Monthly archives: March, 2007

Mar122007March 12, 2007August 19, 20075Commentsby Fin Fang Doom

Meaningless Awards of the Week- 3/7/07

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Marvel Zombies vs. Army of DarknessDeath of the Week

18. The Lorens (Nightwing #130)
17. Probably some civilians in Wayne Tower (Detective Comics #829)
16. An old lady (Nightwing #130)
15. Delron (Criminal #5)
14. That guy playing poker (Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #2)
13. Jeff (Criminal #5)
12. Lots and lots of Shi’ar (Uncanny X-Men #484)
11. Gonzo (Uncle Sam & The Freedom Fighters #8)
10. War (52 Week 44)
9. Pestilence (52 Week 44)
8. Death (52 Week 44)
7. Seymour (Criminal #5)
6. Isis (52 Week 44)
5. The Avengers (Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness #1)
4. Solomon Grundy (Justice League of America #6)
3. Sobek/”Famine”- (52 Week 44)
2. Spider-Man (Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness #1)
1. Captain America (Captain America #25)

Man, this was a big week for death. It seems like I bought more comics this week that featured someone’s death than ones that didn’t. The majority of the deaths took place in three books: 52, Criminal and Marvel Zombies v. Army of Darkness. 52 contained the deaths of Isis and the Monster Society of the Four Ages of Dread of Apokolips in its Anguished, Bloody Morning (or something). Criminal featured many deaths, including a rather unpleasant heroin inhalation scene. MZvAOD contained the deaths of, well, pretty much everyone except Ash. The Batman family had a hard time preventing civilians from getting killed this week: four people were murdered in Nightwing and who-knows-how-many were killed in the explosions in Wayne Tower. The best death, of course, was Captain America, which the Legion discussed earlier this week.

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Mar112007March 11, 2007October 27, 20191Commentby Fin Fang Doom

24 Hour Comics

Posted in 24 Hour Comics, rants & nostalgia by

Longtime readers (both of you) might remember that back in October, several members of the Legion of Doom participated in a 24 Hour Comics Day in Lincoln, NE. Jim Doom was kind enough to organize the event and Doominator, Doom DeLuise and myself each participated, along with a few other friends and one complete stranger. Earlier today when I was linking around I came across the official 24 Hour Comics Lincoln website, and I realized I’d never gotten around to uploading the other half of my story. If you’re so inclined, you can check out my complete comic “Suspension of Disbelief”, a “hilarious” romp spotlighting both my love of and disgust with Star Trek: The Next Generation, by clicking on the link below. You can check the 24 Hour Comics Lincoln site for the other comics we got around to posting on the internets.

Suspension of Disbelief

And yes, I realize that last panel makes no sense, because of the page I cut out. I might just have to get around to doing a special edition with deleted scenes.


Mar102007March 10, 2007August 5, 20071Commentby Doom DeLuise

Book of Doom: Captain America #25

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captain america 25 Welcome to this week’s Book of Doom round-table discussion. The book we chose this week is Captain America #25. When I made that decision, I had no idea what I was getting us into. For, y’see, this may be the most controversial, most talked about issue of a comic book that’s come out in the past fifteen years. Captain America’s one of the most beloved comic heroes of all time. A true American icon. And now, he’s dead. And I’m torn. I always imagined that if a hero as strong and brave as Cap were to bite the bullet, he’d be given a death appropriate for a hero of his size. He’d die on the battlefield or sacrificing himself for the greater good. Instead, he’s murdered with his hands bound behind his back, by a sniper he doesn’t even know, after being de-masked and stripped of his dignity. It’s a brutal, depressing way to take this character behind the tool shed and put a few bullets in him.

Sadly, this is the most fitting death for Captain America. He’s a hero who’s outlived his relevance. There’s no room for a man of his values and sensibilities. If he were to live for another twenty years, he’d end up playing the role of Superman in “The Dark Knight Returns.” A walking joke. His death comes at a strange time in American history, and a fitting time, as well. The story is poetic and tragic, and it’s accomplished everything it’s needed to accomplish in order to provide a fitting end for Captain America.

Here’s what the rest of the Legion thought: (more…)


Mar102007March 10, 2007August 19, 2007NoCommentby Fin Fang Doom

Monthly Matters

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FNSM 17When I was buying my new comics this week, the this month’s issue of Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man reminded me that I never read last month’s issue, because I was afraid the Back in Black connection might spoil the issue of Amazing Spider-Man where Aunt May get’s shot. So I went digging through my old comics, which I tend to let pile up for months on end before I do a marathon bagging & boarding run. Lo and behold, what else did I find in the bag that housed FNSM #17?

