New review. Its been a while and nobody reads these but I get to say something when I feel ready to. I will , again, try to make these weekly updates as it may help me vent my frustration or admiration for the comic medium.

Been on vacation this week and finally got around to reading my Daredevil Omnibus written by, in my estimation, one of the best story tellers out there currently. I don't care whether you write for movies, T.V., or novels. Brian M. Bendis is fantastic. Not only because he can write, but it seems to the reader that he really knows his subject matter. I have been reading comics a long time and I know a good bit about comic continuity and history and he manages in every comic he writes to nail it!

Anyway the collection in the Omnibus is a complete run of his take on Daredevil and I loved it. I am a big Daredevil fan but rarely pick it up monthly. Don't know why.

I read this and it made me really, really regret not picking this book up on a regular basis. However, with that said, I am not sure if I would have been able to handle waiting each month to read the next chapter. The one thing that is great about trades or omnibus collections is that you get to read all of it at once and really get the pacing and the timing and the drama that the writer was going for.

In his run, Bendis manages to incorporate all the daredevil lore that I loved as a kid reading these comics. From the Owl to Bullseye he inherently writes these characters so beautifully in intimately, that you feel he created them. Nothing tops his depiction of the Kingpin though. From the failed assasination on the Kingpin's life to his resurrection, Bendis portrays him as the street level Vito Corleone a connection that I never saw before as I normally saw in the white sportcoat days.

Along with this, Bendis manages to introduce another intriguing and very likable love interest to Matt Murdock. One Murdock inevitably fouls up and one you hope he doesn't.

I know Bendis has more Daredevil but sadly not collected in an Omnibus. I must go get it. After I read the Brubaker Omnibus of course.

Do yourself a favor....pick it up and read it.

Until next time...

Just a Review

It's been a long time. Well, I am about to switch this blog from some sort of sad and ill timed political statement, to a pure review of comics that I am reading. I think this will be a little more, um... well... interesting. Maybe.

At least I should be able to post more. (It is hard to come up with savvy political statements all the time that relate to comics.) Plus, this should be more fun. If you like, leave a comment, if not... thanks for reading anyway.

This month I have finished reading the trades of the current volume of Captain America and the Winter Soldier story line. Whoa! What a great, great book. Ed Brubeaker's writing is captivating and pairs well with Steve Epting's art. Honestly, I was a big fan of Cap back in the 80's and never missed an issue. Until the 90's. That whole decade was crap for Cap! (funny)

I heard Mr. Brubaker on a recent podcast on Around Comics. (Excellent by the way)He has a very clear vision of what Cap is supposed to be and how he can be relevant to today's readers. I will admit, though, I am more intrigued now that Cap is dead and how the series will go on. Mr. Brubaker has a plan and it seems to be very interesting. The book will deal with the idea of Captain America more than the man and explore ideas around the void he fills.

Anyway, the Winter Soldier story is great as it starts to get the reader really into Cap's head. He is really a man out of time. All his emotions, all his strong and pertinent life memories happened 60 years ago. Cap is a real character again and not just a symbol. Additionally, he cleverly re-writes, or clarifies, some of Cap's origin and explains his "appearances" in the 50's, 60's, and I think the 70's. (not sure about that last decade) He brings this character smoothly into today and makes you feel for him. (I actually felt a little sad. Sniff!)

What else is great about these stories is that Bucky is now back and that character relationship, both from the past and today is being explored. For those of you who have not read it, that is all I will say. Please read. (Sorry if I said to much already)

Please read the trades currently out and put this book on your pull list. You will not be disappointed.

Marvel Comics CIVIL WAR

Could this be the best comic series ever? I have been reading comics for thirty years and this possible could be the best thing I have ever read. I was talking to Bill, the owner of my local comic shop this past week, and we agreed that when we were kids, we would have never would have gotten this one. The political overtones and the similarities this series is taking with current political events in the US are cool.

The whole series revolves around a "registration act" that all superheros must register in order to keep the country safe. As the title implies, some agree, some do not. This starts tearing the superhero community apart. Old friends are now enemy's, families split, and villains now become hero's. Sound familiar?

It is funny how comics, if you look at the history of them and the times they are published, continue to subtlely comment on the nature of the country, very specifically, I might add. They do this without much restraint and sometimes very much in your face. Check this series out and go to your local comic shop.

MASKS

There was a great line in the "V for Vendetta" movie that was not in the comics. If you have not seen the movie or read the comic masterpiece by Alan Moore and David Loyd, you should. It makes a great statement on freedom and society as well as what the human race will put up with just to have the perception of these things. It also reaffirms the notion that "idea" never die. Strong, strong book and movie. The line in the movie came from a gay character, that through societal laws and attitudes has been repressed, even outlawed, from being who he truly is. He for the government run broadcasting company and is under continual pressure to set forth the best face for the country. In an amazing few seconds of introspection while discussing this with the movies title character, Evy, he states that sometimes we all where masks for so long, we forget who we really are. The question of being persecuted by the world you love has effected everyone since the dawn of time. For me is it being a liberal, fun loving comic reader in the midst of a continuously confrontational, territory marking, corporate environment. For the character in V it was being gay and for the X-Men is it being continually different from everyone around you.

This is exactly how things are for most of us I think and that's why comics are cool. In a fantastic way, they relate to our feelings of being misfits to the need to have hero's and validate things we think no one feels. When in reality, we probably all feel the same way.

Out

Thirty Years after I start reading comics and comic book heroines are still HOT!

When you are a young and impressionable little man you start reading comics because of the strong barbarian like "good vs evil" qualities the comic tale has to offer. After a couple of years, and a few strategically placed hormones, you start to see the exaggeration that is the female form in comics. Either very large Who-Ha's get your attention or just the tightness of the costumes consume you, and you cannot get enough and it becomes as much an attraction to buying the comics as your hero's are.

Then you mature and get busier with your life....and it still get you. Thirty years later and I am just as amused buy it. Take old WW here. After all these years she still gets me.

Man! I love comics!

Moving forward

It seems that as society moves forward things stay stagnant in some sort of 1950's McCarthy time warp. As more and more diversity permeates our outside lives, it is funny how things like comics still do not reflect it.

For example, Latino's and Asian Americans are some of the fastest growing populations in the U.S. but comics have little or no prominent superheros from these cultures. Even as African Americans have continued to contribute to American society, I bet less than 1% of the total hero population at the "Big Two" have prominent Black Superheros. Even worse is the gay representation.

Even when these ideas and cultures are introduced they fade away as quickly as a new Kevin Costner film. (And that is pretty quick. I mean, really, have you seen some of his recent trash?)

As progressive people who continually evolve ideas and societal norms I would just once, like to see some real guts from a comic book company and commit to making diverse comic characters work. Perminently. Maybe we all will learn something.

Then again, if not, I probably will just keep reading anyway.

Hail! Hail! to the Knight of comic geeks!

Your favorite Batman wannabe, The Moon Knight, is back with a darker twist. It just seems that in a world of very "moral" and "religious" normal people, who incidentally are probably the most dangerous people in the world, would hold up a manic depressive, sex driven, and all around crazy MoFo as a hero.

This dude is all about the adventure, knockin' boots and hitting people as hard as he, or one of his multiple personalities can. To top it off, he starts and ends this issue in a pain killer induced delusion. It's Cool. Check it out.

4 out of 5