that I actually really do like a lot. Problem is though I've never even talked to them. I've never seen in person. And briefly in a accidental texted conversation where I hsd butterflies and shaky hands. Somehow, someway I always seem to get this kind of infatuation with women who appear as "damsels".

Women usually getting over an ex-boyfriend, have confidence issues... a plethora of things. I'm not trying to be a Superman and save them- its not what I want or am striving for. What it is and what I'm really wanting-- seeking-- is just someone who really wants me. No fear and no trepidation. They can have kids, grandkids even, or due to circumstances have moved back in with their parents. It's ok- I would assure them of that and honestly... who doesn't come with some baggage?

I guess what I'm really wanting is somebody who can see me thru all my stuff- my issues really and aren't afraid to take a chance. They're eager to see what we can do together. But until then, I fight this lifetime losing battle infatuation.

I crush a lot. What a battle...

This coming Wednesday will begin the dawn of a new era in comics, one that hasn't been seen since the days I was a kid. For me, DC Comics represents the "Mount Olympus" of comics publishing and when I was a kid, I went through a story that was an upheaval of solid foundation in my steadfast heroes. "Crisis on Infinite Earths" pulled at me, and had me collect the stories that showed me my idols. The architects Marv Wolfman, George Perez, and Jerry Ordway had been deconstructing these tried, true, and reliable heroes to give them breadth and weight. I literally shed a tear at the deaths of Barry Allen Flash (the "foot in the door" soldier of the Silver Age") and Kara Zor-El Supergirl. The often imitated (in respect) images of their deaths resonated strong and in my youthful age, I had to come and accept that no matter what I the fan wanted, the publisher had a master plan.

Still, I was disappointed at the deaths of Wonder Woman (E1), Robin & Huntress (E2), Nighthawk, Green Arrow (E2), Lori Lemaris, Don Hall Dove, Farmer Boy/ Flower of Easy Company, and Aquagirl to name a few, I knew I would eventually see them again. Wally West was the first graduate of the original Teen Titans to take over the role of mentor (and it was welcomed), knowing that E1 WonderWoman was going back in time to relive her life was genius in thought, and the introduction of a female Dove is awesome (the story was great, but I'm not here to bash the artist who apparently is back on the series and will remain nameless) in theory. BUT, it was the changes they instituted on the primary characters that at first reading felt offensive, but became what I can gradually acknowledge as my acceptance in change (my own personal phobia) for the sake of growth- character driven growth to prevent mothball hording. DC Comics did something to THE BIG THREE that offended some people, but made new fans:

Superman

Under the guidance of John Byrne and the inspiration of the Fleischer Superman Cartoons, we got a Superman whose natural parents died on a sterile-like world, conferred regularly with his now living foster parents, one chunk of green kryptonite existed, he was known as The Man of Steel (a new origin mini series was named for that moniker), but had a bio electric force field that made him invulnerable, was a living solar battery, could fly at will, and was supposedly a well known novelist, as well as a reporter. For all of Byrne's changes aesthetically, no one adhered to them really: the cape was was always tattered and a lot of writers/ artists didn't like that- so they made it stick that the cape was indestructible, . He was supposed to be the only survivor from Krypton, but then we got a protoplasmic chick who turned out to be an Earth angel, then was wiped from existence, before the emergence of another Supergirl, this time the real cousin of Kal-El (Confused yet? That 20+ years of stories in one sentence folks). His time as Superboy was taken away and replaced with VALOR (Mon-El... just wikipedia it here- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mon-El#Valor) as the inspiration of the teen heroes called The Legion of Superheroes. Superboy and Krypto would return later- Suck it!

Byrne's Superman was revolutionary as it paid tribute to Siegel & Shuster's Superman/ Fleischer's Superman, as well as George Reeves' portrayal in "The Adventures of Superman"TV Show, yet was also distinctively his: Byrne's idea that Superman could be his own "Fortress of Solititude" was introvert in thought and was never really accepted (I personally scoffed at this- even to this day), but was understood. Byrne did great things in his revamp of Superman- his Kent wasn't a clumsy oaf (AWESOME)- he was confident and sure of himself, the vision powers weren't seen as "lasers" (COOL effect and sensible tribute to Reeves' Superman), Lois wasn't trying to reveal any secret identities, Lex Luthor wasn't a mad scientist, Batman wasn't the smiling best friend as he was before- he had grudging respect for Superman's M.O., Bizarro was an imperfect clone that gradually became grotesque (DAMN GOOD VERSION), reintroducing Inspector Henderson in the comics as Metropolis' new police commissioner was pretty good and making Clark 28 years old was a good touch.