Uncanny X-Men #483
Outsiders #45
Justice League Unlimited #30
Nightwing #129
Detective Comics #828
Fantstic Four: The End #5

“So what?” you may be asking. So what? Guess what came out this week?

Uncanny X-Men #484
Outsiders #46
Justice League Unlimited #31
Nightwing #130
Detective Comics #829
Fantastic Four: The End #6

That’s seven comics, all in one week, that actually came out a month after the last issue of the series. More importantly, six of them were by the same creative team (and the fill-in team on ‘Tec was certainly a reasonably substitute). Sweet! I’m not even going to use this as an excuse to criticize how so much stuff doesn’t come out on time. That seems to have become the norm, which I’ve gotten used to for the most part. I just wanted to point out a good thing going on in comics nowadays.

Hooray for monthly books!


Mar092007March 9, 2007March 9, 20071Commentby Jim Doom

You wouldn’t like me when I’m Stuart Lee

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Rich Johnston reports in this week’s Lying in the Gutters that Stewart Lee will be writing a pilot episode for a BBC2 sitcom about Thor.

While it will be about Thor the Norse god and not Thor the comic character, Johnston points out that Lee’s not the least bit ignorant about comics. He didn’t exactly do a routine about Peter David’s Hulk (just mentioned it early in his routine about Ang Lee), but Stewart Lee has quite a resume when it comes to dealing with religion and mythology, whether comical or not. I scoured YouTube for some highlights from the man’s career, including a few clips from the intellectually stupid comedy he created with Richard Herring in the brilliant “Fist of Fun” and “This Morning With Richard Not Judy” BBC programs.

Everything this guy does is genius, and I only hope this gets picked up and eventually imported to BBC America. If you like the Fist of Fun and TMWRNJ clips below, there are plenty more on YouTube, including the “Curious Orange” series.

Stewart Lee’s interview with Alan Moore

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Mar092007March 9, 2007March 9, 2007NoCommentby Jim Doom

Colbert on Captain America #25

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In case you haven’t used the internet in your cave in the past few days, this clip includes spoilers.


Mar082007March 8, 2007January 12, 2009NoCommentby Jean-Claude Van Doom

Worst to First: 3/7/07

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I don’t want to disappoint any readers, so I’ll say up front that yes, I did buy Captain America #25 (the title’s on my pull list) and yes, I did read it and yes, I do have plenty of thoughts. But I’m saving that for Saturday’s Book of Doom. All you’re getting from me today are reviews of books that didn’t feature the death of one of the five most famous comic book characters of all time. At least, unless you count all the heroes becoming zombies in Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness. And, on that note, let’s get to the reviews…

Seven: Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness #1

When this project was announced, Fin Fang Doom and I voiced our excitement. I went so far as to say, “Finally, a Marvel project I can unequivocally support.” First, let me say that this issue’s cover is great (if only the editors new how to spell “filet”), as were all the classic covers turned zombified of the original Marvel Zombies series. Unfortunately, that’s the only good thing this issue has in common with Robert Kirkman’s excelent mini from last year.

This new series takes all the gross charm of the original and punts it out the window. Gone is any semblance of a story, instead we just get Ash inserted into this universe as the zombies are taking hold. And all Ash does, as written by John Layman, is deliver one-liners that fall flat. Maybe it’s poorly written, or maybe the character just doesn’t work without the immeasurable charm of Bruce Campbell. I’ll say it’s a mix of the two. Also, artist Fabiano Neves makes things worse by sticking in as many close-ups of Ash mugging for the readers as possible. The lifted-from-a-photo aspect puts all those moments in stark contrast to the book. Just a herky jerky ride, and I’m jumping off board already.

Six: Justice League of America #6

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m ready to drop this book. It’s not bad, but it’s not nearly as good as it could be. The inclusion of so many characters has been pointed to as a problem, but I’m not sure that’s it. What really bothers me is the scattered narrative. Meltzer tried to focus things around Red Tornado, but there are so many digressions that, for most of the arc, went in so many different directions, and the end result is that the point of the story is blurred.

Particularly in this issue, the dual narratives between Tornado and Green Arrow Jr. don’t lead to a greater whole, instead lessening the impact of both. Also, why was Grundy so set on killing Tornado? Why didn’t he die, if he was human? And what the hell was the point of this arc, when all it really did was explode Tornado and put him together again for the 8 millionth time?

Five: Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #8

The finale of this series comes after the penultimate issue dropped a serious turd in what had been a pretty fun mini. Things pick back up some, but not enough to save the ship. I like the art, I like the characters, I just think writers Gray and Palmiotti strained too hard. The political commentary was maybe even more ridiculously over-the-top than Howard Chaykin’s Challengers of the Unknown from a couple years back. And Father Time is about the 8 millionth secret government villain/hero to use “the end justifies the means” as motivation. Really, can’t we just ban that archetype for awhile? Would anyone mind?

