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Hey all, sorry I haven't posted in the last few days. No real excuses other than the fact that I'm pretty burnt out by this that and the other thing. Still, it's comic book day and I no doubt have a lot to talk about.
And indeed it is true! Fore example, do you know who appeared in this week's Red Robin? It was only a cameo, but I was delighted to see Cassandra Cain acting like her old self again. Nobody has mentioned any of the crazy, ill-advised changes that were made to her character (thank God for retcons) and she's still using batarangs.
I'm really surprised how well Red Robin has shaped up as a book. I never expected that it would rise through the ranks to become my favorite bat-book. It really does have everything I'd expect from something in the bat-universe. The art, the stories, the characters... They're all top notch.
One of my favorite parts about the book is the sense of world-building. Tim Drake's cast of supporting characters continues to grow... He's got his own villains, a delightful secret identity, and even a new hideout. And that hideout (a masterstroke) ties in well the the entire bat-mythos.
And with that I think I've reached the limit of bat-nouns for one post. Good night.
I know a question like this is old hat... But I figure I haven't brought this topic up in a while so now is as good a time as any.
What the heck happened to Cassandra Cain?
It's no secret that I love Cassandra. Her Batgirl comic was one of the first books that really got me into comics. It had its ups and downs but mostly that book was really good. I know I miss it.
But this isn't one of those posts where I rage and get angry at DC for all their screw-ups (and they are many) when it comes to Cassandra. I've moved past the the anger stage. I guess I'm sort of in the acceptance stage. Though not entirely, as I'm writing this post.
When One Year later hit everything about the character got shot to hell. Geoff Johns brought her back for his Titans East arc and tried to fix things. More or less. She seemed to have neat position in Outsiders (until they rebooted it again. Then she got that mini-series which really did fix things.
Then Batman died.
Now, it would certainly make sense that that was a crushing blow to Cassandra. No question there. If you've read her series you know that they had a very interesting sort of father/daughter relationship going on. And though throwing away her Batgirl outfit does contradict some of the things that she said in her comic, well... People rarely react the way they say they will when they lose someone important to them.
So I'm okay with her throwing away the cowl. But I want to know where she is and what she's doing. Because the character I grew to love over eighty plus issues isn't the kind of character who just walks away from the good fight. I know the powers that be at DC don't like the character. But I do. And I want to know where she is, if only for my own peace of mind...
I've said a lot of things about it -- mostly things that haven't been particularly complimentary. Know that I regret some of those things. And I want to make one thing clear going forward: I don't have a problem with the fact that the new Azrael is black.
In fact, I think it's probably a good thing. After all, when they introduced me I was just another blond-haired blue-eyed replacement hero. Saint Dumas knows most replacement heroes have fit that mold on at least one count. Kyle Rayner has black hair and blue eyes. Not like we needed any more of those when you consider that Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman fit the bill.
So it's good that we're seeing more diversity among replacement heroes. I can tell you that the DCU is not a lily-white place. I've beaten up white guys, black guys, Asian guys, Hispanic guys, really short guys, and guys in drag. If henching is equal opportunity then heroing should be too. My successor is a step in the right direction.
But then they did replace Cassandra Cain with blonde-haired, blue-eyed Stephanine Brown. One step forward, two steps back...
I'm still not sure if I want to be buying Batgirl.
I haven't added it to my pull list yet. But I did pick up the first two issues to give them a try. I liked them. I didn't love them, but I liked them. And I'm not sure what I should do next.
Chances are I'll end up picking up issue three as well. But if I keep doing this I'll start to lose out on the savings I could be getting by pre-ordering.
But I'm still not sure I want to do that. I can't really explain what my problem with the series is. I like the character, I like the art, and I like the direction they're going. I just don't know what it is...
Maybe I'll let issue three be the tie-breaker...
Here I was, all set to talk about the hideous new Batgirl costume when Warner Bros. goes and reorganizes DC (likely in response to the Disney acquisition of Marvel) and...
You know what? Screw it. That sort of stuff isn't really my cup of tea anyone. I'm sure smarter people than me are already talking about it. Let's go ahead and talk about the hideous new Batgirl costume after all. Take a look:
I get that they're trying to tie it back to Stephanie's old Spoiler costume. But there were a lot of practical aspects to Cassandra's Batgirl costume. The fact that it was all black sure helped. And let's not forget that Cassie (and Steph as Spoiler) kept her hair tied up so as not to allow any villains to grab at it. Didn't Dick Grayson recently admonish Batwoman for this? Isn't that why the Question got her hair cut?
All the practicality has been thrown out the window in what I would see as a misguided attempt to tie Steph's Bargirl costume to her Spoiler costume. The purple just doesn't work. The leg pouch is all 90's "anti-symmetry." It just looks bad. And again, the free flowing hair is just going to get in her way. Couldn't she tie it back in a ponytail or stuff it in her cowl like she did with her hood? Honestly, how many women athletes do you see competing with their hair loose? If a runner or a soccer player doesn't do it, then a vigilante certainly shouldn't.
In conclusion, I'm sure you can gather that I think the costume -- to put it frankly -- sucks. Despite my love of Cassandra I'm really hoping Steph can be successful as Batgirl. But that costume sure ain't gonna help...
