Wait, there's a new Supergirl movie?

I would like to point everyone to the DC Women Kickin' Ass entry regarding the newest "Superman/Batman" movie. Which, by the way, is actually about Supergirl.

Read the entry here.

I know DC has issues with how they market/treat female characters, but this is ridiculous. Because Wonder Woman sales weren't up to par, they chose to market this movie with Superman/Batman in the title.

So what. If Green Lantern didn't do 'as well as expected,' what were they going to do? Stop marketing with white males in the forefront? Doubtful. Not only is it money grubbing, but incredibly sexist and offensive to the female readers that DC seems to forget that it has.

And if I remember correctly, these "poor" Wonder Woman sales are also the reason they shelved Batgirl: Year One.

I call bullshit, DC. Stop perpetuating this idea that no one wants to read comics/see comic movies about females unless they are "skanky."

Catwoman: Damsel in Distress?

Okay. Let's talk about Catwoman for a moment, shall we? The solicit for GSC #17 reads:

Catwoman’s been kidnapped, and now Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn must team up with Talia al Ghul and Zatanna to free her before she gives up her most valuable secret – a secret that will force Talia to desperate measures.

Selina kidnapped again? Is it just me, or has Selina been written a lot less stronger than normal (with the exception of maybe some guest starring roles in other Bat-books).

I know she got kidnapped in Heart of Hush, and okay. I can deal with that. But again? Not to mention in World's Finest, she got chained up and then LEFT by Batgirl (and they supposedly have a decent relationship).

Then they did that whole weird arc in Sirens with her sister (in which one of the covers showed her beaten with a chain around her neck).

I always viewed Selina as extremely cunning and capable, and it seems to me that that aspect has been toned down a lot lately. Remember in the villains special when she totally one-up'd Hush? THAT'S the Selina I remember.

A friend said "There's only so many times you can screw over the same character." We're both hoping maybe this solicit is just DRAMA and things turn around and she ends up saving herself. Please?

Will the star spangled panties be missed?

So by now, news has spread that Wonder Woman is getting a new look. Whether it's just for this new story arc or not has yet to be determined... but what we CAN see is that is has caused quite a stir.

My opinion? I like a lot (especially those kick ass gloves). I do appreciate the iconic blue panties for what they are worth, I even own a pair, but this is something new and fresh... and from what I've seen? Wondy needs it. With everything that's been going on in Batman's world (Batman RIP all the way to RoBW) and the new events going on with Supes (New Krypton, War of the Supermen), Wonder Woman has kind of been pushed under the radar. She needs her time in spotlight, and this may be it.

However, a lot of people are pissed that DC would get rid of something so iconic, but I kind of agree with what Jim Lee has to say on the whole ordeal:

“When these characters become so branded that you can’t change things, they become ossified.” (NYTimes.com)

Do you really want your comic characters staying exactly the same for 70 years? That's boring. I mean, they should retain their basic character, yes. But it's how these characters roll with the changes that make them interesting (providing they are handled by decent writers). And, besides on novelty items and t-shirts, where has Wondy been the last few years? Sure, she had an animated feature, which I'm sure delighted fans... but in the comic world? Wondy's new author, J. Michael Straczynski, put it bluntly:

"[...]for the last few years, the book has been in free-fall despite some really good storytelling from Gail. The character was big, but the world got small around her, if that makes any sense...insular, confining her more than the bracelets. So much time had been spent on her supporting characters and the mythos that it kind of backed her into a corner, to the point that the only way to get her out of the corner was to dynamite the wall behind her. So the challenge was, could I take her up to the sales she deserved to receive, and give her a world that could showcase her strengths?" (ign.com)

I couldn't agree more. Wonder Woman needs something new and fresh to get people caring about her again. Even if you don't like the costume? This has got people's attention. Maybe enough to get people reading her more (with the exception of jaded fanboys/girls who won't even give it a chance... because GOD FORBID you read something without Wonder Woman in spankies).

Whether the story will be good or not and whether this is still the Diana we know or just a new character DC is "calling" Wonder Woman? Well, I guess we'll see. But that's an entirely different blogpost.

.......And were people this pissed off when Robin lost the short shorts?

(Quotes taken from The NY TIMES and an IGN.com interview)

Happy Comic... Thursday.

Memorial Day pushed comics back a day, making Thursday comic book day. So... Here's what I'll be picking up tomorrow (or not).


DC

Picking Up

Red Hood: Lost Days #1
**PICK OF THE WEEK**

Seriously guys. If you know me, which I know some of you do, you should've seen this coming. Jason Todd is getting his own mini-series. And it's written by Winick... who created the modern Jason to begin with. AND it's in the past, so it's none of this new retcon red hair (that he died when he was dead, apparently) weird stuff. Yes. Please.