Byrne's revamp was the foundation of the same Superman we see now walking across America, who married Lois Lane, and became Batman's best friend again and DC showed that Byrne's version was a Superman just starting to come into his own; powerful & stronger since his 1986 appearance, and gave us the version that we will say goodbye to 8/31/2011.

(By the way- Power Girl once again is left out on the sidelines, feeling no love...)

Batman

The post COIE Batman was crafted by Frank Miller in the equally successful revamp called "Batman: Year One" in which simpler elements are used to craft Wayne into becoming The Dark Knight. This Batman is silent, gruff, and focused in releasing his anger as a doctor wields a scalpel. Other writers injected their own ideas into the character, but Batman's greatest strength post crisis was the dichotomy of the lone dark knight- he wasn't alone: we got a grown Robin now known as Nightwing, a psycho who died and then came back as the second Robin to the Red Hood, and then we got a geek who deduced Wayne was Batman to which Bruce brought the kid into the fold making him the third, until we meet Damien... a brat from a night of passion between the Dark Knight Detective and one of his enemies daughters, who now is the fifth Robin- and his son (read on). We also got a new Huntress (my favorite after Power Girl), the original Batgirl who became the information heroine known as Oracle, and stepping in her place was the girlfriend of the third Robin who became the fourth Robin, died and then came back to life (can't wrap my head around that, so... here ya go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoiler_(comics)... long story short is this; post-crisis Batman was different and accepted, as he will be in the new 52.

(An event called ZERO HOUR screws with Batman a great deal, yet makes him real cool- in this new reality, Bruce never caught his parent's killer- the screw, while he is referred to as a "urban legend"-the cool)

Wonder Woman

An epilogue showed that Wonder Woman (E2) and retired General Steve Trevor went to live among the gods of Mount Olympus, while Wonder Woman (E1) was devolved to clay. George Perez's revamp was carefully thought out, planned, and given a huge push, as her post crisis lifestyle gave us more Greek Heroine than Star Spangled Warrior- something not explored in greater, broad detail. Wonder Girl Donna Tory's origin was still in question after COIE, but we met Cassie Sandsmark who would eventually come in and fill that role of sidekick. This Wonder Woman after COIE was very much Superman's crush in her debut, but eventually became one of his best friends. This WW's Steve Trevor was not her love interest, but an older friend who married her rubenesque friend Etta Candy.

However post crisis Wonder Woman had some issues too- mom was the original Wonder Woman who fought alongiside the JSA (who came back in the next big crossover called ZERO HOUR- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_Hour:_Crisis_in_Time) in WWII. She was stripped of the title by an Egyptian Amazon named Artemis who was literally the red headed stepchild of Hippolyta, and endured several real life quibbles over costume changes (including some nonsensical musings over wearing pants). I'll stop there because this leads to my last paragraph...

... This Wednesday, we'll see a new Justice League with a new origin, like the ones presented about the Big Three after COIE. My point is this- all these changes did nothing really to the characters. For a while Superman had a mullet, Batman had a darker suit with no trunks, then he removed the yellow background on his symbol, and fanboys/girls forget that Wonder Woman is a female who should be allowed to change her look. Aesthetics aside, these heroes are due for a change and we as fans should sit back, enjoy the new fresh ideas that will go into making this 52 canon for another 20 years, and stop haranguing about the loss of red trunks on Superman, or the addition of retractable pants on Wonder Woman. Real fans are not about aesthetics- we're about substance over style (I refer to no artist by name) and the substance of Wonder Woman stories will make you forget about pants.

I look forward to Wednesday with Justice League #1... I look forward to all the books (especially the Savage Hawkman with an origin that really makes sense- you'll see) and know that some may reject this now, but most of us will endure and move on, accepting these changes, as we did with the aforementioned Big Three.