On the internet awhile back I came across some amazing Batman Promo items that I wish I would have known existed, back when they did the promotion. It seems that, at Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants ( in the Philippines ), they had special Chicken Buckets & Plastic Soft Drink Cups decorated with graphics of Batman, Robin, Batgirl, & Catwoman! I found these on the personal website of the graphic designer who designed them. His name is Brian & he's an extremely talented artist. The weird thing was that it combined a few different "themes of Batman", namely, THE BATMAN animated cartoon & "THE GOTHAM GIRLS". But, where's Poison Ivy & Harley Quinn? They were an internal part of Gotham Girls. Plus, Batgirl was NOT a Gotham Girl but a member of the Bat-Family...weird. But regardless, I would like to have these KFC buckets & cups though, they're pretty cool!
The pictures up above are 4 different brand-new "Japan Anime-Inspired" PVC Statue Figures to keep an eye out for in the future. They're called "Ame-Comi Hero & Heroine Series". Of course they are Japanese-Style versions of Batman, Robin, Modern Batgirl ( Cassandra Cain ), & Catwoman. Each figure measures approx. 7 1/2 to 9" tall & come with a display stand inside a window box. They also vary in price from $60.00 to $70.00. Batgirl & Catwoman have a release date of October 21st, 2009. Batman & Robin won't be out until around February 10th, 2010. ( Thanks Saul for sending me the improved photos ).
Nothing gets people talking quite like Batgirl speculation. I mean, as of now there are thirty-three comments on this picture.
There's a lot of back and forth in there, too. You've got people in all sorts of camps. You've got the ones who refuse to read the book if it's Barbara back as Batgirl. And you've got the ones who won't touch it if Cassandra isn't starring. There are also Spoiler fans who think Stephanie Brown is due. Plus, you've even got a few Misfit and Wendy boosters.
So what's it all mean? Hell if I know. What I do know is that the costume featured in that image is sort of like a halfway point between Barbara's original costume and Cassandra's costume. It's got the same basic layout as Barbara's, but like Cassandra's it only uses the two colors. What does that mean? You tell me...
The writer of the upcoming Batgirl series appears to be some guy named Bryan Q. Miller. Sounds like a pseudonym to me, but hey.
I often wonder exactly how the major companies seize upon new writers. A lot of it seems to come via television. A great many of the current stock of writers on both sides of the street got their start in television. Or even the movies. You've got a smaller group that seem to have come via prose, but other than that...
I imagine a lot of it comes down to who you know. We know that the current writer of Supergirl, Sterling Gates more or less got a shot at writing comics because he knew Geoff Johns. And Geoff Johns got a start because he was working for Richard Donner. At least that's how I remember it.
It's all about the networking. That's true in pretty much every field an occupation. I know that part of the reason why I've got what I've got for the fall (more on that at a later date) because of who I know.
So what hope is there for those who aren't "connected"? What about those people who want to write comics for the Big Two but don't know anybody? Well, I don't know. And luckily I'm eccentric and don't want to work for them. But I imagine it's like anything else: hard work, practice, and a lotta luck.
Hmm, this post was supposed to be about Batgirl. Let me just say that I'll definitely pick it up for a few issues. I'm willing to give this "B. Q. Miller" a chance. After all, another unknown with an obviously fake name has worked out pretty well on another "girl" title...
The big comic news today is the official announcement of the long rumored Batgirl series. The Source says it's starting in August and they've posted the first cover:
What does it mean? Did DiDio lie? He's certainly done it before and it wouldn't bother me if he did again. I'm in favor of misdirection by the guys in charge so that some surprises will be preserved.
On the other hand we've got Oracle: The Cure with it's very suggestive title. I've mentioned my before my distaste with the idea of Barbara Gordon returning to being Batgirl. But my opinion on that matter doesn't carry any weight, and DC will do what DC will do.
Still, that image could be anyone. Cover images can't be taken literally. The torn out front of the mask could be Cassandra changing her attitude and outlook or it might be someone different making Cassie's costume her own.
Whoever it is, that's another book for my pull list...
I have to wonder what DC is planning with Barbara Gordon.
The mini that comes out this week is provocatively titled, after all. "Oracle: The Cure"? Yeah, that couldn't possibly be hinting at anything could it? The question really does become: are they really going to heal paralysis? Are they going to let her walk again?
But then, that question is only important to a degree. After all, if Barbara does regain the use of her legs that has absolutely no impact on her ability to be "Oracle." A "cure" is only important if they're planning to make her Batgirl again.
And would they really do that? Would they take a woman who is one of the strongest and most powerful characters in the whole of the DC Universe and make her call herself Batgirl? Especially when there's a Batwoman running around? Can you really see a woman like Barbara Gordan taking on the mantle of Batgirl again?
I can't. I just can't see it happening. I could see her becoming a Batwoman if there wasn't already one. But there is. So it won't happen. If there really is an upcoming Batgirl series it won't be Barbara Gordon starring. This whole thing is a fakeout.
There may be a new Batgirl or perhaps Cassandra Cain will retake the role. But I guarantee this: whatever happens to Barbara Gordon in Oracle: The Cure she'll still be Oracle by the end of it.
Unless she's not.