Brightest Day #3

This has been a liiiittle less stellar than expected, but issue 2 was better than issue 1, so I'm hoping that trend follows. Plus, I really want to stay on the up and up in the DCU... and it seems like you have to read this to do that.

Red Robin #13

I love, love, love Fabian Nicieza and I'm soooo excited to have him on this book. Plus, Yost left RR in a good place and made him not so broody. Which is good. We get enough of that otherwise.

iZombie #2 (Vertigo)

Omg, this title is amazing. I was really worried it'd be your general, lame "MMM BRAINS" book... but it's more like... these are interesting characters who just HAPPEN to be zombies/ghosts/werewolves.

....And everything else I'm just not interested in. No specific WTF I'm not reading that or I give up this things for DC this week.

Marvel

Picking up:

Avengers Prime #1
This is really out of sheer curiosity. And because I'm totes interested in this new Steve Rogers direction.

Hawkeye and Mockingbird #1

This is more me trying to learn more about Marvel characters.... so I jump at a lot of #1 issues.

Getting Left Behind
X-Campus #1
What. This sounds like X-men Evolution. Which I didn't enjoy at all. Cyclops is already whiny, I don't need a teenage version of him.

Happy Comic Book Day!

Alright, it's Wednesday guys. Here's a list of what I'm picking up, what might get left behind, and what I don't even want to look at:

DC:

Picking Up:

Gotham City Sirens #12

With the exception of one or two issues (i.e. the ones where Dini took a break from writing), this has been a solid book for me. This book reminds me of when I was in love with these ladies as a kid. Anyway, this issue supposedly follows Ivy's (probably horrible) decision to get a real life job. Pretty good character stuff, honestly. It breaks Ivy away from constantly being that slutty-evil-plant-lady. And no one likes flat characters (and Guillem March does not draw flat characters either. :|)

Green Lantern #54

This one looks like it follows Larfleeze and the Red Lanterns... and if you've been reading anything Lantern-y? You probably know those two are the most ridiculous of the "new" Lanterns and for me? The most fun to read. And Geoff Johns writes a hilarious Larfleeze. And you know? On occasion? I can deal without the angst and a few jokes in my comics.

Justice League Generation Lost #2 **PICK OF THE WEEK***

GUYS. If you did not read the first issue, freaking go do so. And then read the Justice League International volumes. This is great stuff and for me, the most interesting of the Brightest Day banner books. Maxwell Lord is just such a damn powerful/intriguing villain and the JLI members are some of the most entertaining reads. :D

Power Girl #12

Another just plain fun read. Also the last issue for the Palmiotti/Gray/Conner team. This book does a great job of showing that balance between superhero life and normal life... which is something I like to see. Plus, Amanda Conner's art is wonderful and she draws some of the best facial expressions I've ever seen. Ever.

What's getting left behind

Batman the Return of Bruce Wayne #2

Pilgrim Batman! Look guys, I know everyone is reading this book and it's the BIG THING right now? But I'm on a budget. And the first issue didn't really grab me. I'm sure I'll end up borrowing this or reading it later... but I'd rather spend my four bucks on Generation Lost. Or Taco Bell.

Justice League: The Rise of Arsenal

Aka LOOK HOW MUCH SHIT WE CAN THROW AT ROY HARPER. Not a fan of books written for shock value, and that's what this series has been doing. I really haven't been getting much out of it. Sorry.

Teen Titans #83

I used to read this series. I did. But then they got rid of every character I cared about on the team. ...Although this issue is supposed to bring back Superboy (*swoon*) and Kid Flash? I'm still not buying it. This book has ALSO been a shit storm of LET'S SEE HOW MUCH WE CAN TORTURE THESE CHARACTERS. And I know torturing characters is good for writing, but seriously... Other stuff goes in there, too.

MARVEL

((*note* I just started getting into Marvel, so I'll just talk about what I'm getting... since I'm not jaded enough to totally quit a series yet. ;D Also, everything I'm getting this week is first issue, so there's not much to base anything on. OH WELL. Maybe next week, Marvel guys.))

Dazzler #1

Love Dazzler, so naturally I'm excited for this. I'm just sad that it's apparently a one-shot.

Secret Avengers #1

This pretty much LOOKS like it's going to be awesome in a nice little package lead by Steve Rogers. That sounds like it couldn't go wrong, really. I also really like the idea of having the BIG FLASHY AVENGERS TEAM and then some secret ops. ♥

X-men Origins: Emma Frost

Okay yeah. Emma Frost is a bitch, sure. She's hated, yeah. But I find her interesting, so I'm picking this up.

And there's nothing from Image or Zuda this week (as I'm still trying to save money). Where do your opinions differ (as I'm sure they do)? Anything I'm missing out on? You know you want to help a lady out.

~♥