Words of Prey

M.A.C - the make up people (the ones that are famous for their high quality pigment eyeshadows and lipsticks) have brought out a Wonder Woman makeup range ... ?!

http://blog.newsarama.com/2010/12/17/agent-of-s-t-y-l-e-batgirls-caped-couture/

Blog@Newsarama has a (semi) weekly, weekend column called Agent of S.T.Y.L.E. that offers a comprehensive look at a different character's costumes throughout their career, which is always an entertaining read.  The latest installment focuses on Batgirl.  Enjoy.

Drat you! Gail Simone - you made me cry ... a bit. I definitely teared.

The artwork was fun (although with the odd feeling that they were from the perspective of someone crouching on the floor for a lot of panels - sometimes this was effective in the context - others were a bit strange) and for once two pencillers didn't grate on the eye or distract - kudos to the harmony of their styles, but also to Nei Ruffino the colourist.

Gail Simone's usual excellence - and I particularly liked Helena's use of psychology ... dang - that woman is definitely a teacher. *And* Zinda's comments ....

Nice to see a certain child again - and I really liked the development of the character of Terry - learning to think about consequences ...

Thanks for an early Christmas Present, Birds Team ...

(and yeah - there might be stuff to criticise but I'm celebrating today)

I was doing some "research" on a run of old kid's TV theme tunes and I came across this..

www.youtube.com/watch

It seems our beloved Oracle was busier than we thought.

while I was away from the field - BATGIRL: YEAR ONE.

I really, really enjoyed this tpb.  It's unbelieveabvle that it's out of print right now,  A book this good should always be on the active roster.

It's easy to forget how good Chuck DIxon can be (and I see a lot of him in this, though Scott Beatty gets first credit as writer) when he's so committed in real life to a subject I totally hate (politics).  But, to his credit, he didn't often let politics get in the way of telling a good story with sharp and witty dialog.

I also like the "feel" of this book.  Barbara is determined, not edgy (I'm so tired of edgy heroines), and her dad is portrayed just the way he should be.  The young Dick Grayson Robin is also a lot of fun in this one. 

Outside of the weird, flash-back filled Black Canary episode, the story telling is A+ all the way through this book.

And the art...I loved it.  The slightly more realistic "Batman Adventures" style fit the story perfectly.  Easy to fall in love with this character.

If all mainstream comics were as good as this I wouldn't be ashamed to recommend them to anyone who has even the remotest ability to suspend a little disbelief.

My library system has a fantastic collection of graphic novels and trade paperbacks.  With so much to choose from and so many possible books to get caught up on, I was wondering if anyone here could give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down on the following:

Any of the DC Showcase or Marvel Essentials books - the big black & white reprint editions  I know there's a lot of them, and I don't mean any specific ones.  I was just wondering if anybody has a thought on reading these stories in black and white.

Arana (the new Spider Girl)

The revamped Jessica Drew

Ms Marvel of the 2000s

Green Arrow/Black Canary

Black Widow


Here are some of the books I've already checked out or bought and read:

The Spirit Archives  Vol. 1 & 2  (Classic stories - but I have a hard time with the Ebony character)

Diana Prince - Wonder Woman  (1970s) (or "Doctor, I have this mysterious I Ching")  - can't believe I actually liked these when I read them thirty years ago.  "Mod", but without much consiousness-raising.

Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes  (I find the "I'm-just-dreaming-all-of-you-up" SG very endearing, but Kitson's art is sometimes a little rushed seeming)

Supergirl (current series) (A mixed bag.  Some of the earlier stories seem a little perverse.  The later stories by Sterling Gates are the best, but Igle's art, as good as it can sometimes be, is also a bit inconsistent)

Batgirl Vol 1 (I really like this.  I've actually read it twice and may be up for a third time through.  Too bad I have to wait till May 2011 for Vol 2 to come out)

Birds of Prey (Between Dark and Dawn, The Battle Within, Perfect Pitch, Blood and Circuits, Dead of WInter, Club Kids)  (Usually pretty entertaining, if sometimes a little too hard-boiled, stories.  Writing is generally better than the art, IMO, but I love Nicola Scott's stuff for the most part.  I don't like looking at people through Ed Bene's eyes, except for the faces which are usually lovely.)

52 Vol 1 (Involving, but too violent for me.  Doubt if I'll read the rest.)

Guys, have you seen this absolute piece of AWESOME? (Episode was written by Gail Simon, if my sources are correct.)

Just noticed that Birds of Prey #4 jumped up from 32 to 28 in sales position over #3 and outsold it by more than 2500 copies.

I wonder how much of that had to do with the cover?

What do you think?

So, what do you think?

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/tag/ardian-syaf/

I saw the preview pages on IGN, and the only really good thing I can say is that I kind of liked the cover.  More specifically, I kind of liked Zinda on the cover.

Is this interior art by Benes, as the cover states, or Lee as the heading says?  Whichever, it's not my cup of tea.  It kind of looks like manga meets Roger Rabbit.  Now that I think of it, Huntress's face kind of looks like a rabbit's, and other aspects of her are sort of bunny-like, too, if you get what I mean.



The rainy setting was nice.

Oh well, I hope things get a little better after these first few pages....