Four: Bullet Points #5

Another mini with a promising start and a turd of a penultimate issue ended this week, this one the Marvel hero switcheroo tale of what if the super serum never made it to Steve Rogers (he would’ve died. But he’s dead now. So, not much changes). Galactus and Silver Surfer come calling in this alterna-verse, and it’s up to Reed Richards, head of SHIELD to save the day. But, where Uncle Sam became too wrapped up in the periphery issues, J. Michael Straczynski focuses on the central plot here (a battle to save humanity), and delivers an effective and touching story of sacrifice.

This is a mini that, if you missed the issues, the trade will be worth your time, if for no other reason than to admire Tommy Edwards’ excellent art.
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Mar072007March 7, 2007January 12, 20092Commentsby Jean-Claude Van Doom

Book of Doom: Captain America #25

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Photobucket - Video and Image HostingTo the left is the original art by Jim Steranko for the cover to Captain America #113, from 1969, in which Steve Rogers was killed. After today, that apparently should instead be “killed for the first time.” Very fortuitously, our choice of Book of Doom for this week is the latest issue of Captain America, in which, SPOILER ALERT, Steve Rogers dies for the second time.

The book is an epilogue to Civil War, and we at the Legion of Doom have had plenty to say about that. So, you can imagine that we’ll have plenty to say about the biggest event of Civil War, now that it’s finally happened outside of Civil War. Will this be the moment that spurs Jim Doom to actual violence against his fellow Doomers? Will I continue my unadulterated Marvel-bashing? Will Fin Fang Doom be able to hold off until Saturday to totally trash this book? Will Doom DeLuise drink so much he forgets that Civil War ever happened? All questions will have answers, come Saturday, so come on back and weigh in yourself.

Captain America #25 comes courtesy of Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. It retails for $3.99, which ain’t bad for a ticket to a snuff flick.

In case you’re curious, here’s the cover that actually did run for Captain America #113. Not quite as dramatic, no. Oh, by the way, when Steve bit a bullet that time around, he was “dead” for all of a couple issues. Make of that what you will.


Mar072007March 7, 2007July 24, 20072Commentsby Doom DeLuise

Week Forty-Four

Posted in 52 / countdown / trinity, reviews by

The solicitations for “52” during the month of March claim that, “Death and destruction reign supreme this month in the DCU.” Yeah, I guess you could say that. As usual, beware of spoilers.52 week 44

This week opens with Osiris’ powers returning to Black Adam and the discovery of what’s left of Amon’s corpse, picked fairly clean by Sobek. I would say that this gratuitous gore is getting old, but I can’t. I love it. After finding the body, Black Adam and Isis are greeted by Sobek and the Monster Society, aka the Four Horsemen. Sobek mentions briefly that he’s been lying this whole time and only showed up in Doc Sivana’s lab right before the Black Marvel Family showed up for dinner, back in Week 26 or so. What’s that mean? That means that Mr. Mind still is at large and unaccounted for. Last we saw of him was in Week Ten, when Will Magnus found the empty cocoon from the lab.

Anyway, that’ll come later. What happens this week? Glad you asked. After the discovery and the revelations, Black Adam goes King Kong on Sobek’s jaw, snapping it wide open. From there, he turns to War, and Isis deals with Pestilence (poorly). They eventually win the fight, for the time being, after Isis explodes Death and sends him elsewhere; however, she’s been infected, and she dies in Black Adam’s arms. Her last words are touching. It’s not Black Adam that needs redemption–it’s the rest of the world. She asks to be avenged. UH-OH, SPAGHETTIO’S!!

Back in Nanda Parbat, Renee Montoya is given the Question’s uniform and instructed to head on over to Kahndaq for some answers to some very important questions.

All I have to say is, the solicitations didn’t lie. This week is chock full of death and destruction. Black Adam is back to being the bad-ass he was during the Crisis and in the first few weeks of “52,” before the ol’ ball and chain made him into a wimp. Thank God.

The art’s solid, as always, and having Black Adam in rare form is enough for this week’s issue to rank in my top five favorite issues of “52” so far. Somebody’s gonna pay for this! It’s gonna be sweet.

See ya in seven.


Mar072007March 7, 2007January 12, 200917Commentsby Jean-Claude Van Doom

CNN spoils Marvel’s big news

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Showing yet another failure of Civil War, the event’s biggest moment (and the long-rumored death of someone more substantial than Clor) takes place in a peripheral book. Now, if you don’t want your Wednesday spoiled, don’t click on the link below. Unfortunately, I happened across it by surprise and ruined my reading. And, yes, expect some comment on this “event” to be forthcoming.

CNN LINK.