Power Girl... I'm In Love

I'm in love with a comic book character... everyone who knows me, would ask, "Which one...? You mean it isn't Superman...?" It's not, but man- she is Kryptonian. I'm talking about Karen Starr, otherwise known as Power Girl and sigh... I Love Her. Let me explain- this is a character I first fell in love with back in the 70's when I started collecting comics. The days when George Tuska and Vince Colletta where drawing strong pages; where names like Joe Staton and Ric Estrada where strong in their art. All Star Comics #58 was one of the first 10 books I received back in 1976- I remember that because of how this character Power Girl was drawn- strong and sexy, I likened her to a blond version of Wonder Woman (and not the Cathy Lee Crosby version either!) and was loving the lil' attitude she gave. More than anything I loved the costume- not like her Kryptonian cousin, or like Kara Zor-El of Earth 1, her costume made her sexier than any scantily clad characters ever created- including Wonder Woman (that's not gonna sit well with Phil Jimenez if he ever reads this). Just GOOGLE Power Girl's image- there are a lot cool art and cosplayers, but be forewarned of the insipid fools who call themselves artists while drawing her scantily clad, topless, or in compromising situtions (although I'm surprised they had time to draw between stints of "pipe cleaning" into a kleenex based on their insipid, yet so-called erotic artistic scribble they call "art" for the character, but I digress...)

I thrilled to reading her adventures in any book she was written in. When the Crisis on Infinite Earths came, I was very vocal in how she was treated after that grand story. She was somehow tied into being an Atlantean and the granddaughter of Atlantean sorcerer Arion (FOUL!). Not the best fix, but DC settled. The best incarnation of her came in Justice League Europe (and the best look/ costume- at that time- IMHO) from Bart Sears), toward the end of that series she had lost her Kryptonian strength (I think it was decreased a lot), her ability to fly and her vision powers (FOUL!).She later got screwed in Zero Hour, giving birth and then losing the baby (FOUL!), then she was in a little known book called “Sovereign Seven”, but that appears to have faded away. She was one of the first agents for Oracle's Birds of Prey, but that robbed her fan base further. Even her costumes have been rewarding and ridiculous; from the grand (first appearance) to the horrendous (A yellow/ white bodysuit), to "WTF!!!" (A blue/ white bodysuit with a short mini-cape, headband, and a diamond shaped opening on her chest)
She was cheated out of her Kryptonian heritage, but all wasn't lost- not at all. Enter "JSA Classified" with Adam Hughes, Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Justin Gray. These three architects vame in with loving care for the character and endeared her even more so to her incredible fan base, drawing in more fans! They hooked her into a battle with The Psycho Pirate, the only being who remembers the whole COIE incident and he revealed to her true origin- as a true life Kryptonian (YEAH!)- just not of this earth, but one called "EARTH 2". The series segued into "Infinite Crisis" and I prayed that she would not lose her life in this series- a nasty rumor of a Kryptonian dying (Superboy, who was a Kryptonian/ Earth hybrid clone did), the joy I felt when I read she was not to die overwhelmed my inner geeky fanboy. She made it through that crisis, she became stronger in the DCU by becoming the chairwoman of the JSA and the JSA All Stars!. The last few times I've seen her, she's been an "older sister" to Supergirl (as she SHOULD be depicted as), and a mentor to Terra. I personally would love to see her more involved in the SUPERMAN books (note to any DC Execs who would read this blog), sort of like a a “2nd/ 3rd-in-command” in the Superman family with Steel, Supergirl, Superboy, and Krypto . I totally love the dynamic of her relationship with Helena/ The Huntress; I really wanna see something like a "World's Finest" thing with them- a best friend (the one thing I know she misses and her fan base misses- she and Helena Wayne Earth 2 were BFFs) would be wonderful story idea. What I don't want to see is her as Hal Jordan's booty call... FOUL!

I get pure eyegasm from seeing Adam Hughes' work of her and to see that he loves her as much shows in his work. BUT... AMANDA CONNOR?!?!?!?!? She's the Boss!!!

I truly believe in this character's future now as I loved her Pre COIE past depiction. I feel NOW that no one... I'll reiterate- NO ONE- calls the shot on this character until they go through her (and Jimmy and Justin!) for the simple reason that she is now in great hands! More careful, loving, endearing hands- there is a better grasp on her now. Not only do we get Kara back, we get Karen Starr, Starrware, and a newly updated design on Ric Estrada's original look: I love the red belt coming back, the boot/ belt buckles are great and show continuity. The design/ look/ feel of the body suit, the cool as cool can be blue gloves, the gold shoulder pad with the leather strap and the cape... I dare anyone to change this look- THIS is her NEW definitive look and all of us fans are in total eyegasmic state of relief! I love the cover to No. one with Amanda's pencils to Power Girl, with the logo, the stars, and Paul Mount's coloring... it's so fresh; the colors grab your attention. If ever a character deserves a place in the DCU and a new start, it's Karen Starr. A few things as fan I'd like to see are:

