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[The Take Out Bandit]

I checked out Batman: Gotham by Gaslight and Superman / Batman vol.1 from the library. Gotta thank the library for saving me the $12.99 I almost spent on that pooptacular S/B graphic novel.

Gotham by Gaslight was weak by way of having a far too transparent plot. Granted, it was only like 64 pages or so; but it's one of those situations where the writer doesn't introduce enough characters, or false leads to mislead the reader. So you end up knowing exactly who Jack the Ripper is, and you either finish it to enjoy the ride or out of spite.

Really quite poopy, and IIRC one of the inspirations for the former Elseworlds line. :/

Superman / Batman - I was checking the racks at Borders after snagging a swimsuit mag for "reference" to see if there was a new Futurama comic out. No such luck, but I spotted this Superman / Batman book. Interesting because I thought that one dude's avatar was just some lame fan made crap. Nope, it's a real logo.

Well I like Superman. Batman is okay. And I used to love the old school World's Finest comics. Why not?

I also kind of sort of, but not really, like Ed McGuiness's art.

So what the hell?

I walked over to the graphic novel section and saw three volumes out. Cool. Almost bought the first volume, but being poor, stingier, and even more frugal if that isn't redundant - I opted to see if the public library had it instead. Save that money for the Thundercats DVD box set.

Thank god I did.

This book is some of the most hare brained fan masturbation crap I've read in a while. It's just more of the same Batman and Superman are polar opposites in thought, but both heroes - blah, blah, Hey I'm not Frank Miller crap.

How lame is it?

There's a giant asteroid that's going to crash into Earth! I can't believe it's not Ben Affleck. But wait, there's more. . .

It's made of Kryptonite. ZOMGWTF?!

Okay whatever.

Now we've got some whack Super Robot wanna-be to smash it to bits?!

COME ON! FUCKING COME ON!

Just piss in my eye while you're at it, okay DC?

Ed McGuiness also fails in the drawing a hot Starfire and Powergirl category.

Just a warning. I wouldn't suggest these books to anybody, unless you like getting spat on in the face.

Batman Child of Dreams is still the undisputed champion of recent pop culture commercial comic pap I've read recently. Check that out instead.

Next up Red Son, if the library has it. :X

 

[nomoment]

I really liked the first volume of Superman/Batman. It's crazy, super-charged superheroes. While it's certainly not going to win any Eisners, it's tons of fun.

Oh, and I like Ed McGuinness a lot, too. I generally assign all of those faux-manga artists (see: Joe Mad, Pat Lee, Humberto Ramos, etc.) to the crap category, but I make an exception for McGuinness. There's just so much energy in his artwork.

 

[calder]

I really liked the first volume of Superman/Batman..

I did too. For me though the series just completely fell apart mid way through the second arc.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

I get the feeling that McGuiness doesn't pin his "manga" heart to his sleeve. Sure they indulge him with shit like the stupid ass robot, but he's not the total swipe/homage twat of Madoodoodoorrhea and other shits.

Pat Lee can fuck off. I remember when he was tracing Rob Liefield shit for work.

Most importantly, McGuiness seems to be able to meet deadlines and stay in work. Which is more than can be said for other comic glory hounds. Could it be he actually wants to work in comics? And not just use it as a springboard to live out his Capcom fanboy wetdreams like Madororororoarrhea?!

I'm trying to think of the last American comic I read that was just fun. That would probably be the last issue of Savage Dragon I read. I dunno - the all too familiar thematic retreads of Marvel and DC just don't do it for me. It's either fucking amazing, or jesus christ put out my eyes awful.

Ah well. Whatever.

Oh yeah - What the hell is up with Hawkman's Egyptian inspired bullshit now?! Isn't he from Thanagar, or Thundarr - or whatever the hell? I don't recall Hawkman having any sort of ties to Egyptian mythology. :/