1) BFF with The Huntress; so important for her to have Helena as a BF. They both are really not tied to their respective mentor’s families, yet they have both played vital, important roles in them. Huntress and Power Girl MUST embrace their destiny as best friends; so that they can see how much they can accomplish together (I realized I just got all Spock Prime for a minute).
2) Karen Starr- the alter ego thing is back and it has to work.
3) StarrWare- it must be vital in the DCU, as is Star Labs. I always thought StarrWare would be like the major O/S system of the DCU.
4) Her relationship with Terra, Linda Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Lois, Martha, Connor, and Clark have to be established as emotional support characters, not really title support characters. If she feels like homemade pie, she should visit Martha. If she wants girl time and Helena is busy, Terra or Supergirl can be brought in for Sisterly Bonding. When she wants to get a woman to woman view on things- Wonder Woman should fit that role (powerful women in the DCU- #1: Wonder Woman, #2: Power Girl). If she sees Connor needs a big sister, they should interact in a way that allows them to feel like family with each other. A support system for Clark and Lois… and a sitter for Krypto!

There could be more, but honestly, again… I am in love with Power Girl. She's in great hands now and this blog is openly written in thanks to the following: Dan Didio, Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Connor, Paul Mounts, Phil Jimenez, Adam Hughes, Brian Cunningham, George Perez, Jerry Ordway, Bart Sears, Gerry Conway, and finally Ric Estrada, who brought Gerry's vision of Kara Zor-L to life in the first place.

Mourning

I was listening to the song "My Immortal" by Evanescence and although it's a really sad song, there are those that hear the song as a funeral dirge and I suppose in many ways it can be. Death isn't something related to just the physical; no- it can be in a relationship between lovers, parents and children, in a marriage, in a friendship, or even in a spiritual sense... in almost every essence of what is known "something living" there is also something known as THE END. I ask, "Who wants to face THE END?" Who is brave enough to look in to the unknown and shout, "I welcome THE END?" No one unless they're a fool. When the end of something comes, before there is a healing, before you can move on- you have a period where you question in heavy sadness why? This is called Mourning and when one mourns, the onlookers offer you their shoulder and feed you kind words like, "Everything will be ok" or "It's for the best". They're kind words, but at that moment, you don't want to hear that, you want the answer to your question, "Why?". Why did they die? Why is it over? Why did they leave me? What did I do? Am I a bad person? Do I deserve this?

The attempted answer will be offered by those who offer their kind words, but the truth is that the question has no real answer- it may never actually be answered by anyone physical. I believe strongly in God and I feel that he has many answers to many questions- I just have draw closer to Him to get what I ask for. Others may have another source to getting their answers, which is based on the situation presented before them; "They died", "They quit" or "They lied to you" or "It wasn't meant to happen" or my favorite "It will get better..." followed by a warm heartfelt promise. I choose to ask God why to my questions; but in this realm of physical matter, our questions goes unanswered. So... we're left with the kind words from family, friends, or even strangers to soothe our sorrow. In the time before healing can begin, in which we curse the feeling and question the reason- we are in mourning, wanting things to be the way they were, wanting a second chance, begging for the ability to go back in time and correct things. We are in mourning, and although we know things will be better in the future, as tomorrow is another day, we want things better RIGHT NOW- The Hell with Tomorrow! The loneliness creeps in, the sad realization that life will go on scares us- a loved one will find another, a death in tears will be fondly remembered in laughter, the friendship of one BFF may open up to a new BFF. The future isn't really sad, but right now- in the present, you grieve, you yell, you shout, you cry, you slump to bended knees, or tears soak your pillowcase at night and you want to know the answer to your question, "Why?"

There is no real answer for this happening right now. You must accept something that you are not in control of- fate. Fate has the answer, as your destiny may lie in this dreadful change you are undergoing. It will shape you, mold you, and strengthen you. It will teach you, change you as seasons change, and it will allow you to celebrate what may come your way. But for now, accept the grief, embrace the sadness, but be careful not to let it overwhelm you. Open yourself to emotions- whatever they are and feel no shame in expressing them. Relish in the past, where times were good and enjoy those memories. Savor the present, although its wrought with sadness, you are alive and this moment in time reminds you of that. Finally, welcome the future with no fear- as your destiny lies there- THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY! Unconquered land is what YOU will make of it. But know this: No one person can tell you how to feel in this period of mourning your life where it stands. Because it is different for everyone and every situation. Accept, embrace, open yourself up, and allow the mourning to come in.

By the way... it will get better- I promise.